CR-1 Visa Guide: Requirements, Fees, and Timeline
- The CR-1 visa allows spouses of U.S. citizens to move to the U.S. and receive a conditional Green Card.
- This visa grants permanent resident status immediately upon entry to the United States.
- If you’ve been married for less than two years at approval, the Green Card is valid for only two years.
If you are married to a U.S. citizen but live outside the country, the CR-1 visa can be your path to permanent residency in the United States. The visa lets you enter the U.S. with permanent resident status, meaning you’ll get your Green Card right away.
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What is the CR-1 visa?
The CR-1 visa is an immigrant visa for a foreign national who is married to a U.S. citizen. “CR” stands for conditional resident. This visa is used when the couple has been married for less than two years at the time the visa is approved, allowing the foreign spouse to enter the U.S. with permanent resident status. You receive a conditional Green Card upon arrival, which is valid for two years.
The application process, also known as consular processing, begins when the U.S. citizen files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It can take around 18 months to get an approved CR-1 visa, but this varies based on workloads at USCIS, the National Visa Center (NVC), and the embassy.
Benefits of the CR-1 visa
The CR-1 offers immediate benefits upon entry.
- You get your Green Card right away: The spouse is admitted to the U.S. as a permanent resident, albeit on a conditional basis.
- You can work immediately: You don’t need to file extra paperwork for an employment authorization document (EAD).
- Path to citizenship: After living in the U.S. for three years—and staying married to the U.S. citizen spouse for that time—you may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.
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CR-1 visa requirements
To qualify for a CR-1 visa, you and your spouse must meet legal requirements set by the U.S. government:
- Sponsorship eligibility: The person petitioning for the visa must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder). They must also be at least 18 years old and live in the United States.
- A legal marriage: You must provide a valid marriage certificate. If either of you were married before, you must show legal proof that those marriages have ended, such as a divorce or death certificate.
- A “bona fide” marriage: You must prove your marriage is genuine and not just for immigration purposes with evidence, like joint bank accounts, shared mortgages or leases, photos of your wedding and life together, or birth certificates of any children you have together.
- Financial support: The U.S. sponsor must prove they can financially support the foreign spouse. They’ll need to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, which asks questions about the sponsor’s income and household size. The sponsor usually needs an income that is at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size.
CR-1 vs. IR-1 visas
The IR-1 visa (immediate relative) is the other visa used for spouses of U.S. citizens. It’s for couples who have been married for two years or more at the time the visa is approved.
The main difference between CR-1 and IR-1 visas is the type of Green Card you receive. With an IR-1, the spouse receives a standard Green Card rather than a two-year conditional Green Card. Aside from that, the application process and timelines are generally the same.
Similarities
These visas share many of the same rules and steps:
- Application process: Both start by filing Form I-130 with USCIS.
- Immediate work rights: Both allow you to work as soon as you enter the U.S.
- Travel benefits: Both give you the freedom to travel in and out of the country, as long as you don’t leave for more than one year.
Differences
| CR-1 | IR-1 | |
| Marriage length | Married for less than 2 years at the time of approval | Married for 2 years or more at the time of approval |
| Green Card length | 2-year conditional Green Card | Standard Green Card |
| Expiration and renewal | Must file Form I-751 to remove conditions before 2-year card expires | No extra steps to keep your status, but you must renew your physical card via Form I-90 every 10 years |
How to apply for a CR-1 visa
Applying for a marriage visa involves several steps and multiple government agencies. Here is how to move your application forward, and the documents you’ll need at each step.
Step 1: Filing the petition with USCIS
The process begins when the U.S. citizen spouse files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). This form establishes that you have a legal and legitimate marriage.
- Form I-130A: For spousal petitions, the foreign spouse must also fill out this supplemental form with their personal details.
- Marriage certificate: A copy of your marriage certificate is required.
- Proof of status: The U.S. citizen must provide proof of citizenship, like a passport or birth certificate.
- Photos: You must include two identical passport-style photos of yourself and your spouse.
Step 2: National Visa Center processing
Once USCIS approves your petition, it will send your case to the NVC. You will pay fees and submit more detailed paperwork.
- Form DS-260: This is the online immigrant visa application that the foreign spouse must complete.
- Affidavit of support (Form I-864): The U.S. sponsor submits this to show they can financially support their spouse.
- Civil documents: You will need to upload digital copies of birth certificates, police clearance records, marriage certificates, and other relevant supporting documents.
Step 3: Medical exam and interview
After the NVC reviews your documents, they will schedule an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the spouse’s home country.
- Medical exam: Before the interview, the applicant must see an embassy-approved doctor for a physical checkup and vaccinations.
- Interview: A consular officer will ask questions about the relationship to ensure it’s sincere. If approved, you’ll receive your immigrant visa on a page in your passport.
CR-1 visa document checklist
| Application stage | Required documents | Who provides it |
| Step 1: USCIS petition filing | Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport/birth certificate)Marriage certificateProof of ending of prior marriages (if applicable)Two passport-style photosEvidence of bona fide marriage (joint accounts, affidavits, photos)Form I-130 and Form I-130A | U.S. citizen sponsor |
| Step 2: National Visa Center processing | Online visa application (Form DS-260)Affidavit of support (Form I-864)Current financial documents (tax transcripts/pay stubs)Marriage certificateProof of ending of prior marriages (if applicable)Foreign spouse’s birth certificate and passport copyPolice clearance certificates | Both spouses |
| Step 3: Embassy interview | Medical exam resultsVaccination recordsInterview appointment letterOriginal versions of all documents uploaded to NVC | Foreign spouse |
CR-1 visa processing times and fees
Knowing the visa cost and wait times is vital for planning your move to join your spouse. While every case is different, here’s what you can generally expect for the CR-1 visa and IR-1 visa process.
What are the government fees?
You’ll pay different fees for a marriage visa at each stage of the process.
- Form I-130 filing fee: This is the first cost you will pay to USCIS to start the petition. It costs $625 to file online or $675 by mail.
- National Visa Center processing fees: Once your petition is approved, the NVC will collect two fees. The immigrant visa application fee is $325, and the Affidavit of Support review fee is $120.
- Medical exam: Before your interview, you must pay for a medical exam. This cost varies by country but usually ranges from $200 to $500.
- USCIS immigrant fee: After your visa is approved, but before you travel to the U.S., you must pay $235 online to have your Green Card produced and mailed to you.
How long does the process take?
It can take several years to get a CR-1 visa or an IR-1 visa.
- USCIS: For U.S. citizens sponsoring their spouse, the agency typically takes about 17 to 50 months to approve the initial Form I-130 petition, depending on which USCIS service center processes the petition. For lawful permanent residents sponsoring their spouse, processing times can exceed 100 months.
- National Visa Center: Once the petition is approved, it takes around a month to complete the NVC paperwork and have it reviewed.
- Embassy interview: The wait for an interview depends on how busy the embassy is in your country. In some places, there’s no wait, and in others, it may be several months.
What to expect once your CR-1 visa is approved
Once your CR-1 visa is approved, your life in the United States can begin. When you arrive at a U.S. port of entry, an officer will stamp your passport. This stamp acts as your temporary Green Card for up to one year. Your physical Green Card will be mailed to your U.S. address, usually within 90 days of your arrival.
The validity period of your lawful permanent resident status depends on your visa type. If you have an IR-1 visa, your status doesn’t expire, although the physical Green Card must be renewed every 10 years. If you have a CR-1 visa, your status is conditional and valid for two years.
Removing conditions on your CR-1 visa
If you have a two-year Green Card, you must remove the conditions to stay in the U.S. permanently. This is the government’s way of double-checking that your marriage is legitimate.
- What to do: You must file Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence). The fee is $700 to file online and $750 on paper.
- When to do it: You must file this form during the 90-day window before your card expires. You can use the USCIS filing date calculator to determine when to file.
- The result: Once approved, you will receive a standard 10-year Green Card.
Applying for citizenship with a CR-1 visa
After living in the country for a few years, you may choose to become a U.S. citizen. The process is called naturalization.
- When you can do it: Generally, you can apply for citizenship after three years of living in the U.S. as a permanent resident while married to a U.S. citizen.
- How to prepare:
- Keep records of all your travel outside the U.S. to prove you’ve lived here continuously.
- Continue gathering proof of your shared life with your spouse, like joint taxes, to show you’re still in a valid marriage.
- Ensure you have “good moral character” by following all laws.
- How to do it: You start the process by filing Form N-400 (application for naturalization) with USCIS.
| Note for conditional residents: The two years you spend as a conditional resident count toward the three years needed for citizenship, but in most cases you’ll first need to make sure you’ve removed conditions before the two-year period expires. |
Guidance for each step of your CR-1 visa submission
The CR-1 visa can secure your right to live and work in the U.S. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the immigration process and prepare the right evidence for your application.
👉 Ready to explore your options with an attorney? Request a consultation with Manifest Law and get the clarity you need to move forward.
Frequently asked questions
What if my CR-1 visa application is denied?
If your visa is denied, your consular officer should explain why. You may be able to reapply or file a waiver to fix the problem.
What is the K-1 vs. CR-1 visa?
The K-1 visa is for engaged couples who want to marry in the U.S., while the CR-1 visa is for couples who have already wed. With the K-1 visa, you must apply for adjustment of status after you get married in the U.S., but with the CR-1 visa, you can receive your Green Card as soon as you arrive.
What is the CR-1 visa approval rate?
The government does not give an exact percentage for spousal petitions, but most I-130 petitions are approved. From April 1 to June 30, 2025, USCIS approved 227,602 I-130 petitions and denied 32,916, an approval rate of 87%.
What are the income requirements for a CR-1 visa?
To sponsor a spouse, you generally need to learn at least $26,347 for a household of two if you live in the continental U.S. This number represents 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, and it goes up if you have children or other dependents in your home.
What Green Card is issued if a spouse had a CR-1 visa but is married more than two years at entry?
In most cases, you should be admitted as a lawful permanent resident without conditions (IR-1) if you are already married for two years or more at the time of entry into the United States.
However, this outcome depends on how U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admits you at the port of entry and what classification is recorded upon admission.
Who decides whether the spouse is admitted as CR-1 or IR-1?
CBP makes the final determination at the port of entry. During inspection, CBP officers:
- Review the immigrant visa classification
- Verify the marriage duration
- Confirm eligibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act
If CBP admits the spouse under IR-1, the individual becomes a full lawful permanent resident with no conditions. If admitted under CR-1, the individual becomes a conditional permanent resident, even if the marriage is already over two years old.
