The K-1 Visa is a fiance visa made for foreign fiances to move to the United States and get married to their fiance(e) within 90 days. If you’re looking to come to the United States on a K-1 Visa, your sponsor must meet income requirements in order to prove they can provide for you in the US. In addition to income requirements, there are also multiple sets of fees including the application, filing, traveling to the US, medical exams.
Income Requirements for the K-1 Visa
The American in the relationship must prove that they can provide for their foreign fiances once they arrive in the United States. The K-1 Visa applicant can not work in the US on a K-1 Visa so the US wants to know that they will be taken care of once they arrive. The minimum annual requirement is based on the size of the American’s household. The beginning income requirement is $21,775 and increases $5,525 for every dependent in the household. Below is an example for different sized families:
| Family Size (including applicant) | Income Requirement |
| 2 | $21,134 |
| 3 | $26,662 |
| 4 | $32,187 |
| 5 | $37,712 |
| 6 | $43,237 |
What If I Don’t Meet the Income Requirements for a K-1 Visa?
There are a few exceptions if you can’t meet the K-1 visa requirements.
Active US Armed Forces Member
If you are an active-duty U.S. armed forces your income requirement is much lower than all other sponsors. Any active duty US armed forces member has a starting income requirement of $16,910.
Using Assets
If you are not an active duty member or do not wish to be, there are two other options for you. You can use your assets to help meet the requirements. This only can be accepted if your assets are at least three times the difference between your income requirement.
Having a Joint or Co-Sponsor for K-1 Visa
If the American applicant does not meet the K-1 income requirements then they can ask a qualified person to co-sponsor with them. A joint sponsor would have to accept legal responsibility for the foreign fiance. They would need to meet the income requirement standard and all the other requirements of a K-1 Visa sponsor. This can be a big decision to ask someone to sponsor your fiance but sometimes it is the only other option. A joint sponsee must understand the risks that comes with this responsibility.
How Can VisaPlace Help With K-1 Visa Requirements
The K-1 Visa requirements can be complicated to understand. There are many pieces to this application process. The income requirement is typically the most important and difficult aspects of the fiance visa. Our immigration professionals are here to help you file your application and handle all other issues that could arise during your application process.
VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Ella Bergquist
Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.
