K2 Visa for German Citizens

The K2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa for dependent children of K1 Visa holders. It allows unmarried children under the age of 21 to enter the United States temporarily via their parent’s K1 non-immigrant visa status.

It is required that the K1 Visa holder must marry their US citizen fiancé(e) within 90 days of entering the country. After getting married, the K1 Visa holder can become a permanent resident and apply for a Green Card.

As a result, the K1 Visa holder’s dependent children can enter the United States on a K2 Visa and apply for permanent residency and Green Card after their parent marries a US citizen. This will allow the K2 Visa holders to live and settle in the United States.

Page Contents

• K2 Visa: Introduction and Overview for German Citizens
• K2 Visa Eligibility Requirements for German Citizens
• K2 Visa Required Documents for German Citizens
• Financial Requirements for the K2 Visa to the United States
• K2 Visa Processing Time
• K2 Visa Application Process for German Citizens
• The K2 Visa Interview
• Cost of K2 Visa for German Citizens
• When Does A K2 Visa Expire?
• What Happens When the K2 Visa Gets Refused?
• Common Reasons for K2 Visa Denial
• What to do After Being Found Ineligible for a Visa?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

To apply for a K2 Visa, German citizens must fulfil the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be a child/stepchild or an adopted child of the K1 Visa applicant/holder
• Under the age of 21 and unmarried
• The applicant’s parent must be eligible for the K1 Fiancé(e) Visa to bring their dependent children to the US
• The sponsoring US citizen is able to financial support the K2 visa applicant

In addition, the K2 Visa applicant’s parent must be eligible for the K1 Visa and therefore fulfill the following requirements:

• The K1 applicant’s sponsoring fiancé(e) must be a US citizen
• The applicant and their fiancé(e) must demonstrate the intention to marry within 90 days of the K1 Visa applicant’s arrival in the United States
• The non-US citizen and their sponsoring partner must be legally permitted to marry
• The applicant and their sponsor must have met in person at least once within 2 years of filing the initial petition

K2 Visa applicants must provide the following documents to prove their visa eligibility:

• Evidence of completed the Online Non-immigrant Visa Application (this is known as Form DS-160)
• Valid passport with validity extending at least 6 months beyond the period of the applicant’s stay in the US
• Two passport photographs
• Birth certificate
• Sealed medical exam report and must be completed by a doctor authorised by the US Embassy
• Police clearance certificate – for any applicant over the age of 16, police certificates can be obtained from the police station nearest to the applicant’s address in Germany
• Evidence of financial support (Affidavit of Support, Form I-134) – to demonstrate that the sponsoring US citizen will financially support the K2 applicant during their time in the US

Additionally, the K2 applicant’s parent must provide all the adequate documents proving their eligibility for the K1 Fiancé(e) visa.

Compiling all of the required supporting documents for your visa application can be complicated. If you are still determining what documents to submit for your K2 Visa application, contact Total Law for advice. We can assist you with assembling all the visa documents and submitting your application for a K2 Visa.

Call Total Law today at +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online for more information.

The financial requirement for the K2 Visa is linked to the K1 Visa requirements. When you apply for the K1 Visa, your sponsoring fiancé(e) must be able to support you and your dependent children throughout the duration of your stay in the US.

To meet the financial requirements, the sponsoring US citizen must demonstrate that they can provide a minimum of 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. In 2023, these earnings must be equal to at least $24,650 to support a household with two people, with an additional $6,425 required for each extra person.

The K2 Visa processing times vary depending on demand and individual circumstances. Usually applicants can expect a decision within 4 to 6 months, however, in some cases it could take much longer for the visa to be approved with applicants waiting over 12 months.

To avoid additional delays or possible refusal you should ensure you reply promptly to any request for further information from the US immigration services.

K2 Visa application to the US involves different stages and is initiated by the K1 Visa application.

The first step in the K2 application process is, therefore, the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), known as the Form I-129F. The US sponsor must file the form to the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) along with the necessary supporting documents.

When the Form I-129F is approved, the US Embassy in Germany will request the K1 applicant to file the Form DS-160. When completing the Form DS-160, you will be asked about your personal, educational, and professional background, reasons for travelling to the US, and other personal details, including your passport number, date of birth, residency address, etc.

Each dependent child must file a separate Form DS-160 at the same time as their parent. This will be the actual K2 Visa application. Along with your completed form, you will be asked to submit the supporting documents mentioned above, as well as supporting documents required for the K1 Visa application.

Please note that you have to save and print out the confirmation page for each of the submitted DS-160 forms.

Once the K2 Visa application is submitted, the US Embassy in Germany will invite children over the age of 14 to attend a visa interview along with their parent. This usually happens within 5-6 weeks after filing the Form DS-160. Interviews for K1 and K2 Visas may take place at the same time in the US Embassy or Consulate nearest to you.

In Germany, the US Embassy is located in Berlin. The US Consulates are in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich.

The purpose of the visa interview is to confirm the information you have provided and provide any additional information that might be missing. At the interview, the applicants will also provide their biometric information (photos and fingerprints).

What Questions Will I be Asked During the K2 Visa Interview?

The K2 Visa applicant might be asked questions to verify their relationship with their parent and the sponsoring US citizen. Some of the most common questions asked during the K2 Visa interview include:

• Why are you going to travel to the US?
• Who is the person your parent is going to marry in the US?
• Have you ever met the person?

There are a number of costs associated with applying for the K2 Visa. This includes K2 applicant’s parent initiating the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) by filing the I-129F form ($535) as well as the biometric fee ($85) plus a potential embassy fee of $265.

The length of time a K2 Visa is valid for is the same at the accompany K1 Visa – 90 days. In order to remain valid, the K2 applicant’s parent must marry the sponsoring US citizen within the 90 days. If the marriage does not happen within the 90 days, both the K1 and K2 Visa holders must leave the US within 30 days and return to Germany.

You will be informed if your visa is refused on the day of your visa interview. The consular officer will ask you to submit any additional information if it’s missing from your application. You will have 12 months to submit the requested documents.

In some cases, visa applications require additional administrative processing, and you will be informed if that’s the case with your application. If your visa application is refused because further administrative processing is required, the processing time of your visa application will be delayed and will vary based on your circumstances.

Total Law can help you avoid visa refusal by assisting you with the visa application process and ensuring that you satisfy all the USCIS requirements for a successful visa application. Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about the services we offer.

K2 Visa can be denied if the applicant does not prove their eligibility or if there are missing information. For example, the K2 applicant is unable to demonstrate a clear criminal background or disclose information about previous convictions, their visa interview does not match the claims made in the visa application, or they miss visa appointments and deadlines.

Most of the time, if the K2 Visa is denied, however, it is linked to the K1 Visa application. For example, there is inadequate proof demonstrating a genuine relationship between the K1 applicant and the US citizen, there is a lack of adequate funds to support the beneficiary applicants, or the couple fails to show intent to get married within 90 days.

If your K2 Visa is denied because you’ve been found ineligible, you can re-apply for the same visa in the future by submitting a new visa application, paying the visa application fee again, and attending another visa interview.

You should reach out to an immigration expert before resubmitting your application or deciding to appeal the decision in order to avoid further costs and delays.