Immigration Lawyer Chris Gafner Publishes Article on K-1 Visa Waiver Requirements
Immigration Lawyer Chris Gafner recently published “The K-1 Visa: Recent AAO Decisions Concerning Waivers of the Meeting Requirement” in Bender’s Immigration Bulletin. The article, written for other immigration attorneys, examines recent government decisions on whether a U.S. citizen and his or her foreign national fiance(e) are eligible for a waiver to the K-1 visa’s meeting requirement.
As way of background, the K-1 visa allows foreign national fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens to enter the United States for the sole purpose of marrying within 90 days. To obtain the K-1 visa, a couple must demonstrate that they have a bona fide intention to marry, that they are both “legally able and actually willing ” to marry within 90 days of the foreign national’s entrance into the United States, and that the couple has meet within the two years immediately preceding the filing of the petition. The meeting requirement can be waived by the immigration agency if the meeting would cause the U.S. citizen petitioner extreme hardship or if the meeting would violate the strict and long-established customs of the beneficiary’s foreign culture or social practice.
The article examines recent governmental decisions on whether couples were eligible for a waiver to the K-1’s meeting requirement. The article also demonstrates the difficulty that many couple’s face when trying to obtain a waiver, and indirectly shows that a couple should consult an immigration attorney before attempting to obtain a waiver.
Bender’s Immigration Bulletin is a semi-monthly publication that has a large readership of immigration attorneys throughout the United States.
Chris Gafner is a New York City immigration attorney capable of assisting immigration clients from throughout the United States and the world. To learn more about Chris Gafner, please visit the firm’s attorney profile of Chris Gafner. Additionally, please do not hesitate to contact Chris Gafner about your K-1 visa concerns.