An IR-1 visa is a type of immigrant visa issued by the United States for the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. The “IR” stands for “Immediate Relative,” and the “1” indicates that it is the first preference category within the family-sponsored immigration preference system. Immediate relatives are considered the closest family members of U.S. citizens and include:
- Spouses of U.S. citizens.
- Unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens.
- Orphans adopted abroad by U.S. citizens.
The IR-1 visa is specifically for the spouses of U.S. citizens. It allows the foreign national spouse to immigrate to the United States as a permanent resident (green card holder). Once in the U.S., the spouse can live and work in the country and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship if they meet the eligibility requirements.
To obtain an IR-1 visa, the U.S. citizen spouse must file a petition on behalf of their foreign spouse, and once the petition is approved, the foreign spouse can apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. After entering the U.S. with the IR-1 visa, the foreign spouse is granted lawful permanent resident status.
How to apply for a CR-1 visa?
A CR-1 visa is an immigrant visa for spouses of U.S. citizens, and it is designed for couples who have been married for less than two years. The “CR” stands for “Conditional Resident,” as individuals who obtain a CR-1 visa initially receive conditional permanent resident status upon entering the United States. To apply for a CR-1 visa, you will generally need to follow these steps:
- Petition Filing by the U.S. Citizen Spouse:
- The U.S. citizen spouse must initiate the process by filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form establishes the relationship between the U.S. citizen and the foreign spouse.
- Along with the Form I-130, the U.S. citizen spouse should submit all required supporting documents and the appropriate filing fee.
- USCIS Processing:
- USCIS will review the Form I-130 and supporting documentation to determine if the relationship is genuine and whether the petitioner qualifies as a U.S. citizen.
- If the petition is approved, USCIS will forward it to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
- NVC Processing:
- The NVC will notify the U.S. citizen petitioner and provide instructions on how to pay the required immigrant visa fees and submit the necessary immigrant visa application forms and supporting documents.
- Visa Application:
- Once the required fees are paid and all forms and documents are submitted to the NVC, the foreign spouse will be required to complete a visa application form (DS-260).
- The foreign spouse will also need to undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician and attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
- Visa Issuance:
- If the visa application is approved, the U.S. embassy or consulate will issue the CR-1 visa to the foreign spouse.
- Entry to the U.S.:
- The foreign spouse can enter the United States with the CR-1 visa.
- Conditional Permanent Resident Status:
- Upon entering the United States, the foreign spouse will become a conditional permanent resident and receive a conditional green card.
- The conditional green card is valid for two years.
- Removing Conditions:
- Within the 90-day period before the conditional green card expires, the couple must jointly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, to have the conditions removed and obtain a regular 10-year green card.
- This process involves providing evidence of a bona fide marriage and going through another USCIS review.
IR-1/CR-1 visa checklist of documents
When applying for an IR-1 or CR-1 visa (spousal visa for the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens), you’ll need to provide a comprehensive set of documents to support your application. The specific requirements and document checklist may vary slightly depending on the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply and the country you are applying from. However, the following is a general checklist of documents you are likely to need:
- Form DS-260: Online Immigrant Visa Application. This form must be completed and submitted online. You’ll receive instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC) or the U.S. embassy/consulate on how to do this.
- Passport: The foreign spouse’s valid passport that is at least six months beyond the intended date of entry to the U.S.
- Marriage Certificate: A certified copy of the marriage certificate to prove the marital relationship between the U.S. citizen and the foreign spouse.
- Divorce or Death Certificates (if applicable): If either spouse has been previously married, provide divorce decrees or death certificates to establish the termination of any prior marriages.
- Photographs: You’ll need to provide passport-sized photographs that meet the specific requirements of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you are applying. Usually, these photos must be recent and of high quality.
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support: The U.S. citizen spouse must complete this form to demonstrate their ability to financially support the foreign spouse. It may require supporting financial documents, such as tax returns, W-2s, and pay stubs.
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship: The U.S. citizen spouse should provide proof of their U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship.
- Criminal Records and Police Certificates: Depending on the requirements of the U.S. embassy or consulate, you may need to provide police clearance certificates or other evidence of your criminal history or lack thereof.
- Medical Examination: The foreign spouse must undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician and provide the required medical examination report.
- Proof of Relationship: Documents that prove the bona fide nature of your marriage, such as photographs, correspondence, affidavits from friends and family, joint financial records, and other evidence of your life together.
- Visa Fees: You will need to pay the required visa application and processing fees.
- NVC or U.S. Embassy/Consulate Instructions: Follow the specific instructions provided by the National Visa Center or the U.S. embassy/consulate where you are applying. They may have additional requirements or country-specific instructions.
- Form I-864EZ or Form I-864W (if applicable): Depending on your financial situation, you may need to use one of these alternative affidavit of support forms.