K-1 fiancé visa or marrying abroad: which to choose
K-1 fiancé visa or CR-1/IR-1 marriage green card: who files, what it costs, where the wedding happens and what if you don't marry within 90 days.
- The K-1 is for a wedding in the US within 90 days of entry. If you are already married or marry abroad, you apply for a spouse visa.
- The I-129F fiancé petition costs $675; the I-130 spouse petition is $675 on paper or $625 online.
- If the marriage is under two years old on the green card date, you get a 2-year conditional card, removed with Form I-751.
- Pactors will find you an expert free of charge to choose the route for your situation.
If your partner is a US citizen, there are two ways to live together: a K-1 fiancé visa with a wedding in the US, or marrying abroad and an immigrant spouse visa. Here is how they differ in practice.
The two routes compared
| Parameter | K-1 fiancé visa | CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who files | a US citizen | a US citizen or green card holder |
| Where the wedding is | in the US within 90 days of entry | before filing, in any country |
| First petition | I-129F, $675 | I-130, $675 on paper or $625 online |
| Consular fee | $265 | $325 |
| Status on entry | K-1, 90 days with no extension | permanent resident |
| After entry | I-485, $1,440 on paper or $1,390 online | no application needed |
Fiancé visa requirements
Both of you are free to marry, any earlier marriages have ended, you have met in person at least once in the two years before filing, and you intend to marry within 90 days of entry. The meeting requirement can be waived if it would violate long-established customs of the fiancé's culture or cause extreme hardship to the US citizen. Details of the procedure are on the K-1 fiancé visa page.
K-1 status ends after 90 days and cannot be extended. You cannot change it to another visa inside the US either. If the wedding happens later, the citizen files an I-130 petition for the spouse.
Spouse visa requirements
The citizen files an I-130, and once it is approved the case moves to consular processing. While the petition is pending you can request a K-3 visa through an I-129F with no fee. If the spouse has already entered the US lawfully, the I-130 and I-485 are filed together. The procedure is on the CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa page.
The conditional green card
If the marriage is under two years old when the green card is granted, the spouse gets conditional status for two years. In the 90 days before the card expires, the spouses file an I-751 together: $750 on paper or $700 online. If it isn't filed on time, the status ends.
What changed for Russians in 2026
Where the interview happens: the US Embassy in Moscow issues no visas other than diplomatic ones, so residents of Russia are interviewed in another country. From 21 January 2026 the State Department paused immigrant visas for nationals of Russia and 74 other countries. On 21 August a court vacated the pause, and on 10 September the government appealed. Other family categories are on the family immigration page.
Common questions
Can I work on a K-1 visa?
Can a green card holder bring a fiancé on a K-1?
Sources
- USCIS — visas for fiancé(e)s of US citizens
- USCIS — green cards for spouses of citizens
- USCIS — change of nonimmigrant status
- USCIS — fee schedule G-1055 (edition of 09/09/2026)
- U.S. Embassy in Russia — nonimmigrant visas
- U.S. Embassy in Russia — immigrant visa pause (January 2026)
- NILC — CLINIC v. Rubio (ruling of 21.08.2026, appeal of 10.09.2026)
Links checked on 27 September 2026
