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  Updated: 03/V/04

Legal Immigration Family Equity Act
("LIFE" Act)

Versión en español


New V, K-3 and K-4 Non-Immigrant Visas

On December 21, 2000 the President signed into law a major immigration legislative package called the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act (LIFE).

Legal Immigration Family Equity Act   (go to page 225, Title XI)

The LIFE Act creates two new categories of non-immigrant visas:

    V - This non-immigrant status is available to the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents (LPR) who are the beneficiaries of F2A Second Preference immigrant visa petitions filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To be eligible, applicants must have been waiting more than three years for an immigrant visa, whether due to processing delays or unavailability of a visa number. The V Visa pertains only to those I-130 petitions filed on or before December 21, 2000.

    K - This visa category is available to spouses of U.S. citizens for whom an immigrant visa petition (Form I-130) has been filed with USCIS, but due to processing delays, the petition has not yet been approved by USCIS. This non-immigrant visa status allows these spouses and their minor children to enter the United States to wait for USCIS approval of the immigrant visa petition. Issuance of a K-3 Visa is further dependent upon approval by USCIS of a second petition, Form I-129F, which must be filed in the U.S. If the marriage occurred outside the United States, a K-3 may only be issued by a consular officer in the country where the marriage took place. The K-3 Visa is a permanent addition to the list of visa classifications. K-3 visas will be available to those whose I-130 petitions are filed before, on, or after the date of enactment of the LIFE Act.

    K-4 - This visa category is available to minor children of U.S. citizens for whom an immigrant visa petition has been filed with USCIS, but due to processing delays, the petition has not yet been approved by USCIS. This new non-immigrant visa status allows these minor children to enter the United States to wait for USCIS approval of the immigrant visa petition. However, issuance of a K-4 Visa is further dependent on a K-3 Visa being issued concurrently to one parent.


Required Documents for V Visa, K-3 Visa and K-4 Visa

  • Medical exams for immigrant visa, performed by a physician listed by the Embassy (names will be provided with the instructions mailed to the applicant)
  • Police certificate (for anyone 18 or older)
  • Evidence of family relationship with the petitioner
  • Evidence of economic support

All children of V Visa and K-3 Visa applicants will have to sign a notification stating that if they marry before they are admitted to the U.S., or before receiving an adjustment of status, they will no longer be elegible for the visa.

Each applicant must pay $100.00 (one-hundred dollars or the Colombian peso equivalent) at any branch of the Banco Union Colombiano. V Visa applicants must make sure that they are NOT assigned an interview date by the Bank; K Visa applicants should present their Embassy appointment letter at the Bank.