K-2 Visa Guide: Requirements, Interview, Processing Time

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Key Points to Know

  • A K-2 visa allows children of a k-1 visa holder to enter into the United States until an immigrant visa is available to them.
  • If you are over the age of 21 and unmarried, you will no longer be considered an immediate family member.
  • The process of obtaining a K-2 visa and then going through the green card application is best handled by an attorney.

You’ve probably heard of the K-1 visa, a very popular option for U.S. citizens to bring their fiancé(e)s to the U.S. for the purpose of getting married. Of course, no family is truly complete without the children! A K-2 visa is granted to minor children who either accompany the K-1 parent or join the K-1 parent within one year from the visa’s date of issuance. In this guide, we’ll review the requirements, interview steps, processing time, and more.

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What is a K-2 Visa?

A K-2 visa permits children of a K-1 fiancé visa holder to enter the United States and stay in the country for 90 days, similar to the K-1 Visa. The K-2 visa is fully dependent on the K-1 visa and cannot be applied for separately. Once the K-1 visa holder marries the U.S. citizen sponsor within the 90-day window, the K-2 visa holder may then apply for adjustment of status to obtain lawful permanent residency (a green card).

K-2 Visa Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for one of these nonimmigrant visas, the applicant must be:

  • Under the age of 21
  • An unmarried child of the K-1 applicant.

Children of a K-1 fiancé(e) can get a K-2 visa through their parents’ K-1 visa petition. The U.S. citizen who is petitioning must name the children on the I-129F petition.

After the fiancé(e) and American Citizen are married, the children of the fiancé(e) are required to obtain a separate Application to Register Permanent Residence (Form I-485) or an Adjustment of Status.

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Traveling after One Year

If the K-2 child does not travel to the U.S. within the one-year window from the K-1 beneficiary’s admission, they are no longer eligible for the K-2 visa. In this case, they must apply for an immigrant visa separately. Again, for the child to qualify for the K-2 visa, he/she must be unmarried and under 21. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) extended the age limit from 18 to 21, allowing children under 21 to qualify for the K-2 visa, even if they turn 21 during the process.

K-2 Visa Documents

The following K-2 visa forms are required for a K-2 visa application:

  • Form DS-160 (completed online) submitted with a recent photograph
  • Passport (valid)
  • Copy of birth certificate
  • Completed Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, and sponsor documents
  • Medical exam

Other documents may be required, which vary from case to case. Contact a VisaNation Law Group attorney for guidance.

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K-2 Application Process: Step-by-Step

  1. File Form I-129F (only one form is necessary for both the fiancé(e) and all K-2 child applicants)
  2. Once the I-129F petition is approved, wait for instructions from the embassy or consulate regarding the interview
  3. Schedule and attend medical exams before the interview takes place (K-2 applicants attend the interview as well, in addition to other K visa applicants)
  4. Each K-visa applicant will need to complete Form DS-160.
  5. When K-1 and K-2 applications have been approved, you will receive the returned passports with the approved visas for all applicants. Keep the package sealed; only the Customs and Border Protection agent will be responsible for opening it.

K-2 Processing Time

As of 2025, the current processing time for the K-2 visa is 5.7 months, according to USCIS data. This is the time it takes to process the I-129F. Note that the processing times for any visa or green card are rarely set in stone. These times usually vary based on the caseload of the service centre that is processing your petition.

The processing time above does not include the period between the government’s approval of your Form I-129F and your interview date, which can vary depending on the country where you are applying. For more detailed guidance, consult an immigration attorney.

Is Premium Processing Available for K-2 Visas?

While premium processing (the optional service that expedites your processing time to 15 calendar days) is available for many visas and green cards that use the I-129 and I-140 petitions, the K-2 involves the I-129F, which is not eligible for premium processing.

K-2 Visa to Green Card

After the K-1 visa holder (fiancé) gets married to a U.S. citizen, the K-2 visa holder (child) should apply for an adjustment of status (the green card path makes sense in most cases).

As long as you and your U.S. citizen fiancé(e) marry within 90 days of your arrival in the U.S., an immigrant visa number will be available immediately. To apply for the green card, file an I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This can take around 9.5 months to process, according to USCIS data.

Premium processing is not available. You need to file an application for yourself and each of your K-2 children.

Once your I-485 is approved, you will become a legal permanent resident, and your marriage-based green card will be mailed to you along with green cards for your K-2 children in the following six months.

If the child is over 21 and unmarried, they may not be considered an immediate family member. Consult with a lawyer to discuss your case and the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA).

Instead, your child would be eligible for the F1 green card. However, this visa is subject to priority date waiting times, which can be up to several years depending on your country of origin.

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K-2 Visa Interview

The U.S. Consulate or Embassy that is processing the K-1 fiancé(e)’s visa will likely require all K-2 children over the age of 14 to attend the consular interview along with his or her parent. This might also include asking the child questions to help verify the fiancé(e)’s relationship with the U.S. citizen, so keep this in mind before appearing for your interview.

Sample Interview Questions and Answers

Here are some sample questions that may be asked:

What is the name of the person that your parent is going to marry? 

  • Sample answer: His name is Jose Garcia.

Have you ever met the person?

  • Sample answer: Yes, we met him last Summer while we were on vacation in Cancun, Mexico.

Can you tell me anything about this person?

  • Sample answer: He’s a nice guy, we explored some of the towns where he is from while we visited him. He was kind to my sister and I, plus he makes my mom very happy.

Do you know how long your parent has been dating this person?

  • Sample answer: They have been talking and dating for a year.

What activities do your parent and her fiancée enjoy doing together? 

  • Sample answer: They like to cook together, go out in spend time in nature and watch movies.

As with all consular interviews (and all immigration dealings), honesty is the best policy. Answering “I don’t know” to a question is far better than making up an answer or exaggerating the truth, since that could easily affect your ability to apply for further visas or to adjust your status to legal permanent resident.

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How Much Does a K-2 Visa Cost?

The K-2 has several costs attached to it, including:

Expense

Cost

I-129F Filing Fee

$675

Visa Application Fee (for each K visa applicant)

$265

Medical Exam 

Varies, depends on required vaccines.

Additional Fees

Travel, certified translations, photocopying fees, passport photos.

To view our flat K-2 rates, visit our fees page.

K-2 Visa FAQs

Below are a number of K-2 visa frequently asked questions. For additional questions, contact a VisaNation Law Group K-2 visa lawyer for further details.

Q. What is the time limit on a K-2 visa?

On a K-2 visa, you are allowed to stay in the United States for a maximum of 90 days, beginning on the day you enter.

Q. What happens if my parent (K-1 visa holder) doesn’t marry their fiancé?

If the K-1 parent visa holder does not get married within the 90-day window, the K-2 visa holder must leave the U.S. within 30 days.

Q. Are you allowed to extend your visit on a K-2 visa?

On a K-2 visa, you may not file for an extension of stay if for whatever reason your K-1 visa holder parent does not get married.

Q. Are you permitted to study or work on a K-2 visa?

You may study and work in the United States on a K-2 visa. In order to work you’ll be required to file the appropriate documents to receive Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).

Q. What are the specific documentation requirements for K-2 visa applicants from different countries?

The K-2 applicant will need to provide a valid passport (not always required with children under the age of 16), Form DS-160, birth certificate, Form I-134, and medical exam documentation. Additional things may be required for your particular case. It’s best to consult an immigration attorney to confirm.

Q. How can K-2 visa holders transition from temporary to permanent residency after the marriage of the K-1 visa holder?

Once the K-1 visa holder’s parent gets married to the U.S. citizen, the K-2 visa holder should apply for an adjustment of status. The green card path is the most suitable path to permanent residency.

Q. What are the common reasons for K-2 visa application denials?

If you can establish a genuine relationship to get the K-1 visa application approved, chances are the K-2 application will be approved as well if you can demonstrate the parental relationship between the K-2 applicant. Common reasons for a K-1 denial include not having sufficient proof that the fiancées have met in person, not having a bona fide marriage due to one partner being ineligible or the K-1 visa sponsor not meeting the income requirements.

How VisaNation Law Group Immigration Attorneys Can Help

The process of obtaining a K-2 visa and adjusting your status to a green card is long and complicated. Making a simple error on a petition or filing the wrong fee to the wrong place can delay your immigration, costing you both time and money. The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to hire an immigration attorney to help you with your case

For years, the experienced team of family-based immigration lawyers at VisaNation Law Group have helped people like you make the transition to the U.S. through marriage. From filing the petition to dealing with any obstacles that might come up, we will be with you every step of the way.