CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines tips that can ensure an approval. Who can file, requirements, cost, who can use IR1 or K3 visa? Timeline of events.
CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines, Tips for Success
Spouse Visa Types
USCIS – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, has three types of visas that are used for petitioning an alien husband or wife to the U.S. to become a legal permanent resident, seek employment, and eventually, naturalize to a U.S. Citizen, if they so desire? CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines.
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What are the 3-visa types used for an alien spouse:
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- The most common is CR1 Spouse Visa
. - Another that is used a lot is the IR1 Spouse Visa
. - Then lastly is the K3 Spouse Visa, which is not as popular.
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Who gets the CR1 Spouse Visa, what about IR1 and K3 visas?
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Though, not as popular as the K1 fiance visa, plenty of couples still use the CR1 spouse visa along with IR1 and K3 visas. Because couples had thought a marriage visa would bring the alien spouse to the U.S. faster, which simply is not true?
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Filing for a CR1 spouse visa or IR1, K3 has routinely been taking on average between 15 – 18 months to get. Couples, who have chosen to get the K1 fiance visa, have gotten their visa in hand between 8 – 10 months.
CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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Now for those couples who still have a choice, you can marry in the United States with the K1 fiance visa. But if you marry your loved one outside of the U.S., you will need to file for a spouse visa.
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Who will receive a CR1 Spouse Visa:
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Couples who have married in another country other than the U.S. and have been married less than 2-years will be given a CR1 Spouse Visa.
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The couples marriage is not yet recognized as an immediate relative relationship yet, and instead will be given the CR1 – Conditional Resident 1, meaning it is for a spouse.
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Only a U.S. Citizen can file to get a CR1 Spouse Visa. So if you are a green card holder, you can file for your husband or wife once the marriage has reached it’s 2-year anniversary, unless you arrived to the United States and already had a spouse where the marriage is more than 2-year old?
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Who will receive an IR1 Spouse Visa:
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Anyone, who is living in the United States, and is a U.S. Citizen or Green card holder, may file to petition an alien spouse to permanently live and work in the United States by getting the IR1 – Immediate Relative 1, meaning spouse. Those couples who have been married 2-years or longer are entitled to this.
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Filing for an immediate relative spouse IR1 visa, still will take between 15 – 18 months to get. But the IR1 immediate relative has a privilege that the CR1 and K3 visa doesn’t have which the IR1 allows your alien spouse into the United States where they will receive the much desired 10-year green card.
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CR1 and K3 spouse visas do not have the same privilege in getting the 10-year green card after their U.S. arrival, and instead have to get a 2-year conditional resident green card and work their way up the immigration ladder before being eligible for a 10-yeargreen card.
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K3 Spouse Visa is a choice versus the CR1 spouse visa
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The K3 spouse visa basically works the same way as the CR1 except, it is designed to get processed faster for the foreign spouse to enter the United States while waiting for their 2-year conditional resident card to process?
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The K3 visa once again, is only used for newly weds or marriages less than 2-years old? USCIS and the National Visa Center does not guarantee the couple will receive a K3 spouse visa as more often they end up getting the CR1 spouse visa instead, due to the tremendous back log of applications.
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In the long run, the K3 spouse visa is by far the most expensive to get compared to getting a CR1 spouse visa. Often times it is not worth the amount of money paid to the government, as it really doesn’t seem to get processed much quicker nor does it offer any green card benefits if you go this route?
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Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about which spouse visa to get, or if you need to get a spouse visa but not sure about your requirements?
CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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You can also go here for more on spouse visas, (Read More..)
Spouse Visa Requirements
Requirements to apply for a United States spouse visa will depend on the visa type.
CR1 /IR1 Spouse Visa Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen, and have maintained a domicile U.S. address for the past 6-months prior to filing the I-130.
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. - If you are an LPR – legal permanent residence living in the US. then you are also qualified.
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. - This is for married couples who have been married less than two years.
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. - The couple must be legally married.
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. - The sponsor is the U.S. Citizen who will be filing for the alien spouse, and must be able to show that they meet the poverty guidelines.
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. - The married couple will need to prove that their marriage is genuine and sincere.
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. - The alien spouse will need to pass a stringent medical exam prior to their interview.
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CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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IR1 Spouse Visa Requirements
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The requirements for the IR1 Visa are pretty much the same as a CR1 Spouse Visa.
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The process unfortunately goes much slower if you are an LPR – Legal Permanent Resident, but you can still file the I-130 to petition of your immediate relative spouse, also the sponsor must have maintained a domicile U.S. address for the past 6-months prior to filing.
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The couple will be granted an IR1 Spouse Visa if they have been married two or more years at the time of filing the I-130.
It may be required at the interview to actually provide more supporting documents to prove that your marriage is genuine and sincere?
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Getting the IR1 Visa has more benefits to couples married longer than two years, but interviewers may expect more from the couple since they have been married longer and would of had enough time to accumulate evidence such as joint co-mingling bills, joint bank accounts etc.
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K3 Spouse Visa Requirements
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Very rarely does USCIS process paperwork for the K3 Visa anymore, even though it remains a part of the spouse visa group?
This visa can only be filed if the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen and and has maintained a U.S. domicile address for a minimum of 6-months prior to filing?
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The same rule that the CR1 has, also apply to the K3 Spouse Visa. In some cases, the K3 spouse visa will allow the foreign spouse to enter the United States much sooner than CR1 and the K3 can wait in the U.S. for their adjustment of status to be completed in order to receive their 2-year green card.
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More in-depth information for all three of these visas can be found here, (Read More..)
Spouse Visa Cost
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Many people ask about the total cost for getting a U.S. spouse visa, and it depends on which one you would be granted?
We have itemized the cost of each one, as it only applies to government fees and nothing else.
Outside of the government fees there may be more expense involved, but that varies from country to country.
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CR1 Spouse Visa start to finish government fees are:
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- Filing fee of the I-130 application. It is your first fee of $535.
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. - Many months later, is the National Visa Center fee of $445.
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. - Roughly a couple of months later will be the medical fee of $335.
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. - After your alien spouse has received their CR1 spouse visa, there is the green card fee of $220.
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. - Total fees paid to the government are $1,535.
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CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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IR1 Spouse Visa start to finish government fees are:
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- Filing fee of the I-130 application. It is your first fee of $535.
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. - Many months later, is the National Visa Center fee of $445.
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. - Roughly a couple of months later will be the medical fee of $335.
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. - Then after your alien spouse has received their CR1 spouse visa, there is the green card fee of $220.
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. - Total fees paid to the government are $1,535.
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K3 Spouse Visa start to finish government fees are:
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- First fee is the filing fee coming from the US sponsor amount $535.
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. - After the I-130 Application is approved by USCIS the next fee is the DS-160 $265.
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. - Once NVC approves your documents the alien spouse pays the medical fee $335.
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. - Later when the interview is done and the K3 is on U.S. soil, adjustment of status fee $1,225.
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. - Total fees paid to the government are $2,360.
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CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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K1 Fiance Visa comparison to the spouse visas?
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- First fee is the filing fee coming from the US sponsor amount $535.
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. - After the I-129F Application is approved by USCIS the next fee is the DS-160 $265.
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. - Next the alien fiance will pay the medical fee of $335.
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. - Then after your alien fiance has received their K1 fiance visa, there is the green card fee of $1,225.
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. - Total fees paid to the government are $2,360.
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You may go here to learn more details of each visa, (Read More..)
Spouse Visa Financial Requirements
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All U.S. Citizens and LPR green card holders who will be a sponsor to their alien spouse, must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial capability to support their alien wife or husband?
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The responsibility to the sponsor may be even higher if they have dependent children?
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The rule applies for the CR1 spouse visa, IR1, K3 and even the K1 fiance visa.
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The nice thing about the financial process, is that you have ample time to establish yourself more while the application is being processed, because the sponsors financial records are not needed until your I-130 is approved?
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On average this part can take 8 to 10 months possibly longer, before USCIS approves your application, which for some sponsors, this is a good thing as it gives them time to accumulate more tax records, checking account statements, and earn more money if needed?
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When it comes to the financial records, NVC will want to take a look at everything online which is part of your online account that they provide you with.
Then again maybe 3-months later you’ll have to provide more update hard copy records to show at the embassy interview.
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CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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How much money does a sponsor need to show and what exactly does NVC and the embassy interviewers want to see from me?
There are three things that determine how much income you are suppose to make in order to qualify?
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- How many people will be in your family including yourself?
. - What state you are a resident of?
. - Are you serving or on duty with the U.S. Armed Forces?
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You may go to the Poverty Guidelines table on USCIS website and see if you are at 125%
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Here is a list of financial supporting documents that can be used in proving that you earn enough income.
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- Income tax records if employed, for the current and previous tax year.
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. - Checking account statements from the current time going back 12-months.
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. - Direct deposits, and employee pay-stubs is what they want to see going back at least 12-months.
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. - If retired, collecting social security or (ss) disability benefits, provide certified records.
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. - If you have assets, such as own your home or land, have stocks or life insurance that can be liquidated, provide certified records.
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. - If you have a U.S. Saving account with an untouched balance for at least 12 months, then provide certified records.
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. - There could be more that applies to you, and if you are unsure about what to do with any of it, you may want to contact us or some expert consultant, that could assist you?
Spouse Visa Timeline
Pretty much all couples will want to know what is happening with their I-130 visa application?
CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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Unfortunately, USCIS really doesn’t do much with your application, as it only gets clocked in once they receive it, and will sit together in a tray with thousands of other applications ahead of you while many more thousands will arrive after you.
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So we have put together this shorter version of how the program works and what you can expect once your application has been received at the correct USCIS address?
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First of all, the CR1 Spouse Visa and the IR1 will receive the same processing times, but certain couples may have quicker processing than others, while some may face set backs?
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First, about why some couples get processed quicker:
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Lets say your a couple who both have been married already 3 years at the time of filing your I-130 application?
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Neither one of you ever been married before except to each other? The U.S. spouse shows working at the same employer for about 5-years? The U.S. spouse has never had any criminal records?
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The U.S. spouse has maintained the same address for 5-years or longer? This is the first USCIS application they ever filed? The U.S. sponsor has tax records, bank statements, employee pay-stubs, and earns more than enough income?
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USCIS together with the National Visa Center might see this as a much cleaner case that doesn’t require a whole lot of additional checking, and therefore, could get your processing done in a lot less time than a couple who may be the opposite?
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Why some couples, may get hung up and could eat up several extra months of waiting?
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CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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Below is a list of items that usually keeps your application moving much slower:
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- Sponsor submitted the application with wrong paperwork, errors, or incomplete documents?
. - Filing fee was not payable to the right office or the wrong amount was not sent in?
. - Sponsor filed the application, but then moved later on without an address change?
. - Sponsor has criminal records, which require a much more in depth background check?
. - Sponsor didn’t list all address lived and worked at?
. - Dates for employment or housing do not match up between each event?
. - Dependent children where not mentioned?
. - Alien spouse has to procure police records from other countries worked in?
. - Alien spouse had been petitioned before but failed to mention it?
. - Alien spouse is having trouble passing the medical examination?
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These are not all of the problems that can slow down or stop your application from moving, as the list above are some samples that we have known throughout the years?
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Do K3 Spouse Visas go through the same process?
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We suggest, that if the couple is newly weds, and they have a good clean case, to try getting the K3 Visa if they are in a hurry? However, there is no guarantee at all, that USCIS and NVC will grant you a K3, and may force you to go the CR1 Spouse Visa route instead?
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K3 Spouse Visa processing was intended, to process faster, as in half the time it would take to get a CR1 spouse visa? Unless you have a really clean case, you probably should not attempt to go this route?
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Couples who have a lot of time consuming add-ons in their case will not move any faster than an I-130 application filed for CR1?
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CR1 Spouse Visa Philippines
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Go here to see the timeline of events that take place from start to finish, (Read More..)
Spouse Visa FAQ
A few of the most common questions that we get in regards to the CR1 Spouse Visa IR1 and K3 visas?
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- If I do not meet the financial requirements, am I allowed to have a joint sponsor?
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Yes, because being married to your alien spouse makes them your family.
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. - My alien spouse has children all younger than age 21, can I bring them also?
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Yes, as long as the sponsor earns enough income, also each child is filed separately.
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. - My alien wife and I had a child together in my wife’s country, what should I be doing?
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Your child needs to be registered as a U.S. Citizen at the nearest U.S. consulate before they can come to the U.S.
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. - Can my alien wife’s income, from her job, be combined with my income for the affidavit of support?
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Only the income that he or she has in a checking or savings account, or stocks, land, house anything that was paid off and can be liquidated to cash.
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In some instances, if she owned a home or apartments that are being rented or if she has an online job that can be worked from the U.S. then all of those could be included.
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. - As the sponsor I have drug charges against me that are felonies, is this going to be a problem in my alien spouse getting a CR1 Spouse Visa?
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This is a question that would require a bit more detail, as the sponsor needs to disclose certified court and police records even if expunged, sealed up?
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In some cases, this could be used against you and require litigation from an immigration attorney?
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But you may also not have any problems depending on the charges?
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Read about IMBRA and how it affects you?
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More questions about the CR1 Spouse Visa, (Read More..)