What CR-1 and IR-1 are
When a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is already married to a foreign national, the path to bringing the spouse to the U.S. is a spousal immigrant visa — either:
- CR-1 (Conditional Resident) — for marriages of less than 2 years at the time of immigrant visa approval. Comes with a 2-year conditional green card; conditions removed via I-751.
- IR-1 (Immediate Relative) — for marriages of 2+ years at approval. Issues a full 10-year green card from arrival.
Functionally similar; the difference is the conditional period.
Who can petition
- U.S. citizens can petition for spouses with no annual numerical limit (immediate relative category)
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can petition under the F2A category, which has limits (though current as of 2026 for most countries)
The petitioning spouse must:
- Have current status (citizenship or LPR)
- Demonstrate a genuine marriage
- Meet the financial sponsorship requirements (Form I-864 affidavit of support, currently 125% of poverty line)
The full timeline
| Stage | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| I-130 filing | — | U.S. petitioner files |
| USCIS review | 8-15 months | Approval (citizen petitioners) or 24+ months (LPR) |
| NVC processing | 2-4 months | DS-260 form, civil documents, AOS form |
| Consular interview | 2-6 months wait | Interview at U.S. embassy abroad |
| Visa issuance | 1-2 weeks | CR-1/IR-1 visa stamped |
| Travel to U.S. | — | Spouse enters as permanent resident |
| Green card mailed | 2-4 weeks after arrival | Physical card delivered |
| Removal of conditions (CR-1 only) | 2 years after entry | I-751 filing |
Total: typically 12-24 months for citizen petitioners; longer for LPR.
What we handle
- Strategy review — confirm CR-1 vs IR-1 status and eligibility
- I-130 preparation with relationship evidence
- NVC documentation package — civil documents (birth, marriage, prior divorces), police clearances, financial documents
- DS-260 immigrant visa application preparation
- Consular interview prep — common questions, document checklist
- I-751 removal of conditions for CR-1 holders at the 2-year mark
CR-1 vs K-1 — when each makes sense
| Factor | CR-1/IR-1 | K-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Marital status | Already married | Engaged |
| Time to U.S. entry | 12-24 months | 8-12 months |
| Status at entry | Permanent resident | Non-immigrant |
| Work authorization | Immediate | Wait for EAD post-marriage |
| Total to permanent residency | Same as time to entry | +12-18 months for AOS |
| Adjustment of status needed | No | Yes |
Bottom line: if you’re already married, CR-1/IR-1 is almost always the right call. K-1 is for engaged couples who want to marry in the U.S.
Common pitfalls
- Income below 125% of poverty line — petitioner needs a joint sponsor to meet the affidavit of support requirement
- Civil documents not authenticated — for foreign documents, apostille or authentication is typically required
- Prior marriage not terminated — divorce decrees from foreign jurisdictions sometimes need additional documentation
- Public charge concerns — recent regulatory changes have shifted the public charge analysis; we monitor and advise
Costs
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| I-130 filing fee | $625 |
| DS-260 / immigrant visa fee | $325 |
| Affidavit of support fee | $120 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $235 |
| Removal of conditions (CR-1 only) | $750 |
| Government total | ~$1,305 – $2,055 |
Plus medical exam (~$500) and translation/apostille of foreign documents.