The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) oversees a variety of different types of visas. There are student visas for those looking to continue their education in the United States. There are employment visas for professionals in a variety of situations. There are also investor visas that can help foreign nationals start or improve domestic businesses.
Many people seek family-based immigration instead of employment-related immigration opportunities. Marriage is one of the legal ways for foreign nationals to become eligible for visas, green cards and ultimately citizenship. If a person living in another country gets engaged to a United States citizen, they can sometimes qualify for a K-1 visa to temporarily enter the country. In some cases, a foreign national fiancé may also need to request K-2 visas as they plan to change their family circumstances.
What is a K-2 visa?
A K-1 visa is a temporary visa that allows the fiancé of a citizen to lawfully enter the country. People applying for K-1 visas have to prove the validity of their relationship and meet all standard immigration requirements, including passing a criminal background check. They must marry quickly, typically within 90 of entering the country with their visa.
If the person seeking the K-1 visa has children from a previous relationship, their children can travel with them. Most people would not leave their children behind to pursue a new marriage. A K-2 allows the unmarried, minor children of fiancés with K-1 visas to enter the United States.
Like a K-1 visa, a K-2 visa is a temporary arrangement. The children of the fiancé can legally enter the United States and can stay while their parent arranges to marry their citizen fiancé. If the marriage occurs, the children with K-2 visas can apply for green cards, just like their parent can. If the marriage does not occur, then the K-1 and K-2 visa holders have a limited window of opportunity to leave the country after the visas expire.
Those who just got engaged to a United States citizen often need information about their family immigration options so that they can begin planning their futures. K-2 visas are often an important consideration for people planning to get married.