K-1 visa documents needed with joint sponsor

[just a chill guy 0]

My fiancée and I are preparing to apply for a K-1 fiancé(e) visa, and we would like detailed guidance on the process based on the 2025 requirements.

About Us:

• Petitioner (U.S. Citizen Fiancée):

  • 24 years old, born in Mexico but obtained U.S. citizenship through her father.
  • Lived in Mexico until middle school, then moved to the U.S. Georgia State.
  • Graduated in 2024 and currently works for her father’s food truck business, which he owns.
  • Lives with her family, who own three houses, one of which is in her name.
  • Primarily my gf receives income in cash but started depositing it into a bank for a year.
  • Since her income is in cash and may not meet the financial requirements, we plan to have her father as a co-sponsor for the K-1 visa.

• Beneficiary (Filipino Citizen, Me):

  • 24 years old, born in the Philippines.
  • Currently living in South Korea for my studies; I have been here for five years.
  • Graduated with an Associate Degree from Dongyang Mirae University in 2023 and am now pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at Chung-Ang University, set to graduate in February 2026.
  • Fully dependent on my parents, who support my education and living expenses.
  • My mother is remarried to a Korean citizen, but I was not legally adopted.

 

 

• We need guidance on when to start the K-1 visa process and what documents we need to prepare separately as the petitioner (U.S. citizen fiancée) and the beneficiary (me, a Filipino citizen living in Korea).
• We want to ensure we meet all financial and legal requirements, especially since my fiancée receives most of her income in cash.
• We met online but we already met in person more than once this year.

Edited February 14 by just a chill guy

[alliejourney 74]

Definitely use the father as a co-sponsor if she doesn't have pay stubs or other proof of employment. (By saying she's paid in cash, I'm making the assumption that she's being paid under the table. Forgive me if I'm wrong.) And make sure that if she hasn't filed taxes, she gets all of that in order - it could become a hurdle later on if she has not been filing.

 

Otherwise, your situation sounds very straightforward and the K1 Visa guide at the top of this page should give you a good idea of everything you need. Between looking at those guides and very closely reading the instructions on the I-129F form, you should be just fine. 

[Crazy Cat 42,580]

1 hour ago, just a chill guy said:

We want to ensure we meet all financial and legal requirements, especially since my fiancée receives most of her income in cash.

Has she been properly filing taxes?  If not, that is going to be a problem.

Edited February 14 by Crazy Cat

[just a chill guy 0]

she only paid taxes for a year because its true she being paid under the table because its her father. if her father is co sponsor do we still need to prepare her financial documents?

 

[MalloryCat 332]

yes you do
when you eventually fill out the I-134, both the sponsor (your fiance) and the co-sponsor (her father) fill out separate I-134s

[Yareth 102]

On 2/14/2025 at 10:17 AM, just a chill guy said:

she only paid taxes for a year because its true she being paid under the table because its her father. if her father is co sponsor do we still need to prepare her financial documents?

 

 

The question remains if she properly filed her taxes (even if she didn't report all the cash she received). She needs to have properly filed her taxes.