r/K1VisaInfo

In the latest episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies, sits down with Mahvash Siddiqui, a U.S. Foreign Service officer, to discuss systemic fraud in the H-1B visa program. Speaking in her private capacity, Ms. Siddiqui shares firsthand experiences from her time as a consular officer in Chennai (Madras), India – one of the world’s largest H-1B visa-processing posts – where U.S. officials adjudicated thousands of nonimmigrant visas, including 220,000 H-1Bs and 140,000 H-4 visas for their family members in 2024 alone.

The episode highlights alarming patterns of fraud affecting the H-1B program, including forged degrees, falsified employment credentials, and the role of third-party staffing companies in bypassing the program’s original rationale of admitting skilled workers to meet temporary shortages. While the Trump administration implemented changes aimed at reorienting the program toward more qualified applicants, Siddiqui emphasizes that widespread political pressure and a very effective Indian lobby here in the U.S. have often undermined quality control.

The conversation provides insight into the challenges faced by consular officers attempting to curb visa fraud, including under-resourcing, bureaucratic obstacles, and pressure from both local and foreign political actors. The episode concludes with a discussion of potential reforms to ensure the program serves its intended purpose.

I’m hoping to get insight from someone who’s been through the process. I’m currently in the process of waiting for my fiance visa so i can move and get married to my fiance! I’m from Canada but from middle eastern descent. we provided alot of pictures in our package from all our meets, messages and even engagement pictures! im now anxious because we decided to have a more traditional engagement where we planned a small dinner at my house with close friends and family. I’ve been seeing that people are setting denied because their engagement looked like weddings!! my engagement did not look like a wedding but I do wear a closely red dress and he wore a suit and we also had a back drop with flowers that said “we’re engaged” with the date!! for anyone that didn’t have the get down on one knee proposal, were you questioned about it or that your event looked too fancy?? I’m not really sure how I’d prove that we aren’t married other than we didn’t get married or have anything out of the ordinary than dressing up and taking pictures with our loved ones!! if anyone has insight please let me know

Our process is complete. My fiance received her passport back today with her visa. I am going to fly to her in a few days and we will come back to the U.S. together on May 4th.

Here is our timeline.

- 22 Jan 2025: Case was received by USCIS

- 5 Sep 2025: Expedite Request Submitted to USCIS

- 17 Sep 2025: I-129F approved by USCIS. No idea if expedite helped or not.

- 30 Oct 2025: Case transferred to Dept of State

- 16 Dec 2025: Case received at US embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

- 19 Dec 2025: DS-160's submitted

- 31 Dec 2025: Interview scheduled for 3 March 2026

- 3 March 2026: Interview conducted, visa denied under 221(g). We had a daughter together on Feb 11, 2026 and the embassy would not grant my fiancé's visa until we received the daughter's consular report of U.S. citizen born abroad (CRBA) and U.S. passport (from them). We had a ton of evidence. I had made four trips to visit her as recently as just a few weeks before the interview. For each visit, we included my entry visas, passport entry and exit stamps, airfare receipts, hotel receipts, and too many photos for them to look at. The only asked a few basic questions. When did we meet the first time? What did I do for work? What were our wedding plans? Where do I live? Who lives in my home?

- 20 Apr 2026: Received CRBA. Turned it into the embassy to clear the 221(g). Embassy requested passport with the CRBA.

- 27 Apr 2026: Passport and K1 visa received.

We used an immigration attorney. I am sure that I could have done this myself, but I am also sure that I would have forgot to dot an i or cross a t, so I am grateful that I used one. I may do the AOS on my own, but have requested the cost breakdown from the same attorney. Attorney was excellent and I will use him if his rate is reasonable.

I have had multiple previous marriages and we have a 16 year age gap. She does not have any previous marriages, but has a daughter from a previous relationship. The daughter was granted a K2 visa and will accompany us on the 4th. She had been denied a B1/B2 visa when we first started dating. She was prepared for that question to come up during the K1 interview, but it didn't.

I submitted congressional inquiries twice along the way. My fiancé became pregnant during a visit in May 2025 and I was trying hard to get her to the U.S. to give birth. I believe that my congressman did everything he could, but also believe that he was basically powerless and had no influence in the DoS/DHS process.

I am extremely grateful that I went the K1 route and that we didn't marry yet. Her country is on the list of 75 countries where immigrant visas aren't being approved. Since the K1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, she was able to be approved. I feel like we slipped through a loophole and pray for all of you caught up in the immigrant visa pause.

Let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck to everyone still going through the process.

Hi everyone

I have a question about the K-1 visa financial

requirement and possible 221(g)

My fiancé did not meet the income requirement

in 2023 and 2024 due to not having full-time

employment. However, in 2025 he now exceeds

the required income and has stable full-time

employment. He also has current 2026 pay stubs

and an employment verification letter showing

sufficient income

The issue is that his 2025 tax return is under

extension, so no tax transcript is available yet.

My questions are:

Would his 2023 and 2024 low income be

considered a red flag at the interview?

Could the missing 2025 tax transcript (due to

extension) increase the chance of 221(g),

even if current income is sufficient?

Hi everyone! My boyfriend (Argentine and US citizen, California) and I (Brazilian) are planning to file for a K-1 visa and I’m trying to understand how the current restrictions affect our case before we start the process.

Our situation:

- My B1/B2 visa was denied and I think it was because I already put his address on the form (I know, not very smart of me maybe)

- Strong relationship evidence with similar age, lots of photos together and with friends, multiple in-person visits in the last year, long message history

- No prior marriages and no criminal record on either side

- We’re ready to file the I-129F petition now

My main questions:

1. ⁠Given the current political climate and the specific restrictions for Brazilians, do we really need an immigration attorney, or is our case straightforward enough to go self-represented? What was your experience?

2. ⁠For those who used an attorney: was it worth it financially? Did it meaningfully speed up or strengthen your case?

Any insight from people in similar situations (especially other Brazilian applicants or those from listed countries) would mean a lot. Thanks in advance!

My petition for my fiance was approved back in February and we just received notification of our case number and are currently waiting for the embassy. I am the petitioner. How should I go about the I-134? Do I fill it out and send it, and any other supporting documents over to my fiancé and she brings it with her to the interview? Or do I submit all of that online somehow? Just trying to get everything lined up correctly so there is no confusion or mistakes. Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi! My fiancee is having her interview in three weeks and I’m flying there to be with her. We’re hoping I could enter the consulate with her for the interview.

Do you guys have any information about the US citizen partner going to the interview too? What would I need to get inside the consulate?

The visa interview will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

K1-Visa.

Thank you!

Unless you live under a rock, I'm sure you know by now that the immigration law and philosophy in the United States has changed. Before, the focus was on reuniting families. Now we are moving towards a merit-based system. Part of that, the biggest part actually, is income.

Low-income petitioners are facing much harder scrutiny than in the past; cases that were borderline the office had discretion to let slide are now being denied. You're also seeing more and more embassies disallow co-sponsors for K-1 petitioners. In Manila, the policy on paper was not to allow co-sponsors for K-1 visa applicants. Unofficially, they would bend the rule for couples of similar ages. Now, even that's changing.

The US government just wants to see that you can support your partner since they won't be able to work until their EAD is approved, which takes months.

I don't normally opine in this capacity but I must say I agree with the government on this. The income guidelines are very generous. 125% of the poverty line which is about $27,000 a year. You can make that working full time at McDonalds. If you can't clear 22k, you need to sort your own finances before you're ready to petition anyone, quite frankly. I do have sympathy for the students and people like that but the 45 year old who makes 19k a year trying to bring in an 18 year old Filipina? Honestly, I think he needs to do some soul searching to get his own house (more likely his parents' house) in order.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1M7HrrTCoU/

Hello, I guess apparently I forgot to check the box "no" about the question related to going through a marriage broker (I'm pretty sure I did, but whatever). For the RFE letter, do I just check it no, and submit the cover sheet and that paper back to the office in an envelope? No other papers?

Hi,

I was wondering what are the most common reasons why people get RFE's

For a K-1 visa interview, are you allowed to bring in your phone?

Also, is it required to bring the DS-160 confirmation page?

Thank you!