Is K1 an Immigrant or Nonimmigrant Visa?

[BDSH 0]

This is for Montreal. I'm asking mainly for the DHL reference letter to send Packet 3 away, we have the following options:

U.S. Consulate in Montreal – Immigrant Visas

U.S. Consulate in Montreal – Non Immigrant Visas

The forms we've been filling out say nonimmigrant at the top, and on travel.state.gov the K1 is classified as nonimmigrant, but on the consulate website we registered at, they have K1 listed under the immigrant section!

Good ol' WIkipedia says: Although a K-1 visa is legally classified as a non-immigrant visa, it usually leads to important immigration benefits and is therefore often processed by the Immigrant Visa section of United States embassies and consulates worldwide.

So should we check immigrant or non-immigrant? Thanks!

[Inky 1,111]

Moved to Canada section as your question is specifically about how Montreal US consul in Canada treats their K-1 visa.

[himher 634]

Its a non-immigrant visa issued from the IV section of the embassy/consulate

[Inky 1,111]

Its a non-immigrant visa issued from the IV section of the embassy/consulate

This is a issue to Canada. Montreal calls them IMMIGRANT visas.

[BDSH 0]

Oops, sorry for not posting in the Canada subforum. And thanks for the replies. Immigrant it is!

[himher 634]

Nobody calls them immigrant visas. All countries however issue K visas from the immigrant visa sections/units and all countries administratively treat them as immigrant visas.

This is a issue to Canada. Montreal calls them IMMIGRANT visas.

[Inky 1,111]

Nobody calls them immigrant visas. All countries however issue K visas from the immigrant visa sections/units and all countries administratively treat them as immigrant visas.

Sorry but you are wrong Montreal calls them immigrant visas.

[pocheros 101]

Immigrant visa. This is how I know- you deal with the IV unit (immigrant visa) in Montreal. When I sent my packet 3 it was addressed to them.

It is "technically" not an immigrant visa but for all intents and purposes, treat it like an immigrant visa. On the day of the interview they will ask for immigrant only visa applicants to get in the elevator- that includes K1s. At POE you will tell them you're immigrating. Et cetera.

Edited February 10, 2012 by pocheros

[SF2007 48]

I'd pick ''Immigrant'' for the purpose of mailing the documents. It needs to be sent to the IV Unit... But technically K1 is classified as a nonimmigrant visa as it ''only'' allows you to travel to the U.S. to marry within 90 days. What allows you to stay after that is filing for AOS and obtaining your green card.

Edited February 10, 2012 by SF2007