Top 7 myths & mistakes of the K-1 visa
What are the top myths and mistakes we make during the fiance K-1 visa process?

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Myth # 1: I must submit lots of evidence to be approved
I have a confession: I randomly drop by and lurk in Facebook groups and forums where couples discuss their fiance visa. I’m curious to see what’s on their minds. And it’s also great to see people helping one another with first-hand experience.
Recently, I saw someone say he’s got over 2,000 Facebook messenger chats with his fiance. He was looking for advice on how much of this to print out to put in his I-129F packet. To me, the answer is “a few pages”.
But I can see why he thought he should’ve printed all 2,000 pages. When you look at the instructions on the I-129F or K-1 visa instructions checklist, it says generic things like “provide proof of relationship”, which is really unclear. Take for example the “evidence of relationship” suggestion given by the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Not too prescriptive, is it?
And it’s partly why this fiance visa myth lives on. The USCIS or US Embassy don’t tell us what or how much of anything to present. So, we’re left on our own to figure it out.
And if someone was to tell you to “prove your relationship” — naturally the first thing that comes to mind is “well, we text like 50x per day. If I print out a big heap of Facebook chat logs, that will show them we’re serious. In fact, the more evidence I stuff into my I-129F, the better.”
Then we theorize that we submit lots of evidence to be approved. Or that they’ll be impressed by loads and loads of evidence.
This misconception stems from a much wider set of problems:
● We don’t know how much is enough,
● What’s too much
● What’s too little
The amount of evidence you include depends on how much you actually have and how much is a good balancing point. However, there are problems with too much or too little.
● Problems submitting too little evidence
○ They may suspect you don’t have a real relationship (that it’s a K-1 visa scam)
○ You may not meet requirements
● Problems with submitting too much evidence
○ Makes you look desperate and untrustworthy
○ It’s easy to dilute your message
○ Too much evidence becomes easy to ignore
It’s all about the “gut feeling” you give to the officer. There’s no exact number of pages of texts, photos, or copies of airline tickets that’ll land an instant approval. They have to develop a good “gut feeling” before they approve you. (read How much proof is enough for I-129F approval?)
But there is a balancing act you have to do to find this perfect mix of bona fide relationship. You must focus on primary relationship proof before secondary evidence.
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Myth # 2: “High Fraud Risk” countries mean “denial”
You know, the high school I went to in New York was considered “tough” because kids got into trouble and the graduation rate was lower than average.
But did that mean I wasn’t going to graduate either?
Of course not, graduation is based on how well YOU do. So, why would you worry about statistics like the low graduation percent?
Despite the bad label of a “tough” school, I worked hard and graduated. In fact, I had one of the highest GPAs which lead me to get a fantastic scholarship for college. Imagine if I had let that label of a “tough” school hold me back.
The same kind of myth exists about “high fraud risk” countries. Some claim that if your fiance is from one of these countries, then it’s an automatic hard time (or denial). But why is that?
Mostly because of the stories we hear. They’re based on hearsay.
● How some are instantly denied without a chance to speak or present
● Some say if you’re from country “x” then don’t apply for a fiance visa, it’s useless
So, to get to the root of it, I did the next best thing and looked up the statistics on this actual myth. And found out that statistics prove there’s no such thing as a “high fraud risk” country predicting whether or not your K-1 visa will be denied.
I compared it with all different metrics and found no correlation.
Interesting, right? A label of a “high fraud risk” country doesn’t mean you’re denied. Instead, K-1 visa approval is based on your case merits: proof of relationship and good paperwork. Not rumors or stories (read do “high fraud risk” countries hurt your fiance K-1 visa?)
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Myth # 3: They’re constantly spying on us
Every now and then I’ll get a panicky email from a couple asking what’s going to happen if their FaceBook says “x” and they mistakenly put “y” in the paperwork. Will the Embassy figure it out and deny them?
Many believe (or claim) that the US Government has enough time to spy on your K-1 visa case for signs of fraud. That they’ll take hours to sieve through your social media profiles, Instagram, or Twitter to find a minor hole in your case.
And this “half-myth” lives on because, Yes, it’s actual law that they’re allowed to review your social media, public records and so on.
While it is law, and there have been some cases denied because of inconsistencies they found in social media versus what you said at the interview, the truth is that these things seldom happen.
The truth is that they don’t have time to look through everyone’s Facebook. But don’t let that get you sloppy… you should still be prepared and not make any goofs.
To help with that, I wrote an in depth article on the topic about having your social media and how it affects the K-1 visa. Instead of making it sensational and getting you scared, I mention that although it’s technically true, it’s not something they do often.
So in summary — it’s good to keep in mind that they may review your social media history… but it’s usually nothing to lose sleep over.
Read more about social media surveillance posts and the DS-5535 here in How social media affects your fiance K-1 visa.
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Myth # 4: Small tips and tricks will get me approved
“Smile at the interview and compliment the officer” is an actual tip I heard someone say about how to do well at the K-1 visa interview. No kidding.
That sounds almost like giving your school teacher an apple one morning and hoping she passes you for the exam for which you were unprepared. Instead, wouldn’t it be better to prepare for your interview and not just hope you pass?
Think about it from a different perspective and put yourself in the Consular Officer’s shoes. If you were the person who makes critical decisions that affected people’s lives… would you be swayed by a smile or compliment– when your “yes” or “no” answer would mean serious consequences?
Of course not. Your decision on the K-1 visa application would be based on hard stuff — like paperwork, questions answer, relationship proof and so on. Not a smile (although there’s nothing wrong with smiling, it wouldn’t be THE reason you’re approved).
The same goes for other tips, shortcuts and “hacks” anyone tries to tell you.
I know it’s enticing to look for shortcuts or tips to help your interview. And it’s easy to mistakenly believe that something like this works.
But believe me when I say it. These won’t get you to the finish line. Instead of trying to find a shortcut, focus on the 3 things that make a huge difference in approval: correct paperwork, proof of relationship, and preparation.
In fact, 3 out of 4 denials happen when you don’t mix the 3 components the right way. I suggest you read up on the # 1 way to prevent denial here: How to prevent the # 1 reason for fiance visa denial.
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Myth # 5: It’s impossible to talk to anyone in the Embassy
If you know my story, you know it was tough because of mistakes my lawyer made. When I was picking up the scraps and rebuilding my confidence, I had a lot of questions. Things that were particular to my case and only something the Embassy could answer.
So, I really mustered up my hopes and sent an email with one question to the Embassy. And to my pleasant surprise, they were extremely helpful. In fact, they saved me weeks worth of delays and problems. My image of the Consulate was forever changed then. (Read is the K visa interview a big deal?)
But many other couples have had nightmare interactions with the Embassy. Horror stories spread fast and make you believe the myth that the US Embassy is hard to reach (or talk to) during your K-1 visa interview process. Stories of people’s experience of how they were handled abruptly, shown little mercy, and tossed around during their interview or in their contacts with the embassy.
The truth is that the Embassy tries to accommodate you as much as possible (according to FAM law and practice). Emails and questions have to be answered quickly and adequately. Yes, it’s law. And for the most part, they do help.
So, if you have any big questions (or problems) on your mind during your fiance visa process, I suggest you try to reach out to them. Chances are, you may also be pleasantly surprised. Read K-1 visa problem? Ask the Embassy for help.
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Myth # 6: We’ll have problems at Port of Entry (Customs/Border Protection)
Not many know that I picked up my fiance after she was approved for her K-1 visa and we flew back to the US together. At entry at the US border, I got nervous.
I had to go through the US citizen’s line and fiance had to go in a separate line. After a while, I couldn’t see her anymore. The last glimpse I got was of her waiting in line to see an CBP officer.
I nervously walked out to claim my baggage but my eyes were glued to the glass window trying to see what was going on. I kept looking back but couldn’t see anything.

I went to baggage claim and grabbed our stuff. Every moment that passed my mind started conjuring worst-case scenarios. I told myself that it was probably nothing and she’ll be out of there.
But I kept thinking about what questions they were going to ask her. After 20 minutes of standing by the carousel, I finally breathed a sigh of relief when I say the smiling face of my fiance come through the sliding doors. It was all over and she was passed by Customs.
True story. Yet had I known what I know today, I wouldn’t have worried.
You see, K-1 visa applicants have almost no problem at the Port of Entry with Customs (CBP). Yes, there are some horror stories of Customs agents looking through your cell phones and subsequently denying you entry (even for K visa).
But most fiance visa applicants don’t face that fate. So, don’t sweat the entry procedures. The usual procedure is that Customs takes your fiance’s paperwork (medical packet), reviews your case one final time, gets fingerprints and asks a few questions before stamping you “all clear”.
I suggest you read about the Port of Entry procedures for K visa applicants in much more detail here… K-1 applicants rarely stopped at border. There are no statistics available to dispel this myth, but from all that I’ve gathered through different sources, K visa applicants have no problems at the Port of Entry.
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Myth # 7: Adjustment of Status (I-485) is difficult
Many feel that it’s just as hard as to do the Adjustment of Status for the K visa as it was to get the visa approved at the interview. I believe that’s a myth.
Ever noticed that on my website, I don’t discuss the Adjustment of Status much? That’s because I think you’ll do alright without help. Think about it:
❑ You’ve already done the hard work of applying for the K visa. You’ve gotten lots of practice filling out forms and understanding requirements. You’re experienced by now.
Look at the I-485 instructions and you’ll realize what I mean. Most of the forms they request are the same as before when you went for the interview. To me, it’s safe to assume you can do this all by yourself.
❑ In addition, I suspect that it’s not nearly as difficult to get your I-485 as the K-1 visa. Denial rates don’t seem to be nearly as high. But that doesn’t mean you can take it easy. Rather, I think you’ve got enough experience to do this correctly on your own.
The truth is… if you got to this point (K visa approval and entry into the US) then it won’t be any harder to get a Green Card. Things that usually get people denied were already taken care of during the interview (inadmissibilities are already taken care of).
Only if you’re admissible to the US then your K visa was approved. And if you’re admissible, it usually means you can get permanent residency. Hence, denial rates are low for K visa applicants applying for permanent residency (I-485). This is supported by the statistics (see report on green card approval rates).
Now, let’s talk about what myths you have. Drop a comment below on what you thought about these myths and misconceptions…
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Don't worry. We never use your email for spam.Hi, I’m Prem…
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Visa Tutor, LLC provides information for entertainment and education only. It cannot be taken as legal advice nor guarantee results. Seek professionals for more information. See the full terms and Conditions. Read full disclaimer ->
I’ve submitted i-129f for my Nigerian fiancé, so I want to know our fate with this visa ban involving Nigeria now that USCIS has just accepted my petition. Pls am in dire need of your advice.
Hi! Here’s my case. I just had my medical exam and just received a call that I’ll need to go back to the clinic before my schedule cultured sputum result. This makes me believe that I’ll need to undergo TB treatment which shall be done in the clinic everyday for 6 months (which is a real hassle-6 months of unproductivity, etc). We are now considering canceling the application and reapply right after while undergoing home treatment.
My question is: is it possible and how will this affect our future application? Thank you for the answer! 😊
I have a question. My I-129F was approved August 28th,2018. I went for the interview in December in Nigeria only to be told referred back to a expedited removal case I had in 2012. No I filed I-601 and my fiancé petition is over a year and still shows approved and the waiver hasn’t been approved yet. Do I file another I-129F or I should still stick to the approved petition?Its over 4months now that I filed the waiver and not yet approved. I have a feeling the approved I-129f is expired since it’s over a year,but still shows approved on my USCISAPP.
Thanks.
Bolaji Arogun
Hi Prem,
We used a LOT of your information and got approved and are now married. We’re starting to apply for adjustment of status but are stuck on the I 693 Medical. What exactly do we need for this? I’m trying to make sense of it and it seems we need to take the form 3025 which list vaccinations and go to a civil surgeon and have him transcribe it and fill out the I 693?? Then I see other things on the internet saying that I 693 isn’t needed at all. Then others say an complete new physical is needed. Her medical at St. Luke’s, Manila was done about 5 months ago. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I very highly recommend your site.
Pete
I have a concern about my i-129f package that I am worried will make me and my fiance automatically declined. The paper asks for where your fiance will reside when they come to America. I am currently a college student living on campus, and plan to next year as well. My fiance and I plan to look for apartments together once he is approved and we marry, so for the place he will be living I currently have my parents house. Will this get us denied?
Gud day sir, my fiance in the US will be submitting the k1 petition very soon, would like to know the kind of materials we should attach as an evidence which will be of much importance. tnx
Hi Prem,
I received my case number from NVC and it said now the case is being forwarded to Mumbai embassy in India. I would like to know if i have to wait for any instruction from the Mumbai embassy to start my medical appointment, DS 160 & appointment for the interview?
My fiance and I know each other since about 15 years. Since I immigrated in the US 6 years ago, we have not met but have been communicating everyday. I submitted my fiance visa application on January 12, 2018. 6 months later USCIS responded that my I should provide evidence that we have met within last 2 years before filling the application or other circumstances preventing my to travel and see my fiance for a waiver. Since we have not met, I requested a waiver. The waiver was denied on January 20, 2019. While waiting for the response, I travelled to my country and met with my fiance where we spent 2 weeks together from December 18, 2018-January 2, 2019. I have 30 days to appeal to their decision. Since my fiance and I met face to face after filing the petition, Should I appeal their decision or resubmit a new petition?
Thank You!
Hi Prem. I agree with the myths you spoke on. I have been following you from the beginning of this journey & paying close attention to your information. Our I- 129F packet was accepted by USCIS on 8/2/2018. My beneficiary & I were a total wreck because of one red flag, a huge difference in age. I am the female & petitioner who is much older than my fiancé. We have been a total wreck because of our red flag. I refused to employee an attorney because I felt that only I could present our case in the best possible way. Long story short, we were approved at the 5th month on 1/10/2019. My birthday was on 1/12. It was a great birthday gift. Just to prove your point on some of the myths people believe: I prepared a well organized packet with a cover letter. I followed the rules on where to put the check/money order, where to place our passport photos in the packet, concentrated on presenting several primary proofs of relationship, added secondary items such as pictures (not too many). The pictures were in different settings such as when we attended his church together, when we visited a zoo in his country, when we went to his best friend’s birthday party & etc. I only provided 7 chat logs. I knew that I had done my very best according to what USCIS expected, but felt that with such a huge age gap, they would not look at our case. That was my myth. We are now waiting for our case #. The embassy he will be interviewed at has been known to be a difficult one, however we feel it’s about how well my beneficiary has prepared himself. We have the same cultural background, so that helps. Wish us luck in this next phase. If you have any words of wisdom for us, please share it.
Thank you for all the valuable information that gave us confidence to move forward with this, especially when we thought the odds were against us.