A US citizen may apply for a K-1 fiancée visa for the person they intend to marry. If approved, the K-1 visa allows US entry for ninety days. An American citizen must file a petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. An approved petition is valid for a period of four months from the date of USCIS action, and may be revalidated by the consular officer. Within the ninety day period the fiancée enters the US, the US citizen and the fiancée must marry. The fiancée must then apply for permanent resident status in the United States.

Some applicants do not qualify for Fiancée Visa, unless a waiver of inadmissibility is granted: applicants who have committed serious criminal acts; are likely to become a public charge; have used illegal means to enter the United States; have a communicable disease or a dangerous mental disorder; are drug addicts; or are subject to the J1 two-year foreign residency requirement.

The alien fiancée must apply for work authorization with the USCIS in order to accept employment in the United States. The marriage must take place within 90 days of admission into the United States. Following the marriage, the alien spouse must apply to the USCIS for permanent residency. The applicant is initially granted conditional resident status—the condition being the person remains married to the US citizen spouse. After two years, the applicant must apply to the USCIS for removal of the conditional status. The applicant must submit evidence that they are still married and have a life together.