'90 Day Fiance': The Casting Requirement Every Couple Must Meet

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For many of the couples on "90 Day Fiance," the show has captured only a small portion of their lives together. The TLC reality show portrays couples from different countries trying to make a romance work. For those coming to the United States, they have 90 days to get married before their visa expires.

Of course, not every couple on the show has the same experience. One thing that each couple has in common? They have to obtain a K-1 visa on their own volition before applying to be on the show.

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One thing fans of the show always want to know is whether the couples on "90 Day Fiance" are real. In fact, the couple must already have a relationship and visa before they can be on the show. An exception is made for the franchises, like "Before the 90 Days."

Matt Sharp, who produces the television show featuring engaged couples, says that the people who appear on the show are already in the queue to obtain visas. The process of obtaining a K-1 visa can take months, even years.

In order to apply for a visa, the couples must also obtain a passport, medical exam, police certificates, divorce certificates, evidence of financial support, and more. It is a rigorous procedure, and it is just one step on the way toward citizenship.

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Producers insist that the show is authentic and raw, which is a point of contention with viewers. The show aims to provide controversial and complex relationships of Americans in relationships with those who live in other countries. Each couple featured on the show has a different background.

Of course, all of this means that many viewers question whether the show is real or not. For many viewers, knowing that the couples are already in the process of obtaining a visa may quash some rumors.

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This may contradict what some of the cast members from recent seasons have said about production. Stars Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio have both claimed that the show portrayed them negatively with some misrepresentation. They say that the show is not scripted but does pose some content that is not entirely "off the cuff."

Also important is the fact that there are other rules that couples must abide by in order to get this K-1 visa and have a successful run on the show.

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One of the biggest requirements couples must meet? A willingness to repeat lines and redo scenes for the cameras. They must also be okay with some editing tricks that might portray them in a less-than-positive light. Many people who have appeared on the show have complained about this.

Additionally, the couples must find each other organically. They cannot expect the producers to find them a mate to be on the show, and casting works based on the personalities of both individuals who want to appear on the show.