Being married does NOT guarantee visa approval!

• You must marry in her country. Please contact the US Embassy in her country for specific requirements for marriage.


• If either of you has been previously married, you will need all filed final divorce decrees, death certificates or annulments.


• The minimum income requirement is currently $18,212 for a family of two. If you are an Alaska resident, the minimum income is $22,762. If you are a Hawaii resident, it is $20.950.


• If your income is less than the minimum requirement you will need to get a co-sponsor.


• You will provide financial documentation as proof that you can support your wife and all members of your household.


• You must have 10-15 photos of you with your wife and, if possible, of you with her family.


• You must have documented evidence of communication spanning your relationship. Best evidence: emails talking about your lives (about 30 pages) & telephone bills with her phone number on it. Copies of IM chats are a poor choice and not always accepted. Phone cards and video chats are not accepted as they are not documentable! LACK OF EVIDENCE CAN RESULT IN VISA DENIAL!

• A separate I-130 petition must be filed for each child under the age of 18 at the same time the mother's petition is filed. There is a filing fee for each submitted petition.

• The fee to file a Spousal Petition with the USCIS is $355 per applicant. Additional fees from the National Visa Center and the US Embassy will total about $1,100 per applicant. You are also responsible for travel expenses.

• Depending on the country, Spousal Visas take from 10 - 18 months to be approved.

• The Spousal Visa filing is complicated multiple filing process. Two separate petitions are filed, the required CR1 (I-130) and the optional K3 (I-129F). They travel independently of one another through the government processing.


• If she enters the US on the K3, usually quicker by several months than the CR1, she will need to apply for a Green Card (Adjustment of Status) as soon as she enters the US.


• If she enters the US on the CR1, usually several months slower than the K3, she will receive her green card within a few weeks of arrival in the US.