At a Glance

• CR1 visa issued to individuals married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  
  
• CR1 for couples married less than 2 years; IR1 for couples married more than 2 years.
  
  
• Replaces K3 visa, allowing immediate conditional green card for spouses.
  
  
• Application involves filing I-130 form, providing documents, with 18-24 months processing time.
  
  
  

Is your spouse a U.S. citizen?

Does your spouse hold a green card?

Do you want to move to the U.S. to stay together with them?

If you answered yes to all these questions, you can go ahead and enter the U.S. with the help of a CR1 visa.

So what exactly is a CR1 visa?

Who can get it?

What are the documents required?

What Is a CR1 Visa?

A CR1 visa, also called IR1 spousal visa, is an immigrant visa issued to an alien who is married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and wishes to live in the U.S. with their spouse.

The CR in CR1 stands for “conditional resident.”

That is because this visa is only provided to couples who are married for less than 2 years.

Similarly, the IR in IR1 stands for immediate relative and this visa is granted to couples who are married for precisely more than 2 years.

Who Is Eligible for a CR1 Visa?

It is important to mention that the CR1 visa can only be initiated by your U.S. petitioner. Thus, it is essential that the petitioner:

• Is a U.S. citizen or in possession of a green card.
  
  
• Must be legally married to the person this process is initiated for.
  
  
• Must meet the visa income requirements.

It is also important to mention that the most common reason behind the denial of a CR1 visa is the unavailability of enough proof of a bona fide marriage, supporting documents.

Documents Required for a CR1 Visa

As with any visa, your success rate depends on the availability of the correct documents. To help you put the right foot forward, here is a list of major documents needed:

• Application I-130 which is used to petition for your spouse.
  
  
  
• Application I-130A supplemental to the I-130
  
  
  
• Form G-1145 which is an electronic communication form.
  
  
  
• I-130 Cover letter to identify what supporting documents are being submitted.
  
  
  
• Proof of marriage a marriage contract or certificate.
  
  
  
• If applicable to either the sponsor or alien spouse, your previous marriage divorce decree, annulment or death certificate.
  
  
  
• Additional proof of marriage such as a joint bank account, savings account, land or home purchased together, or having children together.
  
  
  
• 2×2 Passport style photos of the couple.
  
  
  
• Proof of US Citizenship or permanent residency.
  
  
  
• DS-260—which is an electronic application for an immigrant visa.
  
  
  
• Medical examination completed together with DS3025 Vaccination Documentation Worksheet.
  
  
  
• Affidavit of support form I-864 and all financial supporting documents, possibly assets, or a joint sponsor.
  
  
  

How Much Does a CR1 Visa Cost?

The cost involved with the CR1 visa is significant. In addition to the fixed government costs, you might also have to incur additional costs which vary depending on your situation.

The total government fee comes out close to $1,675. including $675. for a USCIS filing fee, $445. for an NVC fee, and $220. for a USCIS immigrant fee, plus a medical exam which might cost close to $335.

The good news is that once your visa is approved, you won’t need to apply for a green card which will definitely be a savings compared to a K1 Visa.

→ The filing fee of $675. is paid first.

→ Many months later you will pay the $445.

→ The medical fee comes a bit later it is $335.

→ Lastly will be the green card fee $220.

What is the IR1 visa?

The IR1 visa is a more permanent spousal visa, initially valid for a period of 10 years.

This is an immigrant visa that allows the spouse of a US citizen to enter the United States as a permanent resident from the outset, without qualification, where the acronym “IR” stands for “Immediate Relative”.

This type of visa will be granted to applicants who have been married to an American citizen for more than 2 years.

IR1 Qualifications

The IR1 Spousal Visa is pretty much the exact same process as the CR1 Visa, it has the same government fees and the timeline are the same.

The only difference will be the green card issued to an IR1 Spouse will be a 10 year green card instead of a 2 year conditional resident green card.

• Application I-130 which is used to petition for your spouse.
  
  
  
• Application I-130A supplemental to the I-130
  
  
  
• Form G-1145 which is an electronic communication form.
  
  
  
• I-130 Cover letter to identify what supporting documents are being submitted.
  
  
  
• Proof of marriage a marriage contract or certificate.
  
  
  
• If applicable to either the sponsor or alien spouse, your previous marriage divorce decree, annulment or death certificate.
  
  
  
• Additional proof of marriage such as a joint bank account, savings account, land or home purchased together, or having children together.
  
  
  
• 2×2 Passport style photos of the couple.
  
  
  
• Proof of US Citizenship or permanent residency.
  
  
  
• DS-260—which is an electronic application for an immigrant visa.
  
  
  
• Medical examination completed together with DS3025 Vaccination Documentation Worksheet.
  
  
  
• Affidavit of support form I-864 and all financial supporting documents, possibly assets, or a joint sponsor.
  
  
  

How Much Does a IR1 Visa Cost?

The cost involved with the IR1 visa is significant. In addition to the fixed government costs, you might also have to incur additional costs which vary depending on your situation.

The total government fee comes out close to $1,675. including $675. for a USCIS filing fee, $445. for an NVC fee, and $220. for a USCIS immigrant fee, plus a medical exam which might cost close to $335.

The good news is that once your visa is approved, you won’t need to apply for a green card which will definitely be a savings compared to a K1 Visa.

→ The filing fee of $675. is paid first.

→ Many months later you will pay the $445.

→ The medical fee comes a bit later it is $335.

→ Lastly will be the green card fee $220.

A K3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows the foreign-born spouse of a U.S. citizen to enter into the United States under temporary legal status while waiting for approval of permanent residency.

The K3 Visa is similar in it’s use as the CR1 Visa, with much more cost involved and additional paperwork.

Theoretically, the K3 visa category is the perfect solution for couples who don’t live together in the US but want to.

It helps to eliminate or at least shorten the extended separation between spouses which is associated with the immigration process.

However, the U.S. government now will seldom issues this visa, which means couples have a hard time getting it.

What applications and supporting documents will you need while filing for the K3 Spouse Visa?

• Application I-130 which is used to petition for your spouse.
  
  
  
• Application I-129F once the I-797C is received.
  
  
  
• Form G-1145 which is an electronic communication form.
  
  
  
• I-130 Cover letter to identify what supporting documents are being submitted.
  
  
  
• Proof of marriage a marriage contract or certificate.
  
  
  
• If applicable to either the sponsor or alien spouse, your previous marriage divorce decree, annulment or death certificate.
  
  
  
• Additional proof of marriage such as a joint bank account, savings account, land or home purchased together, or having children together.
  
  
  
• 2×2 Passport style photos of the couple.
  
  
  
• Proof of US Citizenship or permanent residency.
  
  
  
• DS-160—which is an electronic application for an immigrant visa.
  
  
  
• Medical examination completed together with DS3025 Vaccination Documentation Worksheet.
  
  
  
• Affidavit of support form I-134 and all financial supporting documents, possibly assets, or a joint sponsor.

K3 Visa Processing Time

K3 visa processing, on average, takes about 19 months. This is just about as long as it takes USCIS to approve the marriage green card application.

Because of this lengthy processing time, most people find that it’s not worth it to apply for a K3 visa.

Unless the processing times change, the K3 visa should probably be avoided, as it involves an unnecessary step and additional expense including an extra $280. filing fee.

Government Fees to expect,

“If they approve your request for K3”

“The total government fee comes out close to $1,955. including $675. for a USCIS filing fee, $445. for an NVC fee, plus K3 has to do the non-immigrant visa application fee $280. and $220. for a USCIS green card fee, plus a medical exam which might cost close to $335.

The good news is that once your visa is approved, you won’t need to apply for a green card which will definitely be a savings compared to a K1 Visa.

→ The filing fee of $675. is paid first.

→ Many months later you will pay the $445.

→ Many months later you will pay the non-immigrant application fee$280.

→ The medical fee comes a bit later it is $335.

→ Lastly will be the green card fee $220.

The overall cost just in government fees is quite higher and the processing is no longer any faster than applying for CR1/IR1 Visas.