Petition

• Foreign nationals that require a K-1 visa must have a Form I-129F, called a Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) filed by the American citizen intending to marry the foreign national before the K-1 visa is applied for. This as well as all other documentation, proof of financial support and fees must be sent to the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, commonly abbreviated to USCIS. The USCIS office to send the documentation to depends on the state in which the American citizen is living.
  
  

Documentation

• To apply for the K-1 visa, the foreign national must submit numerous documents to the USCIS. These include two filled-out duplicates of Form DS-156, called the Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Required documents also include Form DS-156K, called the Nonimmigrant Fiancé(e) Visa Application, a passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the U.S., a notarized copy of the foreign national's birth certificate, two 2-by-2 inch photographs of the foreign national and evidence of relationship with the U.S. citizen fiance for fiancee. If the foreign national or U.S. citizen have any previous spouses, evidence of divorce or death concluding the marriage must be given. If the foreign national was involved in any convicted of any crimes, a police record for their native country or any other country lived in for six months or more since age of 16 must be included with the other documents.
  
  

Medical Requirements

• Every K-1 visa requires a medical examination by a doctor in the foreign national's country of residence authorized for immigration examinations by the U.S. In addition to a number of contagious diseases, the doctor will test that all of the foreign national's required vaccines have been administered. If not, the foreign national will have to be inoculated with all required vaccinations with the doctor.
  
  

Proof of Financial Support

• The U.S. government does not want K-1 visa holders to require public assistance such as Medicaid or welfare. K-1 visa applicants are required to show a consular officer at a U.S. embassy in their country of residence that they have enough finances to support themselves during their period of stay in the U.S. The consular officer may request that the foreign national's American fiance or fiancee submit Form I-134, called an Affidavit of Support. This allows the U.S. government to recoup any public assistance the foreign national receives during his or her period of stay from the citizen.
  
  

Fees

• Certain fees are required for the processing of a K-1 visa. These include the cost of the medical examination, which varies by location and is given to the examining doctor or clinic. Other costs include $325 for Form 129, given to the USCIS.