Yes, U.S. citizens can apply for a K-3 visa for their foreign spouse. The K-3 is a nonimmigrant visa that allows your spouse to come to the U.S. while waiting for approval of the immigrant visa petition (Form I-130).

You may apply for a K-3 visa by filing Form I-130 for your spouse and then submitting Form I-129F on their behalf. If approved, your spouse can enter the U.S. as a K-3 nonimmigrant and later adjust status to a green card holder. However, in practice, many K-3 applications are no longer needed because immigrant visa petitions are often processed as quickly as, or faster than, K-3 petitions.

The K-3 visa was created to shorten the separation time between U.S. citizens and their foreign spouses. While still legally available, USCIS often closes K-3 cases if the underlying I-130 is approved first. As a result, many couples proceed directly with immigrant visa processing rather than relying on the K-3.