What Illinois Couples Should Know About Fiancé Visas

 Posted on November 29, 2025 in Immigration

For many Illinois couples, the fiancé visa (K-1 visa) is the first significant step toward building a life together in the United States. But bringing your fiancé to live with you in Illinois involves far more than filling out a few immigration forms. The K-1 visa process is highly scrutinized, heavy on documentation, and slower than most people expect. This is particularly true in Chicago-area jurisdictions where Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and longer interview wait times are increasingly common.

Strict timelines, detailed evidence requirements, interviews at U.S. embassies abroad, and Illinois-specific considerations, such as proving a genuine relationship, can make the fiancé visa process stressful and confusing. Understanding what to expect early on can help you know what to expect and keep your visa filing on track.  An experienced DuPage County immigration lawyer can help ensure your forms are properly completed, that all required information is provided, and that you are ready for your interview.

What is a Fiancé (K-1) Visa?

The fiancé visa allows a foreign national engaged to a U.S. citizen to enter the United States for the purpose of marriage. Once the foreign partner arrives, the marriage must take place within 90 days. Requirements for a K-1 visa include:

• The U.S. citizen must have met the foreign-born fiancé within the last two years.
• Both parties must be legally free to marry.
• The relationship must be real and ongoing.
• There must be an intent to marry within 90 days of the foreign-born fiancés arrival.

Only U.S. citizens (not permanent residents) can file a K-1 petition. USCIS will require proof of an in-person meeting, including plane tickets, photos together, hotel receipts, travel itineraries, or passport stamps. This means that couples who met online but spent limited time together must be especially careful to document the in-person meeting. The intent to marry within 90 days can be shown through written statements, wedding-planning documents, venue research, or inquiries with the county clerk.   

What Are the Financial Requirements for a K-1 Visa?

The U.S. citizen must show they can financially support the fiancé using Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support). Illinois petitioners must meet 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for Chicago’s high cost of living. If the petitioner does not meet the income requirement, they can use a joint sponsor who meets the requirements. Evidence of income can include tax returns, recent pay stubs, a letter from the employer on company letterhead showing employment dates, salary, and job duties, or evidence of ongoing income for those who are unemployed or retired.

How a Genuine Relationship Can Be Proven

USCIS will want to see that the relationship is real, rather than based solely on immigration benefits. Statements from friends and family, letters, call records, text message logs, and photos taken over time can help show that the relationship is real. Certain counties in Illinois (DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will) are known for stricter scrutiny in marriage-based immigration cases and will look for limited shared language, minimal in-person meetings, significant age gaps, very short relationships, or differences in cultural or religious backgrounds.

The Adjustment of Status After Marriage

After the marriage, the foreign spouse will file a Form I-485 (green card application), Form I-765 (work permit), and Form I-131 (travel document). Processing occurs through the Chicago USCIS Field Office, which may request detailed relationship evidence, occasional second interviews, and longer-than-average processing times. Denials could occur when there is insufficient evidence of a real relationship, inadequate financial support, or inconsistent answers during interviews. Criminal records, prior marriage fraud allegations, or multiple past I-129F petitions by the same U.S. citizen can also result in a denial.

Contact an Itasca, IL Immigration Attorney

Applying for a fiancé visa is exciting, but the process can be overwhelming, especially for Illinois couples navigating Chicago’s busy immigration offices and heightened scrutiny. A highly skilled DuPage County, IL family immigration lawyer from Unzueta Law Group, P.C. can help prepare strong evidence, avoid mistakes, and guide you through the embassy interview and Adjustment of Status process. We are a local family firm with more than 20 years of experience in immigration law. Call 630-509-2363 to schedule your initial attorney meeting. Se Habla Español.