K visas are issued to two groups of people: 1)
U.S. citizens' fiancés who are outside the U.S. (issued
K-1 visas), and 2) U.S. citizens' spouses who are outside the
U.S. (issued K-3 visas). The minor children of such fiancés
or spouses who will accompany them to enter into the U.S. may
apply for a "K-2" or "K-4" visa respectively.
The
purpose of the K-1 visa is to allow the alien fiancé who
lives outside the U.S. to travel into the U.S. to marry the citizen
fiancé.
The
purpose of the K-3 visa is to promote family reunion and serves
as a temporary remedy for the long delayed family based immigration
petition process. It allows the alien spouse to stay in the U.S.
while waiting for the result of the pending immigration petition.
The alien spouse may obtain work authorization during the waiting
period.
