K1 Visa for Ghanaian Citizens

The K1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows the foreign-citizen fiancé of a US citizen to travel to the United States and marry their US citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival. Once married, the foreign-citizen spouse can then apply for a Green Card and permanent residency in the US.

Green Card holders cannot obtain the K1 Visa and it is not available to couples who are already married or who want to marry outside the US.

Both partners must apply for the K1 Visa. The US citizen must file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, while the Ghanaian must file Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.

If the K1 Visa application is approved, the foreign-citizen can travel to the US to get married within 90 days. The next step for the Ghanaian partner is to apply for a Green Card to obtain permanent residency in the US.

Page Contents

• Overview of the K1 Visa for Ghanaian Citizens
• K1 Visa Eligibility Requirements for Ghanaian Citizens
• Required Documents for the K1 Visa
• Financial Requirements for the K-1 Visa
• How to Apply for a K1 Visa as a Ghanaian Citizen
• How Long Does It Take to Process a K1 Visa When Applying from Ghana?
• Cost of Applying for a K1 Visa as a Ghanaian Citizen
• Can I Bring My Children to the US with a K1 Visa?
• Reasons for K1 Visa Refusal
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQS

To meet the K1 Visa requirements, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and provide supporting documentation. The key eligibility criteria for a K1 Visa are:

• Your partner must be a US citizen and be able to provide proof of their status this is usually via a US passport, birth certificate, or certificate of citizenship.
• You must be legally free to marry and intend to marry your US partner within 90 days of entering the US. If either your or partner have been married before then you must provide evidence the union has been legally terminated by providing a divorce decree or death certificate.
• You must have met in person within the past two years However, there are some exemptions to this requirement. For example, if the couple is unable to meet in person due to extreme hardship or cultural factors, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) may grant an exception.
• There is a financial requirement that your US partner must meet to demonstrate they can support themselves and you during your stay in the UK.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible, consult with an immigration lawyer from Total Law. Call us today at +1 844 290 6312 to book a consultation.

Both the US citizen partner (the petitioner) and the Ghanaian partner (the foreign citizen fiancé) are required to submit a variety of documents as part of the K1 Visa application. These include the following for the US citizen petitioner:

• A completed Form I-129F, petition for an alien fiancé
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) to show the US citizen petitioner has the financial resources to support their foreign partner.
• Proof of US citizenship – this is usually a US passport, birth certificate, or certificate of citizenship.
• Proof of income – such as tax returns, employment contract of payslips.
• Evidence of a genuine relationship – proof such as photographs, emails and travel arrangements.

Further documents also need to be provided by the Ghanaian citizen fiance as part of applying for a K1 Visa. This may include:

• A completed Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application: This form must be completed by the foreign-citizen fiancé and submitted online.
• Passport with at least six months remaining before expiry.
• Birth certificate
• Police clearance covering the past five years
• Medical exam report from a doctor who is authorised to conduct immigration medical examinations.

To sponsor your fiancé(e) as a US citizen, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient income to support both of you. You can do this by submitting Form I-134, the Affidavit of Support. This form asks for information about your income, assets, and expenses. USCIS will use this information to determine if you meet the financial requirement.

In 2023, the standard minimum annual income requirement for sponsors in the majority of US states is $24,650. For each additional person being sponsored, the income requirement increases by $6,425.

As a US citizen sponsor, you can use your income and assets, as well as the income of your spouse and any dependent children, to meet the financial requirements.

If you are unsure if you or your partner meet the financial criteria and what assets or income can be included in an application for the K1 Visa then reach out to us today at +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online.

It can be a confusing process applying for a K1 Visa, especially if you are waiting to be reunited with a loved one. You must ensure you complete the process correctly otherwise it could lead to lengthy delays and additional costs. Once you have confirmed you and your partner have meet the eligibility requirements then you can apply for the K1 visa by doing the following:

• Your US citizen partner needs to file the I-129F petition with USCIS alongside all required documentation.
• Once USCIS approves the I-129F petition, you will be notified of an interview appointment – this is usually at the US embassy in Accra.
• Attend the Visa interview which will be conducted by a consular officer. Make sure to take all the required documents with you to the appointment.
• If you are granted a K-1 Visa, you will be able to travel to the United States and marry your US citizen fiancé(e) within 90 days of your arrival.

Once married you can apply for an adjustment of status and a Green Card if you wish to remain in the US as a permanent resident.

The processing time of a K1 Visa is very variable as it can depend on the backlog and demand both in the US and at the embassy in Ghana.

According to the latest information from the USCIS, the average processing time for a K1 Visa is between 14 and 19 months, depending on individual circumstances.

In order to ensure efficient processing of your K1 Visa application you should ensure that you submitted all required documents when first applying. If the US immigration services need to contact you to clarify information at a later date then it is likely to delay approval.

The K-1 Visa application includes a $535 fee for the Form I-129F petition, which is paid by the US citizen petitioner, and a $265 visa application fee to be paid by the Ghanaian fiancé(e).

There are also other costs involved with applying for a K1 Visa such as the medical examination fee or getting documents translated or certified.

As a K1 Visa holder, your children can accompany you to the US. They must apply for K2 Visas in order to travel with you to the US.

To be eligible for a K2 Visa, the child must be unmarried and under 21 years of age. The child must also be included in the Form I-129F petition that is filed by the US citizen sponsor.

Not completing a K1 Visa application correctly or not including the right information is often the reason for a fiance visa application to be refused.

However, there are a number of other reasons why a K1 Visa application can be rejected by US immigration such as:

• Insufficient evidence of relationship
• Not meeting the financial income criteria or failing to demonstrate evidence of income/assets
• On medical grounds as there are some conditions that are classified as a danger to public health or safety.
• A criminal record which includes certain offences

Citizens applying from Ghana should also be aware they may face additional scrutiny from the US immigration services as the country is designated as a high-fraud country so it is vital to be honest and include as much supporting paperwork as possible.

If you believe you may face a possible rejection for any of these reasons then you should consider consulting with an immigration expert before submitting your application to avoid delays or additional costs.

However, in many cases, it is possible to appeal a decision after a rejection has been made but you should seek advice on the next steps. Call us at +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online for professional advice.