- A U.S. citizen files Form I-129F to bring a fiancé(e) (K-1) and their children (K-2), or a spouse (K-3) and their children (K-4), to the United States.
- USCIS asks for evidence of a bona fide intention to marry and of the intention to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s admission.
- USCIS asks for evidence that the couple met in person within two years, unless an exception applies.
- Proof that prior marriages ended and proof of legal name changes are part of the evidence.
- Any document in a foreign language needs a full English translation with a certification from the translator.
Who files and for whom
Form I-129F is the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). The petitioner is a U.S. citizen. The form is used to bring a fiancé(e) in the K-1 classification with children in K-2, or a spouse in K-3 with children in K-4. The USCIS page was last reviewed on May 29, 2026, and lists the form edition date as 01/20/25. USCIS reminds filers to check that every form in the package is the current edition.
What the petitioner has to show
- Proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Evidence that you and your fiancé(e) have a bona fide intention to marry.
- Evidence that you intend to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s admission.
- Evidence that you met your fiancé(e) in person within two years, or grounds for the hardship or cultural exception.
- Proof that every prior marriage of either partner was terminated.
- Proof of any legal name change.
- Passport-style color photos taken within 30 days.
- For a K-3 petition, the marriage certificate.
Documents from Russia or Ukraine that need translation
- Divorce certificate or court decision on divorce for each earlier marriage of the fiancé(e).
- Death certificate of a former spouse.
- Change of name certificate, or the marriage certificate that shows an earlier surname.
- Birth certificates of the fiancé(e)'s children who will come in K-2.
- Written statements of intent to marry, if the fiancé(e) writes in Russian or Ukrainian.
- Tickets, bookings, and correspondence in Russian or Ukrainian that you include to show that you met in person.
USCIS states on the form page that if you submit any documents in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator. It also says not to submit original documents unless they are specifically requested.
Names across several marriages
A person who has been married before may have three surnames on paper: at birth, in the first marriage, and after the divorce. Each change has its own certificate. The petition reads cleanly only when the chain is complete and every name is spelled the same way in each translation, following the current foreign passport.
After USCIS
Form I-129F is the first step. Later steps take place outside USCIS and may ask for further civil documents. A document translated for the petition can be used again when the same document is requested, so it makes sense to translate the full set once, with one spelling of each name.
FAQ
Who can file Form I-129F?
A U.S. citizen. The form covers a fiancé(e) in K-1 with children in K-2, and a spouse in K-3 with children in K-4.
Do we have to have met in person?
USCIS asks for evidence that you met in person within two years, or for grounds for the hardship or cultural exception.
Does my fiancée's divorce certificate need translation?
Yes. USCIS requires a full English translation with the translator's certification for any document in a foreign language.
Do I send originals?
USCIS says not to submit original documents unless they are specifically requested.
If you need your documents translated, always work with a certified translator.
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