CR-1 / IR-1 Spousal Visas

For Spouses of U.S. Citizens

The CR-1 (Conditional Resident) and IR-1 (Immediate Relative) immigrant visas allow the foreign-born spouse of a U.S. citizen to live and work permanently in the United States. Unlike the K-1 fiancé(e) visa, the CR-1/IR-1 grants lawful permanent resident status (Green Card) upon entry.

The difference between CR-1 and IR-1 lies in the length of marriage:

•         CR-1:For couples married less than two yearsat the time of visa issuance (conditional Green Card valid for two years).
•         IR-1:For couples married two years or more(permanent Green Card valid for ten years).

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a CR-1 or IR-1 visa, you must:

•         Be legally married to a U.S. citizen;
•         Provide evidence that the marriage is bona fide, not entered into solely for immigration purposes;
•         The U.S. citizen spouse must be domiciled in the United States or intend to re-establish domicile before the immigrant’s arrival;
•         The U.S. citizen must meet the income requirements by filing an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864).

Optional K-3 Visa for Spouses

After filing Form I-130, a U.S. citizen may also file Form I-129F to petition for a K-3 nonimmigrant visa, allowing the foreign spouse to enter and live in the United States while the immigrant visa petition is pending.

This step is optional — the spouse may instead wait abroad for the CR-1/IR-1 process to finish. The K-3 visa simply offers a faster temporary pathway for reunion.

Family Benefits (Derivative Children)

•         Unmarried children under 21 of the foreign spouse may qualify for derivative visas (CR-2 / IR-2).
•         Children may accompany or follow to join the principal applicant to the United States.
•         Upon entry, both spouse and qualifying children become permanent residents.
•         If the marriage is less than two years old, both receive conditional Green Cards valid for two years, later converted to permanent status via Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence).

Key Advantages

•         Provides direct path to permanent residence and eventual citizenship, no adjustment of status required.
•         Work authorization is automatic with Green Card; no separate EAD needed.
•         Provides path to U.S. citizenship after 3 years of residence (if still married to the U.S. citizen).
•         Derivative children also receive Green Cards.

How We Can Help

At the Law Offices of Metin Serbest, we assist couples through every step of the spousal visa process — from petition filing to consular interview.

Our services include:

•         Preparing and filing Form I-130 with USCIS;
•         Guiding you through NVC and consular processing;
•         Drafting the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and reviewing financial eligibility;
•         Petitioning for a K-3 nonimmigrant visa for faster reunion
•         Preparing couples for the consular interview;
•         Advising on conditional residence removal (Form I-751) and citizenship applications.

Schedule a Consultation
Contact the Law Offices of Metin Serbest  to begin your CR-1 or IR-1 spousal visa process and reunite with your loved one in the United States.