Houston area residents who plan to marry a non-citizen in the near future should consult a qualified Houston area immigration attorney as they seek to navigate the requirements for a visa for their spouse.

For most cases, a K-1 visa requires that the marriage be legal in the relevant state, and that the parties have met in the last two years (unless coming from a cultural or religious background that precludes this). A K-1 visa also requires the following:

The applicant must submit to a fingerprint scan.

The applicant must possess a valid passport, birth certificate, and certificate of prior spouse’s death or divorce (where applicable) from the country of origin.

Medical and police records, and proof of financial support.

Evidence of engagement.

Other forms and pertinent fees.

K-1 visa applicants with children may also be able to obtain K-2 visa(s) for their child(ren).

For applicants already married to US citizens, who understandably wish to enter the country with their spouse, a K-3 visa application will be necessary. This application should be filed at the US embassy in the country where the marriage occurred (even if that country is the US). A K-3 visa also requires the following:

The applicant must submit to a fingerprint scan.

The applicant must complete a Nonimmigrant Visa Application and a Nonimmigrant Fiance visa application.

Birth certificate, death / divorce certificate for prior spouse, medical and police records

A valid passport from the country of origin.

Other forms and pertinent fees.

In either case, applicants may be expected to prove that the engagement or marriage is genuine, and not merely for citizenship status. For any citizenship concern, it’s always wise to contact a qualified Houston immigration attorney—with all the benefits conferred by US citizenship, too much is at stake to attempt freelance citizenship.

A. Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer in Texas. Before selecting an immigration lawyer in Houston Texas, contact the Law Offices of Annie Banerjee by visiting their information filled web site at http://www.visatous.com.