Fans are still trying to wrap their head around the mess that is Nicole Nafziger and Azan Tefou's relationship. The notorious couple returned for Season 3 of TLC's 90 Day Fiancé spin-off 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After and they were immediately faced with bad news that Azan's K-1 visa was denied. But Nicole consulted with a lawyer to go over her options, and the lawyer advised Nicole to apply for the K-3 visa instead in order to eventually bring Azan to the United States. But what exactly is the K-3 visa, and is that Nicole and Azan's best option?

"K-3 and CR-1 are differnt visas. K-3 is just a hybrid visa that is being phased out," a source who is familiar with the visa process explained exclusively to In Touch. "However, K visas have IMBRA (International Marriage Broker Regulation Act) and [they have] a lot stricter vetting process." The IMBRA is a protection law that requires background checks for all marriage visa sponsors. It was put in place in 2005 after two foreign women who entered the US via a K-1 visa had suffered domestic abuse and were eventually murdered by their husbands.

According to the insider, the K visas are more expensive so they wouldn't be a good option for Nicole, who is footing the bill for the applications fees while also supporting Azan financially as a single mom working on a Starbucks barista salary. "[With the] CR-1, she has a shot at getting approved," the source said. "Otherwise, her only other resort that might get him a visa is having a company sponsor him. The other visa types I am fairly sure will be denied."

It's unlikely that Azan would be able to have a company sponsor him on a work visa, since he is unemployed in his home country of Morocco. And since he was already denied for a K-1 visa, that would work against them if Nicole were to apply for any of the other K visas since IMBRA also places a limit as to how many visas the US sponsor can apply for.

But on the other hand, the K-1 denial would not hurt Azan's chances for a CR-1 visa. The odds would also be working in Nicole and Azan's favor for the CR-1 because according to the insider, there is a 50/50 that the K-1 visa will be approved, while there is a 95 percent chance that CR-1 visas will be approved. Even though 95 percent is pretty high, there are also a lot of red flags in Nicole and Azan's relationship that would put them in the five percent of couples who get the CR-1 denied.

"IMBRA alone is a big one," the source revealed. "Her hitting him on camera. Single mother supporting her child and her fiancé. Lack of affection. Differences in religion. If the immigrant has a history on social media, say, of possibly being unfaithful." These are all things that are major issues in Nicole and Azan's relationship, and they've all played out on previous seasons of 90 Day Fiancé — and Azan's alleged cheating scandal also will come into play later this season — so the footage would be easily accessible for a consular officer.

Since Season 3 of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After was filmed earlier this year, fans are just learning of Nicole's plans to move to Morocco, marry Azan in his home country, then apply for a different visa to bring him to the United States as the spouse of US citizen. According to 90 Day Fiancé YouTuber Keith Brooks, Nicole left for Morocco in February and judging by Nicole's recent social media activity, it seems like she's already back in Florida. That would mean that she spent three months in Morocco, which according to the source, doens't bode well for Azan's visa chances.

"[Three months] is not enough," the insider said. "If she is [back in the states], it could take up to a year, maybe longer to process a CR-1 at this time. And with their red flags, it will be delayed." It sounds like fans will just have to wait to see how this all plays out!

Be sure to tune into 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After, airing Sundays at 8 p.m. on TLC.