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

60-365 days

Application Fee

3,010 USD

Stay Duration

2 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Allowed

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.

745-char 3-paragraph text with P3 starting 'This visa is ideal for'

Fee 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
I-539 (Extension of Stay)	420 USD
I-485 (Adjustment of Status)	1,440 USD
I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)	625 USD

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

2 years

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY 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

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

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 ineligible 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 (31)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps	US citizen files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for the foreign spouse; US citizen files F…	uscis.gov
Fee Breakdown	MRV fee (per K-4 applicant): 265 USD; I-129F filing fee (K-3 spouse petition, K-4 listed on same for…	uscis.gov
Fees	$265 MRV fee per applicant; I-129F filing fee is $0 for K-3 spouse (K-4 children listed on same peti…	travel.state.gov
Forms	I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative — filed for K-3 spouse); I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) — K…	uscis.gov
Forms · DS-160 · description	Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	ceac.state.gov
Forms · I-129F · description	Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)	uscis.gov
Forms · I-130 · description	Petition for Alien Relative	uscis.gov
Forms · I-485 · description	Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	uscis.gov

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