As immigrants look to enter the United States, they may need to acquire a visa. If they are engaged to someone that is a citizen, they may apply for a fiance visa. However, this may present an opportunity for fraudulent marriages to be arranged as a means to gain access into the country. Due to this, immigration services has steps in place to prevent these occurrences from happening. There are requirements that the couple needs to meet. They must have known each other for a set period of time before applying for the visa. To prove this, they will have to provide documentation of their relationship. This can include photographs of them, documentation of financial support, correspondence between the two and more. Anything that can support the basis of their relationship and the length can be used to support their case. A background check will be done on each individual. Also, they will have to go through an interview process to further prove the nature of their relationship and their commitment to one another.
What’s included in the background check?
A background check for each fiance can prove to be very thorough. Each individual will have their fingerprints and names monitored through the system to show any criminal records. Authorities have the right to ask for additional evidence when documenting the relationship between the couple. Other requests might include an income evaluation to show that the petitioner’s income meets or exceeds 100% of the U.S. poverty guidelines. With this evaluation, it can ensure that the petitioner can meet the income requirements to support both parties living in the United States. A background check can monitor any criminal history of each individual to make sure they are a moral individual that would benefit society.
When is the process completed?
When the petition for the fiance visa gets approved, the process is still not complete. Even after the petition gets approved, it does not mean that the visa will be given to the individual. The fiance will then have to go through a medical examination to ensure that they are in good health. An interview will be done to assess their situation. The time for this whole process can vary depending on each case. It may take quite some time.
The Law Offices of Cheryl R. David practices immigration law throughout NYC. If you have questions about your particular matters regarding immigration please contact the office to discuss your circumstances and options.
