K-4 Child of a K-3 Spouse
K-4 is the derivative status for the unmarried child under 21 of a K-3 spouse. It exists so a family is not split while the US citizen's immigrant petition is pending. Like K-3 it is now rarely used, because most cases convert to immediate relative immigrant visas before the K route is needed.
- Срок
- Two years from admission under 8 CFR 214.2(k), matching the K-3 parent. Status terminates 30 days after the K-4 child marries, or after the parent's petition or application is denied or revoked.
- Продление
- Extensions in two-year intervals alongside the K-3 parent, while the underlying I-130 or adjustment remains pending.
- Работа
- Yes with an application. A K-4 must file Form I-765 with USCIS to receive an employment authorisation document.
- Двойное намерение
- true - K-4 shares the K-3's bridging purpose to permanent residence.
- Члены семьи
- Not applicable. K-4 is itself the derivative classification.
- Путь к грин-карте
- Adjustment of status on Form I-485. A K-4 child needs a separate Form I-130 filed by the US citizen stepparent to become a permanent resident, unless they qualify as the citizen's stepchild through the marriage. Ageing past 21 or marrying is the main risk.
- Срок рассмотрения
- Tracks the K-3 parent's case, which in turn is usually overtaken by the underlying immigrant petition.
Кто подходит
- Unmarried children under 21 of a K-3 visa applicant
- The child must have been listed on the US citizen's Form I-129F
- The child must be admitted at the same time as, or after, the K-3 parent
Требования
- The K-3 parent must hold or be approved for K-3 status
- The child must be named on the same Form I-129F
- Own Form DS-160 and own MRV fee
- Own medical examination by a panel physician
- Police certificates if aged 16 or over
- Since March 30, 2026 the K-1, K-2 and K-3 vetting expansion applies in practice to accompanying K-4 children as well
Как подать
- 1
Confirm the US citizen listed the child on the Form I-129F filed for the K-3 spouse
- 2
Complete a separate Form DS-160 for the child and pay the $265 MRV fee
- 3
Book the child's own panel physician medical examination
- 4
Get police certificates for any child aged 16 or over
- 5
Attend the interview with the parent, bringing the birth certificate and proof of relationship
- 6
Travel with the K-3 parent or after them, never before
- 7
File Form I-765 after admission if the child needs to work
- 8
File Form I-485, with a separate Form I-130 where required, once the parent's petition is approved
Сборы и формы
| MRV nonimmigrant visa application fee, K category | $265 per K-4 child |
| Form I-129F | $0 additional; the child is covered by the $675 petition if listed on it |
| Form I-130 for the child, where a separate petition is needed to adjust | $675 when collected by US embassies and consulates for USCIS |
| Form I-765 for employment authorisation | $520 paper, $470 online |
| Form I-485 adjustment of status | $1,440 paper or $1,390 online; $950 paper or $900 online for a child under 14 filing with a parent |
| USCIS immigrant fee | $0 for K nonimmigrants |
Что изменилось в 2025 и 2026 годах
- March 30, 2026: the expanded online presence review named K-1, K-2 and K-3; accompanying K-4 children should expect the same treatment in practice.
- Jan. 1, 2026: Presidential Proclamation 10998, signed Dec. 16, 2025, took effect at 12:01 a.m. EST and replaced Proclamation 10949 (signed June 4, 2025, effective June 9, 2025). It fully suspends visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries - Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - plus holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, across every nonimmigrant and immigrant category. It only reaches people who were outside the United States and held no valid visa at 12:01 a.m. EST on Jan. 1, 2026; no earlier-issued visa was revoked under it.
- Jan. 1, 2026: PP 10998 removed the immediate relative and adoption visa exceptions from the earlier proclamation.
- Oct. 1, 2025: the interview waiver rollback announced Sept. 18, 2025 took effect and superseded the July 25, 2025 guidance. Almost every nonimmigrant applicant now needs an in-person interview. The standing carve-outs are A-1, A-2, C-3 other than personal staff, G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, TECRO E-1, diplomatic and official visas, and 12-month renewals of B-1/B-2, Mexican border crossing cards and H-2A. Waiver-eligible applicants must also apply in their country of nationality or residence, must never have been refused a visa unless overcome or waived, and must have no apparent ineligibility. The old under-14 and over-79 age exemptions were abolished. No further update has issued as of September 2026.
- July 15, 2026: State told nonimmigrant applicants to interview in their country of nationality or residence, or at the designated processing post if their country has no routine operations. Applying elsewhere is allowed but harder to qualify, the MRV fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, and waits are much longer. A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO and diplomatic applicants are exempt.
- July 4, 2025: Public Law 119-21 added non-waivable immigration surcharges on top of normal filing fees. The ones that touch nonimmigrants are the Form I-94 fee, held at $24 for FY 2026, the parole fee, adjusted to $1,020 for FY 2026, parolee EAD surcharges of $560 initial and $280 renewal, and a statutory visa integrity fee of at least $250 on nonimmigrant visa issuance. The $250 visa integrity fee is enacted but unverified as collected: it appears nowhere on the State Department fee schedule as of September 2026 and no implementing rule has published.
Где чаще всего ошибаются
- Not being listed on the parent's Form I-129F, which forecloses K-4 entirely.
- Travelling ahead of the K-3 parent.
- Marrying while in K-4 status, which terminates it 30 days later.
- Assuming the K-4 can adjust on the parent's I-130 without a petition of their own.
- Ageing out past 21 during the wait, since Child Status Protection Act relief here is limited.
- Assuming work authorisation is automatic. Form I-765 is required.
Также в категории Fiancé and spouse
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