The Behind-The-Scenes Legal Process You Don't See On 90 Day Fiance
"90 Day Fiance" gives fans all the juiciest drama they could ever ask for. From Season 4 featuring Azan Tefou telling his fiancee Nicole Nafzinger that he's only 55% attracted to her, to Larissa Santos Lima claiming whoever is against the queen (aka herself) will die, to "Big Ed" Brown telling Rose Vega she needs to shave her legs, "90 Day Fiance" provides fans with moments they can't look away from.
All the drama might be the reason TLC strays away from the actual purpose behind the show. Before "90 Day" took on the name, the 90-day fiance visa — officially called the K-1 visa — is the way couples are able to bring their foreign-born fiances to the United States. While TLC follows some pieces of what goes on during the 90 days in which the couples are to be married, the show focuses more on the drama. So, if you've ever wondered what happens legally during "90 Day Fiance," keep reading to find out.
First, 90 Day Fiance couples fill out paperwork
Legal jargon doesn't make for the best TV, as it tends to get complicated with several steps. For couples on "90 Day Fiancé" looking to bring their foreign-born fiance over, the partner who is a legal U.S. citizen must first file the I-129F form, also called "Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)."
From there, there are multiple steps for the couple to follow. In order to receive the visa, following the I-129F form, the couple must prove they intend to marry within 90-days and that they are both legally allowed to marry one another (meaning any past marriages ended through divorce or annulment). The couple must also prove that they've met at least once in person before filing.
While you may be thinking there aren't that many steps to take — just wait, those were only to apply for the visa in the first place! Once all the forms are filled out and sent in, the USCIS (or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) determines whether the relationship is valid. If they determine the relationship is real, then the paperwork is sent over to the foreign-born fiance.
Then, there are interviews
Once the paperwork filing has been accepted, the forms are sent to the U.S. Embassy closest to where the fiance lives. From there, the foreign-born fiance will conduct an interview where the U.S. Department of State will decide whether they qualify for the K-1 visa. If the fiance is approved by the Department of State, filming is back on for TLC. From there, the fiance has six months to come to the U.S. before their visa expires. Not only that, the second the foreign-born fiance lands in the U.S. the 90-day countdown to marriage begins.
While this application seems doable, it is easier said than done. According to Immigration Help, the full process takes anywhere from a year to 18 months and can cost around $800 in total. Not only that, the probability of the application being denied is higher than many would imagine, as currently more than 35% of couples are denied. So much goes into the fiance visa that if "90 Day Fiance" even tried to explain it all, there would be no time left for drama. And let's be honest, what do we really want to see on TV?