What Is a Continued Intent to Marry Letter?
When you filed your I-129F, you (and your fiancé(e)) each submitted a Letter of Intent to Marry as part of the original petition package. A continued intent to marry letter is different: it's a follow-up, optional statement written after approval — sometimes months later — reaffirming that both of you still intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e)'s entry to the United States. It isn't a USCIS or State Department form, and it isn't automatically required, but it can be useful supplemental evidence in specific situations.
Why You Might Need One
The gap between I-129F approval and the actual K-1 visa interview can stretch for many months while your case sits with the National Visa Center and then the consulate. A continued intent letter is most commonly used when:
- You received a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS, the NVC, or the consulate asking you to confirm the relationship and marriage plans are still current.
- A long delay has passed since your I-129F was approved (several months to over a year) and you want your case file to reflect that intent hasn't changed.
- Your case was reopened after an initial denial or administrative processing hold.
- A consular officer asks for an updated statement at or before the visa interview.
Outside of these situations, most petitioners don't need to submit anything beyond their original letter of intent — check the specific request or instructions you received before assuming this letter is required for your case.
Individual Letters, Not a Joint Letter
As with the original letter of intent, USCIS and consular officers generally expect separate, individually written statements from the petitioner and the beneficiary — not one joint letter signed by both. Each person should describe the relationship and state their own continued intent in their own words. See our letter of intent writing guide for the same principle as it applies to the original filing.
What to Include
- A clear, current statement of intent — that you still intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e)'s entry to the United States.
- A reference to your case — the I-129F receipt number and approval date, so the letter is easy to match to your file.
- What's changed since filing — an honest update on how the relationship has continued: visits, calls, video chats, plans made together.
- Why you're writing now — if this is in response to an RFE or a specific request, say so and reference the request.
- Your signature and the date — unsigned or undated statements carry little weight.
Sample Letter Template (Beneficiary)
Below is a template you can adapt. Replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details, and write the rest in your own words rather than copying the wording exactly — a personalized letter is more convincing than a generic one.
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern:
I, [Your Full Name], am writing to reaffirm my continued intent to marry [Petitioner's Full Name] within 90 days of my entry into the United States on a K-1 fiancé visa. This statement relates to I-129F receipt number [Receipt Number], approved by USCIS on [Approval Date].
Since our petition was approved approximately [X months] ago, [Petitioner's Full Name] and I have continued to stay in close contact through [phone calls, video chats, visits, etc.]. Our plans to marry and build a life together in the United States have not changed. [Optional: add specific, personal details — a recent visit, a wedding plan, a shared decision — that show the relationship is active and genuine.]
I understand and remain fully committed to marrying [Petitioner's Full Name] within 90 days of my arrival in the United States, as required for the K-1 fiancé visa.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed Name]
[Date]
Sample Letter Template (Petitioner)
The U.S. citizen petitioner can write a mirrored version of the same letter — same structure, same case reference, same reaffirmation of intent to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s entry — but written independently and in the petitioner's own words, describing the relationship from their side.
Formatting and Signature Tips
- Type or neatly handwrite the letter, and sign it in ink.
- Keep it focused — generally one page is enough for a follow-up statement.
- Date it close to when you plan to submit or bring it, not months in advance.
- Match names, dates, and the receipt number exactly to your other case documents.
Where This Letter Fits in Your Case File
If you received an RFE, submit the letter according to the instructions in that specific request — usually through the NVC's document upload process or directly to the consulate handling your case. If no one has asked for it yet, keep signed, dated copies with your other documents and bring them to your visa interview in case the consular officer wants to see recent evidence that the relationship is still active.
Have Questions?
For more information about immigration processes and frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ page.