The Flow of Immigrant Fiancés to the United States

Key Findings

K-1 Visa Issuances:

• 2023 issuances (19,825) were 7% lower than 2022 and far below pre-pandemic levels (35,881 in 2019).
• K-1 visas made up only 0.1% of all nonimmigrant visas in 2023.

I-129F Approvals and Denials:

• Approvals hit a 12-year high in 2024 with 56,382 approvals, up from 42,661 in 2023.
• Denial rates dropped from a peak of 37% in 2022 to 27.8% in 2023.

Processing Times:

• Peaked at 13.9 months in 2023, but improved to 8.5 months in 2024 and 6.1 months in early FY2025.
• USCIS improvements, including digital filing, AI automation, and better workload distribution, have helped reduce backlogs.

Top Countries for K Visa Issuances:

• Philippines: Still number 1, but visa issuances fell 44% from 6,038 in 2022 to 3,404 in 2023.
• Mexico: Increased 40%, rising to 2,096 visas.
• Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Cuba entered the top 10, reflecting a shift toward more Latin American applicants.
• Ukraine & Russia dropped from the top 10 due to the war and U.S. consular closures.

Top U.S. Destinations for K-1 Visa Holders:

• California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois were the most common states for K-1 visa applicants, accounting for 34% of all cases.

Introduction

The K-1 fiancé visa is designed to help reunite U.S. citizens with their non-citizen fiancés. Under the K-1 visa program, eligible foreign nationals are granted temporary entry into the United States to marry their U.S. citizen partners within a designated timeframe. Subsequently, they can apply for adjustment of status to become lawful permanent residents.

History

The origins of the K-1 fiancé visa can be traced back to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which initially introduced the concept of allowing foreign national fiancés to enter the U.S. for marriage purposes. However, the modern framework for the K-1 visa was significantly shaped by the Immigration Act of 1990, which streamlined and formalized the process.

Over the years, the K-1 visa has played a vital role in reuniting families and fostering international relationships. It has provided a pathway for couples who met across borders to come together, marry, and establish a life in the United States. The K-1 visa program has been appreciated for its humanitarian aspects, allowing engaged couples to be physically present during the wedding planning and celebration, which strengthens their emotional bonds.

Impact of COVID-19 on K-1 Visa Applications

Even as the K-1 visa remains an enduring facet of U.S. immigration, the lingering repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, have persistently disrupted its processes.

The processing time for the I-129F petition, the first step in the K-1 visa application, experienced marked fluctuations before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, the wait times for Form I-129F hovered around a relatively brisk 5 to 7 months. However, as the pandemic took its toll and extended into the following year, these timelines ballooned to a staggering 21 months in late 2022 and into early 2023. This represents a threefold increase, and an added year and a half to the waiting times compared to the pre-pandemic period. Such a dramatic surge underscores the profound challenges and delays introduced by the pandemic to the K-1 visa application process.

However, processing times started to drop in 2024, to 8.5 months and even further in early FY2025, to 6.1 months.

K-1 Visa Issuances

K-1 visa issuances decreased in FY2023, from 21,315 in 2022 to 19,825 in 2023 — a 7% decrease. The number of K-1 visas issued are still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels of 35,881 in 2019, or the decade-high of 38,403 in 2016. Note: For issuances, FY 2023 is the latest data is available.

Compared to other visa types, the K-1 visa has a smaller number of annual issuances. In FY 2023, the K-1 visa had 19,825 issuances. In comparison, the B-1/B-2 travel visa had nearly 6 million annual issuances in 2023. Annual K-1 visas made up only 0.1% of all nonimmigrant visas in 2023.

What’s the difference between approvals and issuances?

• Approvals (Form I-129F Approval): This refers to when USCIS approves a U.S. citizen’s petition (Form I-129F) for their foreign fiancé. Approval means the petition meets the eligibility requirements, but it does not guarantee that the visa will be issued. The case is then sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) and the U.S. embassy or consulate for further processing.
• Issuances (K-1 Visa Issuance): This refers to when a U.S. consulate actually grants the K-1 visa to the foreign fiancé after an interview and background checks. Even if USCIS approves a petition, the visa may still be denied at the consular stage due to inadmissibility, missing documents, or other factors.

In short, an approval is a step in the process, while an issuance means the fiancé received the actual visa to travel to the U.S.

I-129F Approvals and Denials

The backlog of Form I-129F petitions has fluctuated over the past decade, peaking at more than 55,000 in 2022. The surge likely reflected pandemic-related delays that slowed processing times across the immigration system. Since then, the number of pending applications has steadily declined, falling to just under 24,000 in 2024. While the drop suggests progress in clearing the backlog, the numbers remain above pre-pandemic levels, underscoring the continued strain on visa processing.

Note: When speaking of fiscal years, the federal government’s fiscal year begins three months ahead of the calendar year. For instance, fiscal year 2025 started on Oct. 1, 2024.

The number of Form I-129F forms approved in 2024 reached a 12-year high, with 56,382 approvals, compared to 42,661 approvals in 2023.

The denial rate has also decreased significantly from a historical high of 37% in 2022 to 27.8% in 2023.

K-1 Petition Processing Times

K-1 processing times have trended downwards since 2023. Processing times for Form I-129F peaked in 2023 at 13.9 months before declining to 8.5 months in 2024 and 6.1 months in the first quarter of FY2025. The sharp increase from 2020 to 2023 was largely caused by pandemic-related backlogs.

USCIS has also invested in digitizing its processes to reduce backlogs and improve efficiency. Expanding online filing and automating case processing with AI have sped up adjudications. USCIS has also improved interagency data sharing for faster background checks and upgraded workload management systems to balance caseloads across service centers.

Where Do Most K-1 Visa Holders Come From?

There were some significant nationality shifts for K Visas (K-1, K-2, K-3, and K-4) in FY2023 (the latest data available).

In FY2023, the Philippines remained the top country for K visa issuance, but the number of visas granted dropped significantly from 6,038 in 2022 to 3,404 in 2023, a 44% decrease. Despite this decline, the Philippines still accounted for the largest share of K visas overall. Meanwhile, Mexico saw a 40% increase, rising from 1,495 to 2,096 visas, making it the second-largest source country. Colombia (1,100 visas), the Dominican Republic (969), and Cuba (848) all entered the top 10 in 2023, reflecting a growing share of K visas issued to Latin American applicants.

Some countries that were in the top 10 in 2022, including Ukraine and Russia, fell off the list in 2023. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.S. consular services in both countries were significantly disrupted. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow suspended most visa services in 2021, and operations at U.S. consulates in other Russian cities remain shut. This has forced Russian applicants to seek visa processing in third countries, adding delays and complications.

For Ukraine, while the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has resumed limited operations, most visa processing for Ukrainians has been handled through embassies in neighboring countries like Poland and Germany. The war has likely reduced the number of applicants able to complete the K visa process.

Meanwhile, India (518 visas, an 18% increase) and Nigeria (502 visas) maintained strong representation, though Nigeria saw a slight drop from 586 visas in 2022. Vietnam (718) and Brazil (768) remained in the top 10 but saw little movement. These trends show a decline in K visas from Asia, particularly the Philippines, while Latin America saw notable increases, likely due to higher demand and improved processing for certain countries.

Where Do Most K-1 Visa Holders Go?

California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois were the most common destinations for K-1 visa applicants in 2024, based on data of Boundless K-1 customers. Of the roughly 2,200 total K-1 customers in 2024, 34% of K-1 visa sponsors listed these five states as their current home.

Looking Ahead: The Trump Administration and K-1 Visas

Based on President Donald Trump’s first term and his campaign promises, we can anticipate several potential changes to K-1 visa processing in his second term.

During his first administration (2017-2021), K-1 visas saw significant procedural changes, including increased vetting and stricter adjudication standards. Processing times for Form I-129F increased only incrementally under Trump, and COVID-19 had a far greater impact on wait times. However, processing times for other immigration pathways, such as adjustment of status, more than doubled during Trump’s first term.

For his second term, Trump has emphasized strengthening immigration enforcement and border security. While he hasn’t outlined any specific K-1 visa policies, we can expect:

• Continued emphasis on extreme vetting for all immigration benefits
• Potential increases in filing fees to fund enhanced security measures
• Greater scrutiny of applications from certain countries
• Possible increase or changes in documentary requirements

For couples navigating the K-1 process, preparation will be key. We recommend:

• Starting your application process early to account for potential delays
• Ensuring all documentation is thorough and complete
• Working with an experienced immigration attorney
• Staying informed about policy changes through reliable sources

While changes may create challenges, remember that K-1 visas remain a viable pathway for international couples. Boundless will continue monitoring policy developments to help you navigate your journey with confidence.

About the Data

Data from this report comes from:

The State Department’s Report of the Visa Office 2023

USCIS quarterly data for Form I-129F: Fiscal Years 2013-2023

State Department Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Classification: Fiscal Years 2018-2022

State Department Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Classification: Fiscal Years 2019-2023

State Department Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Classification and Nationality: Fiscal Year 2023

Nonimmigrant Worldwide Issuance and Refusal Data by Visa Category: Fiscal Years 2013-2024

USCIS Historic Processing Times Form I-129F

Boundless customer data from 2024