K3 Marriage Visa Philippines

U.S. citizens married to Filipinos may be able to bring their spouses to the U.S. to become permanent lawful citizens.  There are several visa options to do this and one of them is the U.S. K3 Marriage Visa or K3 Spouse Visa.  This is a multiple entry non-immigrant visa valid for two years.  It allows the Filipino spouse to enter the U.S. while still under petition for immigrant status but once in the country, a K3 visa holder must apply for a change in immigration status to that of a permanent resident.
K3 visa holders are allowed to work in the U.S. provided they have an employment authorization document or work permit issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office in the area where he/she lives.
To be eligible for a K3 visa, the applicant must have a “Petition for Alien Relative” (I-130 form)  filed by the U.S. citizen spouse at a USCIS office in the U.S. or at the U.S. Embassy in Manila if the petitioner is residing in the Philippines.  Without this, a K3 application will not be accepted. The processing time for U.S. K3 Marriage visa applications is about 8 months.
To qualify as petitioner, the U.S. citizen must be at least 21 years of age and married to the beneficiary or foreign spouse.  He must also pass the minimum income requirement provided under the law. 
A K3 visa applicant on the other hand must be of legal age and legally married to the U.S. petitioner.  He must also pass the medical examination before the interview at the U.S. consulate.
The Filipino spouse is required to submit the following documents when applying for a K3 visa at the U.S. Embassy in Manila:

• Two copies of form DS-156 Non-immigrant Visa Application
• Police certificates from all places lived in since the age of 16
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificate for spouse
• Death and divorce certificates from any previous spouses
• Medical examination (except vaccinations)
• A passport valid for travel to the U.S. and with a validity date that is at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the U.S. (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).
• Two non immigrant visa photos, two inches/50 X 50 mm square, showing full face, against a light background)
• Proof of financial support (Form I-134 Affidavit of Support may be requested.)
• Payment of fees

The K3 Marriage Visa Application Procedures:

•  The U.S. citizen spouse files an immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, form I-130 for the Filipino spouse with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office serving his area of residency.  The USCIS sends the petitioner a Notice of Action (Form I-797) receipt notice informing him that the USCIS has received the petition.

• The U.S. citizen spouse files a Petition for Alien Fiancé (e), form I-129F for his Filipino spouse and children and sends it along with supporting documents and a copy of the Form I-797 receipt notice to this Department of Homeland Security USCIS Address on their web site.  Once approved the I-129F petition is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) which then sends the I-130 petition to the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

• Upon receiving the petition for the NVC, the U.S. Embassy in Manila sends the Filipino spouse information on how to apply for the K3 visa including the medical examination and visa interview.

• The Filipino K3 visa applicant comes for the consular interview and if approved will receive the visa via courier service.

Applying for a K3 Marriage Visa can be a complicated and long-winded process thus it is advisable to seek the assistance of competent visa professionals who is well-versed in it and knows all the possible problems that may come up and how to deal with them.