A K-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa specifically designed for the [foreign spouses of U.S. citizens](/immigration-resources/marriage-based-immigration-guide). This visa allows you to enter and reside in the United States while waiting for the approval of your [immigrant visa petition (Form I-130)](/immigration-resources/cr1-ir1-spousal-visas-guide). The primary aim of the K-3 visa is to reduce the physical separation between you and your U.S. citizen spouse during the immigration process.

To be eligible for a K-3 visa, you must meet several criteria. First and foremost, you must be the [legal spouse of a U.S. citizen](/immigration-resources/marriage-based-green-card-guide). This means that you've entered into a legally recognized marriage with a U.S. citizen, and not a civil partnership or an informal cohabitation arrangement.

Secondly, you must reside outside the United States at the time of your application. The K-3 visa is specifically designed for foreign spouses living abroad who wish to join their U.S. citizen spouse in the U.S. while awaiting the approval of their immigrant visa petition.

Lastly, you must have a pending [Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative](/immigration-resources/form-i130-petition-alien-relatives), filed by your U.S. citizen spouse on your behalf. The Form I-130 is the first step in the family-based immigration process, demonstrating to [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)](/immigration-resources/uscis-processing-times-guide) that a valid familial relationship exists between you and your U.S. citizen spouse.

The application process for a K-3 visa involves several steps. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to apply:

What are the Income Requirements for a K-3 Visa?

As part of the K-3 visa application process, the U.S. citizen spouse must demonstrate the ability to financially support the foreign spouse. This is to ensure that you, as the foreign spouse, will not become a [public charge](https://www.uscis.gov/archive/public-charge-0^), or a financial burden on the U.S. government.

The U.S. citizen spouse must meet certain income requirements, typically at least 125% of the [U.S. federal poverty guidelines](https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines^) for their household size. For example, for a household of two (the U.S. citizen and the foreign spouse), the U.S. citizen spouse must have an income of at least $21,775 per year. These income requirements increase with the size of the household.

If the U.S. citizen spouse cannot meet these income requirements, they can use a [joint sponsor](/immigration-resources/affidavit-of-support-green-card-sponsorship) who agrees to accept legal responsibility for supporting you, the foreign spouse. The joint sponsor must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or [lawful permanent resident](/immigration-resources/conditional-green-card-removal-process), and they must also meet the income requirements.

What is the Typical Processing Time for a K-3 Visa?

The processing time for a K-3 visa can vary significantly, but it typically takes about 19 months. This includes the time it takes USCIS to process the [Form I-130 and Form I-129F](/immigration-resources/i-130a-form-guide), as well as the time it takes for the U.S. embassy or consulate to schedule the visa interview and process the visa application.

It's important to note that this is just an average processing time. The actual processing time for your K-3 visa application could be shorter or longer, depending on various factors such as the workload of the USCIS office handling your application, the completeness of your application, and the specific circumstances of your case.

How Much Does Applying for a K-3 Visa Cost?

The cost of applying for a K-3 visa includes several fees. First, there's the filing fee for Form I-130, which is $535. Then, there's the filing fee for Form I-129F, which is $510. Once your Form I-129F is approved and your case is forwarded to the U.S. embassy or consulate, you'll need to pay a visa application fee of $265.

In total, you can expect to pay at least $1,310 in fees when applying for a K-3 visa. This does not include any additional costs you may incur, such as the cost of obtaining necessary documents, the cost of medical examinations, or the cost of travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview.

What is Consular Processing and Why Should I Consider it Over a K-3 Visa?

[Consular processing](/immigration-resources/us-immigration-court-guide) is an alternative to the K-3 visa for spouses of U.S. citizens who are living abroad. It involves applying for an [immigrant visa (IR-1 or CR-1)](/immigration-resources/cr1-ir1-spousal-visas-guide) directly at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. This process begins when your U.S. citizen spouse files Form I-130, and upon approval, you apply for an immigrant visa.

The key advantage of consular processing is that it leads directly to [permanent resident status (a green card)](/immigration-resources/permanent-resident-card-green-card-guide) upon entry to the U.S., unlike the K-3 visa which requires an additional step of [adjusting status](/immigration-resources/change-status-f1-green-card-marriage-guide) once in the U.S.

Another reason to consider consular processing over a K-3 visa is the timeline. While the K-3 visa was initially designed to expedite the immigration process for spouses of U.S. citizens, processing times have lengthened over the years. Today, the processing time for a K-3 visa is often comparable to, or even longer than, the processing time for consular processing.

Furthermore, the cost of consular processing can be lower than the cost of a K-3 visa, as it avoids the additional expenses associated with adjusting status in the U.S.

Need help with the K-3 spousal visa process? This guide provides information on eligibility, application steps, and costs. It also explains income requirements, processing times, and the benefits of consular processing.

K-3 U.S. Visa: A Guide to Spousal Visa Eligibility and Process

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