Fort Lauderdale fiancé(e) visa lawyer.
You found the person you want to marry, and now an ocean or a border stands between you. The K-1 fiancé(e) visa is the path that brings them here so your life together can begin. Lisa Marie Santamarta is dedicated to helping South Florida families through the immigration system — and she will walk this road with you, step by step.
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What a K-1 fiancé(e) visa does
A Fort Lauderdale fiancé visa lawyer helps a U.S. citizen bring their intended husband or wife to the United States so the two of you can marry here. The visa that makes this possible is called the K-1 fiancé(e) visa. Once your fiancé(e) arrives, you must marry within 90 days — then your new spouse can apply for a green card and stay for good.
This visa exists for one situation: you are a U.S. citizen, you are engaged to someone who lives abroad, and you both plan to marry in the United States. It is not for couples who are already married — that is a different path, called family-based immigration. And it is not for people who only intend to date or visit. The K-1 is a promise to the U.S. government that you have met, you are free to marry, and you will marry soon after your fiancé(e) lands.
Because the K-1 is built around a real, committed relationship, the government looks closely at whether your engagement is genuine. That is where careful preparation matters most. A small gap in your paperwork or a missed deadline can stall a case for months. We help you build a clear, honest, well-documented petition so your love story is told the way the rules require — and so you spend less time waiting and more time planning a wedding.
How the K-1 process works
Immigration is federal law. Your case moves through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a U.S. consulate abroad, and — after the wedding — back to USCIS for the green card. Here is the path, step by step.
The U.S. citizen files the petition
You, the U.S. citizen, file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), with USCIS. This form opens your case and proves three things: you are a U.S. citizen, you and your fiancé(e) are both free to marry, and your relationship is real. We help you gather the proof and file it right the first time.
Approval and consular processing
After USCIS approves the petition, your case goes to the U.S. consulate in your fiancé(e)'s home country. Your fiancé(e) completes a visa application, attends a medical exam, and sits for an interview. When the consular officer is satisfied, the K-1 visa is issued.
Entry and the 90-day window
Your fiancé(e) enters the United States on the K-1 visa. From the day they arrive, the law gives you 90 days to marry. This deadline is firm — there is no extending it — so we help you plan the wedding around your fiancé(e)'s arrival.
Marriage within 90 days
You marry inside that 90-day window. Keep your marriage certificate and proof of a shared life together — a joint lease, shared finances, photos. These records matter for the next step toward a green card.
Applying for the green card
After the wedding, your new spouse files Form I-485 to apply for adjustment of status — the formal request to become a lawful permanent resident, which is what a green card represents. This lets your spouse live and work in the United States.
If questions arise
Most K-1 cases never see a courtroom. But if USCIS raises a concern, or a matter is referred to the immigration court system run by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), you will not face it alone. We stand with you through every stage.
This page provides general information about U.S. immigration matters and is not legal advice. Immigration law is federal and changes often; your specific situation requires a consultation.
What's involved, and who qualifies
The K-1 is open to a U.S. citizen who is legally free to marry and engaged to someone living abroad. In most cases the law also asks that you have met your fiancé(e) in person within the two years before you file. The rest of your case is about proof — and about avoiding the traps that slow good couples down.
Proving a real relationship (a bona fide relationship). The government wants to see that your engagement is genuine, not arranged for a visa. Photos together, messages over time, travel records, and statements from people who know you all help tell that story. The word for a true, good-faith relationship is "bona fide," and showing it clearly is the heart of a strong petition.
The 90-day rule. This is the single most important deadline in your case. Once your fiancé(e) enters on the K-1, you have 90 days to marry — no more. If you do not marry in time, the visa expires and your fiancé(e) is expected to leave the country. We make sure your wedding is planned and ready before your fiancé(e) ever boards the plane.
Prior marriages. If either of you was married before, the government needs proof that those marriages truly ended — a divorce decree, an annulment, or a death certificate. A missing or incomplete document here is one of the most common reasons a K-1 case stalls. We check these early so there are no surprises.
Your fiancé(e)'s children (the K-2 visa). If your fiancé(e) has unmarried children under 21, those children may be able to come along on what is called the K-2 visa. They are listed on the same Form I-129F petition. Keeping a family together is often the whole point — so we plan for the children from the very first filing, not as an afterthought.
Your Fort Lauderdale fiancé(e) visa lawyer
A fiancé(e) visa is not just paperwork — it is your future spouse, your wedding, and the start of a life together. You deserve a lawyer who treats it that way.
You work with the attorney. When you call DiStefano Law, you are not handed off to a case number. Lisa Marie Santamarta, Esq., handles your matter personally. She has practiced in South Florida since 2011, and she brings that steadiness to a process that can feel overwhelming.
Honest, plain-spoken guidance. Immigration rules are full of forms, deadlines, and fine print. We explain your options in everyday language, tell you what to expect, and answer your questions — including the ones you are afraid to ask.
Fees explained up front. Your first consultation is free and confidential. If we work together, your fee is clearly agreed and explained before anything begins — no surprises. (Government filing fees are separate and set by the agencies that process your case.)
Want to see the full range of how we help families and individuals? Visit our immigration overview, learn about citizenship and naturalization, or read more about Lisa Marie Santamarta.
Fiancé(e) visa questions, answered
How does a K-1 fiancé(e) visa work?
What is the 90-day rule, and what happens if we don't marry in time?
How long does a fiancé(e) visa take?
Can my fiancé(e)'s children come too?
What happens after we get married?
Lisa Marie Santamarta, Esq.
Work directly with Lisa Marie Santamarta
Bilingual — English & Spanish
Lisa Marie Santamarta guides individuals and families through the U.S. immigration system — green cards, citizenship, family-based petitions, work visas, and removal defense — and has practiced in South Florida since 2011.
Fluent in English and Spanish, she meets clients where they are and handles your matter personally, from the first consultation forward.
- Since 2011Florida attorney
- Immigration & PIpractice areas
- English & Spanishbilingual
Let's bring your fiancé(e) home.
Your first consultation is free, and everything you tell us stays private. Call DiStefano Law to talk through your fiancé(e) visa with an attorney who handles your case personally, in English and Spanish. Or reach us through our contact page.
(954) 572-8000