This article is designed to inform readers about the issues surrounding issuance of a K1 visa for a Thai fiancee. All over the world wide web there are websites which claim expertise in US Visas from Thailand. The intention of this piece is to simply provide information and insight.
The process of obtaining the K1 is time consuming and can cause frustration. In many cases, a couple will wait five or six months before being granted preliminary approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. In Thai K1 visa cases, after approval, the application is sent from the National Visa Center to the US Embassy Bangkok. For many, this process can be aggravating. In a large number of instances, the wait eventually ends and the visa application is approved.
Once the visa is issued, some American Citizen fiances become concerned about the information and dates noted on the visa itself. A major source of anxiety for some is the note on the visa which says, “K1 Petition Expires Month Day, Year.” Many American Citizens mistakenly believe that this is the end of the visa’s validity. As a practical matter, the visa is valid for going to the USA until its expiration. Generally, K1 visas are issued with a six month validity period. These documents could be distributed with a different validity period because that decision is left to the Consular Officer.
The date of the visa’s expiry can be confusing for some. The K1 visa is valid for six months after issuance. That being said, upon arriving in the United States and being admitted at the port of entry the K1 visa holder is only entitled to 90 days presence in the United States (it should be noted that if the visa holder does, in fact, marry the American and apply for adjustment of status, then she would be entitled to remain indefinitely provided the adjustment of status is approved and any conditions are lifted). Many people, after receiving the K1 visa, are confused by these differing dates. The important thing to bear in mind about the K1 visa is that it can be utilized within 6 months of its issuance and it provides 90 days of lawful status to the bearer upon entry. If the parties do not get married in 90 days, then the K1 visa holder must leave the USA before the visa expires.
