Can I change a B2 visa to a K-1 visa?
No. You can not “change” the visa. You certainly may apply for a new visa. The B-2 visa was granted as you convinced US immigration you wanted to visit the USA temporarily for sightseeing or similar purposes. The K-1 visa is totally different, now you are applying because you wish to marry a US citizen, and once arrived to the USA, you plan to remain permanently. See How to apply for a Fiance Visa..
It will arouse suspicion, but is this is your honest intent, you should be ok. Also, you do not have to change your B2 into a K1, and, in fact, you cannot. If you get married while still in the US on a B2, then you can immediately apply for a change of status; while that change of status processes, you are completely legal, even if your B2 expires, so long as you were legal when it was filed. I would suggest, if they make an issue of it, then hire an immigration lawyer; they’ll help you. Also, they generally try to stop it by not granting the B2, rather than refusing your change of status, but, as long as you are honest with them when applying for the B2, they cannot claim that you misrepresented your reasons for the B2 and use that to try to withhold a change of status. You could also use the visa-waver to come to the US; it wouldn’t be for 6 months, though, only 3. I would say the best way to present this whole deal is to say that you want to meet him in real life to determine if the
Merpius’ answer is mostly correct. I assume you are thinking of applying for the B2 visa so you can stay for 6 months and adjust status to CR1 once you get married in the U.S. (knowing that you cannot adjust status from a Visa Waiver Program entry, nor can you stay longer than 90 days on the Visa Waiver Program). You would only apply for a K-1 visa if you left the U.S. before adjusting status and you want to go back to the U.S. to get married there. However, to qualify for a B-2 visa, you must demonstrate that you have the intent to return back to your residence abroad. So, unless you expect this experiment to fail, you would not really have that intent. It’s a judgment call on behalf of the consular officer.
Yes you can change the status of your non immigrant classification from a B-2 (visitor for pleasure) to a K-1 (Fiance of a U.S. Citizen). You need to get a B-2 first and figure out if you want to be with the person first. Coming to visit him can seem suspicious but if you are not coming to get married to the subject, then you are not subject to grounds for removal especially if you are not coming to live here. If you do decide to get a K-1 visa you will have to leave the country and apply for the visa through the U.S. embassy in the UK. After getting the K-1 visa you must marry the U.S. citizen within 90 days of your first entry on the K-1 in the U.S. After getting married you could then adjust status from a K-1 to a CR1 or CR6 Lawful Permanent Resident. This is a “green card” and CR means conditional resident. After 2 years of being a conditional resident you will receive an IR1 or an IR6 status with a new “green card.” This means the conditional status is now lifted.
