IMMIGRATION
OVERVIEW
There is no more personal legal petition than that of a spouse or fiancée visa. Mathis Regazzi & Associates, LLC will take you every step of the way from the preparation and filing your petition, initial interview, to the arrival of your fiancée or spouse in the United States and their adjustment of status and work authorization. One of our founding partners personally experienced the K-1 visa process with his wife and knows firsthand the stress that can accompany being separated from your partner while you wait for the government's decision. Mathis Regazzi will ensure that your application is completed perfectly so that you can rest assured that you have done everything you can to expedite the arrival of your loved one. There is no reason to wait the extra months it takes to file a petition for the second or third time because a mistake has been made.
We are a law firm, not a visa prep company. This means we are better prepared and trained to stay on top of changes to the immigration laws of the United States and can better represent your needs than a visa prep company is capable. If you want to ensure that this process is handled professionally, and expeditiously, the only way to go is with experienced and professional immigration attorneys. We are happy to serve you, and love nothing more than helping couples come together in the United States.
STEPS IN THE K1 FIANCÉE VISA PROCESS
1. Filing the Initial Petition with USCIS
2. Acceptance of Petition
3. National Visa Center Review of Petition
4. Embassy Review of Petition and Filing of New Documents, Including Proof of Support
5. Medical Examination
6. Embassy/Consulate Interview and Receipt of Visa
7. Travel to the United States
8. Wedding!
9. Adjustment of Status to that of a Conditional Permanent Resident (Green Card)
10. Interview of couple with USCIS
11. Additional Medical Exam
12. Work Authorization
13. Removal of Conditional Status on Permanent Resident Card
K1 FIANCÉE VISA PACKAGES
Silver Fiancée Visa Package: $800
This is the basic package. We will prepare your petition perfectly so that the first stage of this process is streamlined. Included in the preparation is the filing of notice of attorney representation, so the USCIS knows that an attorney has prepared the petition and done so correctly. We have never had a petition denied. After the initial filing, you will be on your own for the remaining steps in the process.
Gold Fiancée Visa Package: $1350
This package incorporates everything in the Silver package, and also includes preparation and filing of your embassy documents and consultation regarding the interview process. We will guide you ever step of the way up to the day your fiancée arrives in the United States. You will be responsible for handling the adjustment of status and work authorization process.
Platinum Fiancée Visa Package: $1800
This is the complete package. We handle everything for you, so you can rest easy knowing that you have done everything to ensure the arrival and smooth transition to permanent resident status of your fiancée. This includes the preparation and filing of the initial petition, preparation and filing of the embassy documents, preparation and filing of adjustment of status and work authorization documents, preparation and filing of removal of conditional status documents. Additionally, you will have unfettered access to our team of immigration experts to prepare you for your interviews, contact the USCIS and embassies should issues arise, and calm your nerves when you are concerned about the status of your petition. We have never had a petition denied.
FURTHER INFORMATION
No matter where in the world your fiancee resides, the K1 Fiancee Visa is the only proper visa for her to use to enter the United States for the purpose of marriage. If he or she enters the United States as a visitor or by way of another type of visa, you can still legally marry her. However, she will then be required to depart the United States, obtain a K3 spousal visa at the United States Consulate in their country of residence and reenter the United States on the K3 visa in order to be able to remain in the United States permanently as your spouse. If you are interested in hiring us for your K1 fiancee visa, or would simply like some more information, please call us at (505) 243-9213. We do not charge for initial phone consultations. If you decide to hire our firm to help you through this process, we charge a simple flat fee for our services.
Fiancee Visa from Developing Countries
Many of our clients have attempted every possible angle to obtain another type of visa for their fiancees. Some have had businessmen or religious leaders write letters in an attempt to obtain a visitor visa. Others have attempted to obtain student visas, J-1 visas, H-1 visas, etc. This activity rarely ever works, and in fact increases the time and effort required to bring their fiancee to the United States. Attempts to take shortcuts with USCIS are asking for trouble. The handful of women and men who manage to obtain a B-1/B-2 visitor visa to the United States from "an agent" or "travel agent" in their country are typically arrested by USCIS officers at the airport when they enter the United States. These visas are often obtained fraudulently, and the unknowing fiancee is left with two options: Either she is arrested at the airport or investigated for fraud when she applies for a green card. The end result is that she will be deported from the United States and will be barred from reentering the United States for as many as ten years!
For those Already Married
If you have already married your partner outside of the United States, you need to file for a K3 Visa. The paperwork required for a K3 Visa is much more involved than that of a K1 Visa. If you have not yet married your fiancee, we recommend that you apply for a fiancee visa as a more expedient and less costly and time consuming process. No matter which visa you apply for, whether the K1 or the K3, we will guide you through the process. We serve clients in all 50 states and around the world. You do not need an attorney in your state of residence, as immigration law is a federal practice. Contact our office today and we will help you determine the best way to proceed.
Requirements for K1 Visas
The petitioner must be a United States Citizen. Lawful permanent residents of the US are not allowed to obtain fiancee visas for their fiancees. Both parties must be free to marry. In other words, neither of you may be married to someone else. You must have met your fiancee within the last two years. If your fiancee lives in a developing country you must travel to her country to meet her. There is a minimum income requirement in order for the US citizen to sponsor the incoming fiancee. Around 40% of K1 visa petitions do not result in a visa being approved. This is not because they are denied, but because the USCIS finds a technical error or omission in the paperwork. After months of waiting, you will learn of your error via mail. Then you have to file again and wait for months for another response. Once your visa is approved, your fiancee still has to be interviewed at the US Embassy or Consulate. If their answer to any of the questions asked differs from what was written on your petition your file will be sent back to the USCIS for investigation. This takes a minimum of six months. This situation often results in the fiancee ending the engagement out of frustration. She may know someone whose fiancé hired an attorney to obtain a visa, and received her visa quickly and efficiently and she wonders why your actions have resulted in such a delay. Contacting us may help you to avoid this problem.
Processing Times
Processing times for visa applications depend on the country in which your fiancee resides and the state in which you live. Each service center operates on its own timeline, and can get behind in their work. When this happens, we will contact you. When your fiancee receives her K1 visa, she has 6 months to enter the United States. Once she has arrived, you have 90 days to marry her or you must send your fiancee back to her home country. You cannot extend this 90 day limit. The bottom line is that acquiring any visa to enter the United States is a time consuming process. By using our services you can rest assured you have done everything you can to ensure that it will take as little time as possible because your petition will be filled out properly and you will have expert guidance through the entire process. To find out more about a visa for your fiancee: e-mail us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call us at (505) 243-9213
Employee Visas
As part of its complete package of services for business owners, Mathis, Regazzi & Associates, LLC will assist you in obtaining both immigrant and nonimmigrant work visas for your employees. Navigating the visa process can be a daunting task, and Mathis Regazzi will act as your partner in expediting the visa petition so your employee can get to work as soon as possible.