United States•North America

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K-4 — Child of K-3 Spouse

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

2 months – 1 year

Estimated Cost

$890–$3,010 USD

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

2 years

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote work OK

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Unmarried child (under 21) of a K-3 visa holder.

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Cost Breakdown

MRV fee (per K-4 applicant)$265 USD

I-129F filing fee (K-3 spouse petition, K-4 listed on same form)$0 USD

I-765 (Employment Authorization Document)$260 USD

optional

I-539 (Extension of Stay)$420 USD

optional

I-485 (Adjustment of Status)$1,440 USD

optional

I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)$625 USD

Total$890–$3,010 USD

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

2 years

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be an unmarried child under age 21 of a K-3 visa applicant

Parent must hold or be applying for a K-3 visa based on a pending Form I-130

Must be listed on the same Form I-129F filed for the K-3 parent

No separate I-129F or I-130 required for the K-4 child

K-3 parent must enter the US before or simultaneously with K-4 children

K-4 may follow K-3 parent within one year of K-3 visa issuance

Medical examination required

Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)

Completed Form DS-160 (online)

Birth certificate

Marriage certificate of K-3 parent to US citizen petitioner

Divorce or death certificates for any prior spouses

Police certificates from all countries lived in for 6+ months since age 16

Medical examination by USCIS-authorized panel physician

Two 2x2 photographs meeting US visa photo requirements

Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) may be requested by consulate

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Allows child to accompany K-3 parent to the US while immigrant visa processing continues
Work authorized incident to status — no employer sponsorship needed
Explicit dual intent permitted — may pursue green card simultaneously
Direct path to permanent residence via I-485 adjustment of status
No annual numerical cap
No language test required
No separate petition or USCIS fee required for the child

Worth Knowing

Rarely issued in practice — USCIS I-130 approvals now outpace I-129F, making most applicants non-qualifying before consular interview
If I-130 is approved before K-4 visa is issued, must switch to immigrant visa process instead
K-3 parent must enter the US before or at the same time as K-4 children
Child must remain unmarried and under age 21; stay is automatically limited to day before 21st birthday
If conditional permanent residence granted (marriage under 2 years), must later file I-751 to remove conditions
Criminal history may trigger inadmissibility; waiver via I-601 may be required
Work authorization requires filing I-765 to obtain physical EAD card as documentary proof

Application Process

US citizen files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for the foreign spouse

US citizen files Form I-129F for the K-3 spouse, listing K-4 children on the same petition (no USCIS fee)

USCIS approves I-129F and forwards to National Visa Center (NVC)

NVC forwards case to appropriate US Embassy or Consulate

Each K-4 applicant completes Form DS-160 online

Pay $265 MRV fee per applicant

Schedule and attend consular interview and medical examination

Receive visa; do not open sealed document packet (opened only at US port of entry)

Note: if I-130 is approved before visa issuance, K-4 path is no longer available — must proceed via immigrant visa directly

Application Forms

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative	Fill online
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)	Fill online
DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	Fill online
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	Fill online
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-864 Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA	Fill online
I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence	Fill online
I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility	Fill online

Verified Claims (45)

Last verified Jul 2, 2026

Application Steps

US citizen files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for the foreign spouse; US citizen files F…

uscis.gov

Blockers

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uscis.gov

Can Convert To

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uscis.gov

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Cost Breakdown

MRV fee (per K-4 applicant)$265 USD

I-129F filing fee (K-3 spouse petition, K-4 listed on same form)$0 USD

I-765 (Employment Authorization Document)$260 USD

optional

I-539 (Extension of Stay)$420 USD

optional

I-485 (Adjustment of Status)$1,440 USD

optional

I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)$625 USD

Total$890–$3,010 USD

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be an unmarried child under age 21 of a K-3 visa applicant

Parent must hold or be applying for a K-3 visa based on a pending Form I-130

Must be listed on the same Form I-129F filed for the K-3 parent

No separate I-129F or I-130 required for the K-4 child

K-3 parent must enter the US before or simultaneously with K-4 children

K-4 may follow K-3 parent within one year of K-3 visa issuance

Medical examination required

Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)

Completed Form DS-160 (online)

Birth certificate

Marriage certificate of K-3 parent to US citizen petitioner

Divorce or death certificates for any prior spouses

Police certificates from all countries lived in for 6+ months since age 16

Medical examination by USCIS-authorized panel physician

Two 2x2 photographs meeting US visa photo requirements

Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) may be requested by consulate

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Allows child to accompany K-3 parent to the US while immigrant visa processing continues
Work authorized incident to status — no employer sponsorship needed
Explicit dual intent permitted — may pursue green card simultaneously
Direct path to permanent residence via I-485 adjustment of status
No annual numerical cap
No language test required
No separate petition or USCIS fee required for the child

Worth Knowing

Rarely issued in practice — USCIS I-130 approvals now outpace I-129F, making most applicants non-qualifying before consular interview
If I-130 is approved before K-4 visa is issued, must switch to immigrant visa process instead
K-3 parent must enter the US before or at the same time as K-4 children
Child must remain unmarried and under age 21; stay is automatically limited to day before 21st birthday
If conditional permanent residence granted (marriage under 2 years), must later file I-751 to remove conditions
Criminal history may trigger inadmissibility; waiver via I-601 may be required
Work authorization requires filing I-765 to obtain physical EAD card as documentary proof