How long does it usually take to get a K-3 visa?

Normal processing time for a K-3 visa is five to eight months, reports VisaPro. Two agencies must approve a K-3 visa application: the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and the applicant's local U.S. consulate. USCIS approval takes three to five months, and consulate approval takes another two to three months.

A K-3 visa allows the noncitizen spouse of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States, explains the State Department. Once in the United States, the spouse may apply for citizenship or permanent residency using a Form I-130 petition. K-3 visas reduce a couple's physical separation while an immigration petition is pending. Children of a K-3 visa holder may enter the United States under a similar process with a K-4 visa.