United States•North America

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K-2 — Child of K-1 Fiancé(e)

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa.

At a Glance

Processing Time

1 week – 1.5 years

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

$2,380–$2,640 USD

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

3 months

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Unmarried child (under 21) of a K-1 fiancé(e) visa holder.

The K-2 is a US nonimmigrant visa for the unmarried children (under 21) of a K-1 fiancé(e) visa holder. The child must be named on the US citizen's Form I-129F petition and cannot travel to the US before the K-1 parent arrives.

Stay is 90 days, non-extendable; the only path to remain is filing I-485 after the K-1 parent marries the US citizen within that window. K-2 holders may apply for an EAD (category (c)(6)) but have no automatic work rights on entry. Dual intent is permitted, so adjustment of status to permanent residence is possible.

This visa is ideal for unmarried children under 21 who are relocating to the US to join a parent entering on a K-1 fiancé(e) visa.

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Cost Breakdown

MRV/DS-160 visa application fee (per K-2 child)$265 USD

I-129F petition filing fee (paid by US citizen petitioner, covers all K-2 children)$675 USD

Medical examination—

I-485 Adjustment of Status filing fee (post-marriage)$1,440 USD

I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD)$260 USD

optional

Total$2,380–$2,640 USD

Processing Time

USCIS I-129F petition	8 months – 1.1 years
NVC forwarding	1–4 weeks
Embassy interview scheduling and visa issuance	1–3 months
Total end-to-end	10 months – 1.5 years

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

3 months

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be unmarried child under age 21 of the K-1 fiancé(e)

Must be listed by name on the US citizen petitioner's Form I-129F

Must remain unmarried at time of admission to the US

Cannot travel to the US before the K-1 parent arrives

Must travel to the US within one year of the K-1 visa's issuance date

Must meet standard admissibility requirements (medical, no disqualifying criminal history)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed DS-160 application confirmation page

Valid passport (validity extending at least 6 months beyond intended US stay)

Birth certificate (to establish parentage and age)

Police certificates from all countries where child has lived 6+ months since age 16 (if applicable)

Medical examination results (sealed envelope from approved physician)

Two passport-style photos (2x2 inches)

Evidence of relationship to K-1 parent

Proof that K-1 I-129F petition listed the child by name

Financial support documentation (Form I-134 Affidavit of Support from US citizen petitioner)

Certified translations of all documents not in English

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No separate USCIS petition required — K-2 children are included on the K-1 I-129F at no extra filing fee per child
Clear and direct pathway to permanent residence via I-485 after the K-1 parent's marriage
No annual numerical cap or per-country quota — K-2 visas are unlimited
Dual intent explicitly permitted by statute — consular officers cannot deny on immigrant intent grounds
Work authorization available via EAD (Form I-765) during K-2 status and AOS pendency
Keeps family unit together — child can travel with or follow K-1 parent within one year

Worth Knowing

90-day status period is an absolute hard deadline — no extensions possible
K-2 child cannot precede the K-1 parent in entering the US
Must travel within one year of K-1 visa issuance date; follow-to-join not available after that window
Child must remain unmarried throughout the process including at AOS filing and adjudication
Cannot change to other nonimmigrant status (H-1B, F-1, etc.) while in K-2 status — must depart for a different visa category
K-2 child must file their own I-485 separately from the K-1 parent
If K-1 parent does not marry the US citizen petitioner, K-2 child has no independent basis to remain
Status is not renewable — only path to remain is I-485 after marriage
Age-out risk: child must be unmarried and under 21 at time of AOS filing/adjudication; CSPA protections do not apply to K-2 the same way as immigrant visa categories
US citizen petitioner's criminal history disclosed to foreign beneficiary under IMBRA

Application Process

US citizen petitioner files Form I-129F with USCIS, listing all K-2 children by name

USCIS reviews and approves the I-129F petition (8–13 months)

USCIS forwards approved petition to NVC, which sends the case to the US Embassy/Consulate

Embassy/consulate contacts applicants with interview appointment instructions

K-2 child (or parent on their behalf) completes DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application

K-2 child completes medical examination with an embassy-approved physician

K-2 child attends visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate

If approved, K-2 visa is affixed to the child's passport

K-2 child travels to the US with or after the K-1 parent; CBP issues I-94 (90-day K-2 status)

K-1 parent marries the US citizen petitioner within 90 days

K-2 child files Form I-485 separately to adjust status to lawful permanent resident

Application Forms

Go to application portal

I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)	Fill online
DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	Fill online
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	Fill online
I-131 Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records	Fill online
I-134 Agreement to Support Beneficiary of Certain Immigration Benefits	—
I-864 Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA	Fill online

Verified Claims (41)

Last verified Jul 2, 2026

Application Steps

US citizen petitioner files Form I-129F with USCIS, listing all K-2 children by name; USCIS reviews …

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Blockers

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Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Unmarried child (under 21) of a K-1 fiancé(e) visa holder.

This visa is ideal for unmarried children under 21 who are relocating to the US to join a parent entering on a K-1 fiancé(e) visa.

Cost Breakdown

MRV/DS-160 visa application fee (per K-2 child)$265 USD

I-129F petition filing fee (paid by US citizen petitioner, covers all K-2 children)$675 USD

Medical examination—

I-485 Adjustment of Status filing fee (post-marriage)$1,440 USD

I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD)$260 USD

optional

Total$2,380–$2,640 USD

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be unmarried child under age 21 of the K-1 fiancé(e)

Must be listed by name on the US citizen petitioner's Form I-129F

Must remain unmarried at time of admission to the US

Cannot travel to the US before the K-1 parent arrives

Must travel to the US within one year of the K-1 visa's issuance date

Must meet standard admissibility requirements (medical, no disqualifying criminal history)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed DS-160 application confirmation page

Valid passport (validity extending at least 6 months beyond intended US stay)

Birth certificate (to establish parentage and age)

Police certificates from all countries where child has lived 6+ months since age 16 (if applicable)

Medical examination results (sealed envelope from approved physician)

Two passport-style photos (2x2 inches)

Evidence of relationship to K-1 parent

Proof that K-1 I-129F petition listed the child by name

Financial support documentation (Form I-134 Affidavit of Support from US citizen petitioner)

Certified translations of all documents not in English

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No separate USCIS petition required — K-2 children are included on the K-1 I-129F at no extra filing fee per child
Clear and direct pathway to permanent residence via I-485 after the K-1 parent's marriage
No annual numerical cap or per-country quota — K-2 visas are unlimited
Dual intent explicitly permitted by statute — consular officers cannot deny on immigrant intent grounds
Work authorization available via EAD (Form I-765) during K-2 status and AOS pendency
Keeps family unit together — child can travel with or follow K-1 parent within one year

Worth Knowing

90-day status period is an absolute hard deadline — no extensions possible
K-2 child cannot precede the K-1 parent in entering the US
Must travel within one year of K-1 visa issuance date; follow-to-join not available after that window
Child must remain unmarried throughout the process including at AOS filing and adjudication
Cannot change to other nonimmigrant status (H-1B, F-1, etc.) while in K-2 status — must depart for a different visa category
K-2 child must file their own I-485 separately from the K-1 parent
If K-1 parent does not marry the US citizen petitioner, K-2 child has no independent basis to remain
Status is not renewable — only path to remain is I-485 after marriage
Age-out risk: child must be unmarried and under 21 at time of AOS filing/adjudication; CSPA protections do not apply to K-2 the same way as immigrant visa categories
US citizen petitioner's criminal history disclosed to foreign beneficiary under IMBRA

Application Process

US citizen petitioner files Form I-129F with USCIS, listing all K-2 children by name

USCIS reviews and approves the I-129F petition (8–13 months)

USCIS forwards approved petition to NVC, which sends the case to the US Embassy/Consulate

Embassy/consulate contacts applicants with interview appointment instructions

K-2 child (or parent on their behalf) completes DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application

K-2 child completes medical examination with an embassy-approved physician

K-2 child attends visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate

If approved, K-2 visa is affixed to the child's passport

K-2 child travels to the US with or after the K-1 parent; CBP issues I-94 (90-day K-2 status)

K-1 parent marries the US citizen petitioner within 90 days

K-2 child files Form I-485 separately to adjust status to lawful permanent resident

Application Forms

Go to application portal

I-129F

Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Fill online

DS-160

Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

Fill online

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Fill online

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

Fill online

I-131

Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records

Fill online

I-134

Agreement to Support Beneficiary of Certain Immigration Benefits

—

I-864

Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA

Fill online