If you are a Colombian citizen married to a US citizen, you can apply for a CR1/IR1 or Spousal visa. You can apply for a CR-1 visa if your marriage is less than two years old or an IR-1 if it is older. The only difference between these two visas is in how old your marriage is; both visas come with a green card. Once you enter the US on this visa, you will be required to adjust your immigration status after a while.
To start processing your visa application in your home country, your US-citizen spouse must first file Form I-130. Form I-130 is Petition for Alien Relative; it makes your citizen spouse a sponsor and you a beneficiary. This form serves to prove to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that a valid relationship exists between both of you. After some time, the USCIS will send a receipt notice – that is, a notice that it has received your petition.
After you receive the notice, it can take a while before the USCIS office starts processing your petition. If your spouse was truthful in the application and they submit the right supporting documents, the petition will be approved. However, there are certain reasons why the USCIS could deny the petition, many of which you can spot yourself. The USCIS denies and approves petitions at its discretion; you cannot predict or tell the outcome of the petition.
There are several steps involved in applying for and obtaining a US spousal visa in Colombia, including:
First, your citizen spouse must file Form I-130 with the USCIS over there in the United States. The USCIS will send you a notice that it has received your application, which can take up to a few weeks.
They will be required to submit certain supporting documents with the form to establish a valid existing relationship between you both. Your spouse should submit all the documents as requested; if the USCIS needs additional documents, you will be notified.
If the USCIS is convinced that there is a valid relationship between you and your citizen spouse, processing begins in earnest. It will forward your case to the National Visa Center, NVC, and you will be told to pay some fees.
The NVC will send you a welcome note via electronic or physical mail with instructions on how to proceed. One of the forms it will require you to fill out is Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.
The Affidavit of Support helps assure the US government that your US sponsor (spouse) can cater to your financial needs. That means you will not rely on the government for whatever financial help you might need.
Then, you will proceed to obtain a medical examination from the authorized physician, in case you need to take some vaccinations. You will be requested to submit the following documents for consular processing in Colombia:
Once the NVC is done with your case, it will send it back to the US embassy in Colombia. It will schedule your visa interview and you will attend it at the US consulate in Colombia.
The NVC will give you detailed instructions on how to prepare and what to bring to the interview. For instance, you will bring the results of the medical examination you had in a sealed packet to the interview.
This interview serves to rule out every shred of doubt that your marriage is not real. You do not have anything to worry about if your marriage is valid and not forged for immigration purposes. The consular officer interviewing you will ask a series of personal questions about you and your spouse, among other things.
Herman Legal Group has a multicultural, versatile, and multilingual professional legal team who can help your immigration case.
They are a group of passionate and empathetic legal professionals who will work in your best interest, giving you adequate assistance. Thus, if you want a less distressing CR1/IR1 visa application process in Colombia, you can reach out to us.
Schedule an appointment with an immigration attorney from Herman Legal Group today by booking online or calling +1-216-696-6170.
Each CR1/IR1 visa case is different, and Colombia’s immigration laws can affect the timeline or your chances of getting approved. Generally, if your marriage is real and valid, you fill out the right forms, and submit the appropriate documents. The application process should go smoothly – unless the delay is coming from the US government or embassy in your country.
Are you an Egyptian married to a US citizen or permanent resident card holder? You may be eligible to apply for a spousal immigrant visa, which allows you to live and work in the US. Meanwhile, the processing of US immigrant visas for citizens and residents of the US is at the US Embassy, Cairo. The Embassy is open for almost all visa activities, although there is quite the backlog of cases due to pandemic-related closures.
If you are applying for a spousal visa to the US, you must be legally married to a US citizen or resident. They will open the process by petitioning the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) on your behalf. They will file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, after which you can carry on with something known as consular processing if approved.
The CR1 Visa (Conditional Resident Visa) is created for foreign national and US-citizen couples to enable them to live together in the US. “Conditional Resident” means the visa comes with a two-year condition where the couple must stay together to remove the conditions on the card.
If the marriage ends before the two years are up, the foreign national spouse has to return to his or her country. If it doesn’t, you can apply to remove the conditions on the card and get a ten-year-valid permanent resident card.
Meanwhile, you should only apply for this visa if your marriage is not up to two years. You are eligible to apply for the Conditional Resident Visa if:
Like the CR-1, the IR-1 visa is also created to close the distance between foreign national and US-citizen/green-card-holder spouses. The difference is that this visa is only meant for spouses of United States Citizens; they are referred to as “Immediate Relatives.”
Thus, the “IR” in IR-1 means “Immediate Relative,” which is how the USCIS views spouses of US citizens. Unlike the CR-1, there are no conditions on this visa, but your marriage must be at least two years old to apply. This card is valid for ten years after which you can either renew it or apply for naturalization (US citizenship).
The requirements for obtaining the IR-1 visa are pretty much the same as if you are applying for the CR-1 visa. The only difference is that a green card holder cannot sponsor you for it; your spouse must be a US citizen.
Applying for any US immigration visa involves a bureaucratic process, but it is a process worth going through. Painstakingly allowing yourself to go through the process ensures you can freely stay in the US with your spouse.
The first step involved in getting this visa is for your US sponsor to file Form I-130 with the USCIS. If you and your spouse meet the requirements and your US spouse submits the right documents, the petition should be approved. However, the USCIS approves and denies applications at its discretion – meaning, there is no guarantee. If the USCIS is pleased with your petition and approves it, your case goes to the National Visa Center (NVC).
The NVC will give your petition a case number and send you a mail informing you to complete Form DS-261. You will not need to complete this form if you already have a legal representative (an immigration attorney).
In the mail, you will also get instructions on other forms to fill out and supporting documents to submit. It is important that you submit the exact files required of you and in the way you are instructed to submit them.
Before the NVC starts the actual processing of your case, you will need to pay certain fees. When you’ve paid and your file is complete, the NVC will schedule your visa interview at the US Embassy in Cairo.
While you are not obligated to hire a lawyer for this process as you can represent yourself. It is however highly recommended that you have legal representation to ensure an error-free application process.
Herman Legal Group is a thorough, dedicated, multicultural, diversified, and multilingual law firm that deals with immigration matters such as this. Our services run throughout the United States and internationally, and that includes Egypt.
Therefore, if you need legal assistance for your CR1/IR1 visa application process, you can book online or call us at +1-216-696-6170.
A CR1/IR1 visa is issued to a foreign national individual married to a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. The CR1 is for those not yet married for up to two years, while the IR1 is for those married for longer. Both visas give you similar benefits: to live with your spouse and work in the US permanently.
If you, a Ghana citizen, are married to a US citizen or resident, your spouse can petition the US government. That is, they can ask the US government to give you license to live with them permanently in the United States. If the US government will agree to this petition, there are certain things that you (the beneficiary) and your spouse (the petitioner) must possess.
For one, your marriage to the individual must be legal in the country where the wedding was held. That is, if you got married in Ghana, the Ghana government must recognize your marriage as true marriage. If Ghana does not see you as truly married, neither will the USCIS (the US body that grants visas).
Let us start with the CR1 Visa.
The CR1 Visa is an acronym for Conditional Resident Visa – it comes with certain conditions that the applicant and petitioner must fulfill. First, the visa is for couples who have been married for less than two years when they entered the US. Also, the visa is only valid for two years, after which the couple MUST apply to have the conditions removed. When the USCIS approves the application, the beneficiary will get a ten-year permanent resident card.
On the other hand, the IR1, also known as Immediate Relative Visa, is a ten-year-valid visa. The visa is awarded to couples who have been married for over two years at the time they get the visa. There are no conditions on the IR1 and the beneficiary does not have to apply again after two years. They only need to use the card for the stipulated duration and then renew it afterwards – or apply for citizenship.
The CR1/IR1 is only awarded to spouses of US citizens because they are regarded as “Immediate Relatives.” Contrarily, spouses of permanent resident card holders have to get another type of temporary visa and then adjust their status later.
The process of applying for the visa requires that you submit certain supporting documents to corroborate the information in your forms. These documents include:
In the application process, there is a part that is done in the US by your spouse. This includes filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and submitting the supporting documents as instructed. You will wait for a few weeks to months while the USCIS reviews and appends its decision (approval or denial). If it approves and the NVC receives your case, you will get a letter telling you to carry on with consular processing.
The processing for immigrant visas for Ghanaian citizens and residents are currently done at the US Embassy in Accra. Below steps to take before you attend your required immigrant visa interview:
Once the NVC sends your interview appointment date, you are to schedule a medical exam in Ghana. The Ghanaian government mandates every immigrant visa applicant, age regardless, to undergo a medical examination before a visa is issued. However, the consulate will not schedule the examination for you; it is your responsibility. The two approved medical centers for the examination include Akain House Clinic and Holy Trinity Medical Center.
The US Consulate in Ghana expects you to come with all the required original and photocopied documents to your interview. The Consulate will usually create a checklist and sent to applicants, telling them what to bring.
You should have paid all the fees required by the NVC before attending your interview. If you haven’t, you can pay them on the interview day in cash, US dollars, or Ghanaian cedis.
Are you looking for an immigration attorney who can guide you through this exasperating visa application process? Herman Legal Group is a US-based law firm with over twenty years of experience helping couples get marriage-based green cards.
We can help you from the beginning of the process until you get your visa. Or if you only need legal counsel, perhaps there is a complication regarding your case, you can book online or call +1-216-696-6170.
The CR1/IR1 visa grants you, the spouse of a US citizen, a permanent resident in the US. The CR1 is for if your marriage is less than two years and the IR1 is for if it is more than.
One of the top three countries to which Jamaicans immigrate is the US, Canada and the UK being the other two. Whether for work purposes or on a marriage basis, a great population of Jamaicans is in the United States of America.
While you can enter the United States using any type of immigrant and non-immigrant visa, marriage-based visas are the most common. Marriage to a US citizen or green card holder may make you eligible to apply for a marriage-based visa.
This article is particularly focused on Jamaicans married to US citizens; there are two marriage-based visa application options open to you.
The first is the Conditional Resident Visa (CR1), for which you are eligible if your marriage is less than two years. The second visa is the Immediate Relative Visa (IR1), which is only available to those who have been married longer. Below are things you need to know about applying for either of these two marriage-based immigrant visas.
The National Visa Center (NVC) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are in charge of immigration processes.
Although they are two different government bodies, both are governed by the US immigration system and laws.
Thus, according to the NVC and USCIS, a spouse is a legally married woman or man; “legally” means, their marriage is recognized. That means, merely cohabiting does not count as marriage and will not be accepted for immigration purposes.
Also, common-law spouses like same-sex couples may qualify, provided the laws in the country where the wedding occurred support it. For polygamous couples, the government will only accept the first spouse as a spouse and consider them for immigration.
The first step in the US spousal visa application is the filing of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Your US-citizen spouse will file this form with the USCIS in his or her state in the United States.
If you are applying for this particular spousal visa (IR1 or CR1), your spouse must be domiciled in the US. Also, while there is no minimum age for the petitioner, they must be at least eighteen years old to sign Form I-864.
It is required that the petitioner (US citizen) maintains a principal residence in the US, which is where you intend to live.
Otherwise, they should at least have an intention of returning with you to live in the US permanently. Meanwhile, if you are applying for an IR1 or CR1 visa, your spouse must be a US citizen, not just a green card holder.
After filing Form I-130 and the USCIS approves it, your case is now in the hands of the National Visa Center. The NVC, once it receives your petition, will assign it a case number and send you a mail.
In the mail, you will be instructed to complete Form DS-261, Choice of Agent, which you won’t need if you have a lawyer already. The NVC will start pre-processing your case; the real processing starts when you pay the appropriate fees.
When you have paid the fees (to the US Embassy in Jamaica), the next step is to prepare for your interview. This preparation includes gathering the required documents, including passports that will remain valid for six months after you enter the US. Also, you will submit the appropriate Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, and DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application.
You will also come with civil documents, including birth certificate(s), adoption documents, where applicable, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees, where applicable.
The last stage is your visa interview, which the NVC will schedule once your file is complete with the required documents. The NVC will send your file with all the documents you submitted to the US Embassy in Jamaica.
Choose the Embassy carefully because this is where your interview will hold; you don’t want to have to travel miles to get there. You will come with all the documents listed in the instructions the NVC will send to you, for your interview.
Applying for a marriage-based immigrant visa involves a complicated process that you can go through alone, but shouldn’t. Herman Legal Group has helped thousands of immigrants from Jamaica and many other countries gain US visas. Whether you are looking to get the IR1 or CR1, our lawyers can guide you through. Our job is to ensure the process is as error-free, painless, and smooth as a visa application process can be.
Thus, if you are stuck, are yet to start, or have issues regarding your application. Feel free to call us at +1-216-696-6170 or, if you prefer, book online.
Before you start your application for a CR1/IR1 visa in Jamaica, ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements. First off, your spouse must be a US citizen, at least eighteen years old, and must be domiciled in the US.
You, the foreign national spouse, must have a legal, genuine marital relationship with them while not being married to anyone else.
If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom and married to a United States citizen but are living separately. If you want to go to the United States to live with your spouse permanently, there are provisions for that. You will need to petition a visa at the US Embassy or Consulate in the UK, a process known as consular processing. This process enables you to obtain a CR1 or IR1 visa, depending on how old your marriage is.
In this article, we will consider the major differences between the CR1 and IR1 visas and the requirements for obtaining them. Also, we will discuss how to apply, as well as how long it takes to get the visa.
The CR-1 and IR-1 immigrant visas provide the same rights and privileges; the difference is in the timelines. Immediate Relative Visa (IR1) is for beneficiaries who have been married for over two years at the time the petition is approved. On the other hand, the Conditional Resident Visa (CR1) is for those whose marriage isn’t up to two years. The CR1 is valid for two years after which the beneficiary can apply to have the conditions removed.
After the conditions on the CR1 green card have been removed, the beneficiary will be granted a ten-year permanent resident card. For IR1 visa holders, there are no conditions to remove; they will get the ten-year permanent resident card straightaway. After the ten years, permanent resident card holders can either apply to renew their card or naturalize their status. Naturalization refers to the process of applying for United States citizenship; this is another topic on its own.
The application process for either visa starts with the US citizen spouse petitioning the USCIS in the United States. The visa types available for consular processing include CR1/IR1 for the spouse and CR2/IR2 for any child involved. Below are the basic requirements for applying for a US CR1/IR1 visa in the UK:
First, ensure you are eligible to receive this immigrant visa and can prove that your marriage is authentic. For instance, your US-citizen spouse must be eighteen years old at least and domiciled in the US. After your US citizen spouse has petitioned the USCIS with Form I-130 and the latter has approved the petition. It may take a couple of months or more than a year before the USCIS processes the Form I-130
You cannot proceed with the consular processing (application at your local US Embassy) unless the USCIS has approved the form. If the USCIS approves the form, the National Visa Center will take over the case. The NVC will officially enter your record into the system and notify you about the required fees and documents you’ll submit. Part of these is Form DS-260, which is the actual immigrant visa application form.
The NVC will then send your approved paperwork to you, which you will take to your local US Consulate. Meanwhile, the US Consulate in your locality will send you a letter informing you of when to come for your interview. You will get medically examined at the approved medical center before you interview, and come with relevant documentation to the interview.
Between the approval of Form I-130 and when you get the visa, it takes about eight to ten months. What can cause a delay is the actual approval of Form I-130 and if the documentation you submitted isn’t sufficient.
Herman Legal Group is based in Ohio, but it serves clients around the world, including in the UK. Therefore, if you need an experienced legal attorney to help you with your immigration case, you can reach out. We have a team of dogmatic, diversified, and professional immigration attorneys who can assist you through the process.
It is important that you start the legal procedures on time for better chances of getting your petition approved. You can call +1-216-696-6170 to consult with immigration attorney Richard Herman or book online.
Remember that the IR-1/CR-1 visa application process starts with your US citizen spouse petitioning the USCIS by filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. It is only after the USCIS has approved this petition that you can proceed with consular processing in the UK. Considering how complex the process can get, you might want to get a good lawyer to assist with the legal procedures.
If you are currently married to a citizen or resident of the US and are based in Nigeria, you can apply for a visa. You will need to apply for a marriage-based visa at the US Embassy or Consulate in Nigeria.
This processing at your local US consulate is known as consular processing; it grants you an IR1 or a CR1 visa. A CR1/IR1 visa is a family-based green card that enables you to work and live in the US.
You are eligible to apply for a CR1/IR1 visa if you are married to a US citizen or permanent resident. This type of green card falls under the immediate-relative category and is only available to spouses of US citizens.
Also, there is no cap or limit to the number of IR1/CR1 visas the USCIS issues every year. Below are important things you should know about applying for a US spousal visa in Nigeria.
Marriage-based green cards are generally divided into two categories: the IR1 category and the CR1 category. Both categories offer the same immigration benefits – that is, you can live and work in the US without fear of deportation.
However, they are different in their requirements for the length of time the applicants have been married. In other words, although they offer the same benefits and eligibility requirements, they adhere to different timelines.
The Conditional Resident Visa (CR1) is issued to applicants whose marriage is below two years when they enter the US. Also, the visa is granted on the condition that the couple must remain married for at least two years.
After two years, they must apply to the USCIS to have the conditions on the card removed. When that happens, they will get an updated ten-year green card – that is, they qualify for the IR1 after two years.
Contrarily, Immediate Relative Visa (IR1) is issued to applicants who have been married for longer than two years upon approval of the visa.
The applicant will not need to apply for removal of conditions in this case because there are none. Also, they will get the ten-year green card immediately; they can renew the card after ten years.
To get the IR1/CR1 visa in Nigeria, you must apply through consular processing (apply to the US Embassy in Lagos). To be eligible for this visa, you must have a legally recognized marital relationship with a US citizen or resident.
There should be a valid marriage certificate to prove the relationship, which you will provide upon application for the visa. Furthermore, your spouse must be a United States citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder).
Also, your spouse must have a valid address in the country, meaning they must be domiciled in the US. If they currently are not, they should at least have an intention of returning with you to the US.
The application for this marriage-based visa starts with your US citizen spouse filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. They will file this form with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and wait for them to process it.
It usually takes a few months to process the petition, but other factors can make the wait time longer. When the USCIS has made its decision, it will inform the petitioner.
If the petition was rejected, the USCIS will give reasons; your spouse can resubmit the petition if they are correctible issues. If the USCIS approves the petition, the National Visa Center will take over your case. Afterward, you (the Nigerian spouse) will move on to processing at the Consulate.
To start with, you must first create an account online with US Travel Docs, Nigeria’s customer service provider. This gives the Embassy the information it needs to give you your passport and documents after the interview.
Next, you will schedule a medical examination with the approved medical practitioners in Lagos. The next step is to gather your documents; the Embassy will give you a checklist of the documents to bring.
When all is set, you will attend your visa interview at the US Embassy in Lagos. Ensure you review all the interview guidelines before you attend the interview to avoid delays or worse.
Although a US-based law firm, Herman Legal Group operates internationally, and Nigeria is one of the countries it serves. The law firm deals with all things immigration, among other things, and has helped thousands of Nigerians with their application.
Thus, if you need assistance with your IR1/CR1 visa application, do not hesitate to book online or call us at +1-216-696-6170.
Applying for a marriage-based green card in Nigeria is straightforward if you can follow instructions to the letter. How long it takes you to get the visa depends on the USCIS and your local US Embassy.
However, certain other factors can cause a delay, such as not including all the required documents. To ensure you do not make avoidable mistakes that can delay your visa or worse, we recommend getting legal assistance.
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Are you a United States citizen marrying or already married to a citizen of Mexico? Are you looking to sponsor your new wife or husband to the US for a marriage-based green card? In this article, we have gathered some legal and practical information you need to know about sponsoring a Mexican spouse for a green card.
However, note that this information contains a general overview of how the process works for the majority. Your case may be peculiar and you may need the help of an experienced immigration attorney.
There is a popular opinion that once you are married to a US citizen, you automatically become one yourself. However, while being married to a US citizen does provide you with a direct path to US immigration, you don’t automatically become a citizen.
Instead, the foreign spouse of a US citizen becomes their immediate relative and will receive a green card faster than others. This process can take up to six months, a year, or longer, depending on the peculiarity of your case.
If you are not yet married to your Mexican partner, you can petition a fiancé visa for them if you are a US citizen. Your fiancé can enter the US with this nonimmigrant visa and then apply for a green card once in the US.
Conversely, the spouse of a green card holder becomes a preference relative and will only get a visa when it is available. Waiting to apply for the visa makes the entire visa application process even longer, and only citizen spouses can petition for fiancé(e)s.
If you are married to your United States citizen spouse, they will file a petition with the USCIS in the US. The filing of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, starts the entire visa application process.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will review your spouse’s petition and make its decision, which can be acceptance or denial. If it approves the petition, you can move forward with processing the visa in Mexico – if your spouse is a US citizen.
However, if you are married to a green card holder or lawful permanent resident, you may be told to wait. If there is a priority date, the USCIS and State Department will direct you to start your visa application process.
Otherwise, you may need to wait up to two years or more before you can start applying. You will process your immigrant visa at the US consulate in Canada; this is called consular processing.
The consular processing requires that you submit your paperwork to the consulate in your city in Mexico. It also involves attending a visa interview, which is the last stage of the application process.
Your United States citizen spouse may attend the interview with you, but they are not under obligation to. There are US consulates in different cities in Mexico, but only the one in Ciudad Juarez handles marriage-based immigrant visas.
Once the USCIS approves your visa, you will enter the United States on an immigrant visa. When you enter the United States with your marriage-based immigrant visa, you will obtain permanent resident status.
That is, you will become a lawful permanent resident and get your green card soon after you enter the US.
If your Mexican spouse entered the US legally and is still in valid visa status, they can adjust their status. Along with Form I-130, they will file Form I-485, Adjustment of Status. Both the Mexican spouse and US spouse will attend the visa interview at the USCIS file office in your jurisdiction.
On the other hand, if your Mexican spouse illegally entered the US or their immigration status is no longer valid. The case is more complicated and they may find it more difficult to obtain a green card. However, difficult does not mean impossible; you will need the help of a good immigration attorney.
The USCIS does not make getting legal help compulsory, but it is necessary if you want a complication-free process. Herman Legal Group has a band of well-versed immigration lawyers in Mexico who can help you with your visa application process. Our lawyers understand how the US immigration system works and can provide the best help navigating through it.
Thus, if you want your spousal visa application process to go as smoothly as possible, we are here for you. Or if you are already facing complications, you can book us online or reach out to us at +1-216-696-6170.
Obtaining a spousal CR1/IR1 visa in Mexico starts with your US citizen spouse filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The purpose of this form is to prove that there is a valid, existing marital relationship between you and your citizen spouse. If the USCIS is convinced that there is, it will grant the petition and forward your case to the NVC. Then, you will proceed with the application process in Mexico in a process known as consular processing.
Being married to a citizen of the United States as a Dominican Republican gives you a direct path to US residency. Marriage to a US citizen or green card holder gives you access to an immigrant visa based on marriage.
Meanwhile, the regulations vary according to country; your application will be governed by the laws of the Dominican Republic. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about obtaining a US marriage visa in the Dominican Republic.
If you and your US-citizen partner have not tied the knot yet, they can petition for you to leave as their fiancée. However, that is provided you plan to have your wedding within ninety days of your entry into the US. Otherwise, both of you can get married in the Dominican Republic. Either way, you can only apply for this spousal or marriage-based green card after you have gotten married.
The CR1 and IR1 visas are separate visas with similar benefits: to enable you to live in the US permanently. You can only apply for these visas if your spouse is a US citizen, not a lawful permanent resident. You are to apply for the CR1 (Conditional Resident) visa if your marriage is not up to two years yet. Contrarily, the IR1 (Immediate Relative) visa if it is up to two years or older.
To be eligible to apply for these visas, you will need documents to prove the legal status of your spouse. Also, you must prove that your marriage is real, especially if you only just got wedded. This is essential because it reassures the USCIS that you did not get married to obtain a green card.
If you are already married and your spouse is living in the US, you can apply for the IR1 directly. Your US citizen spouse, who is also the sponsor or petitioner, will file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the USCIS. It will take a few weeks to months before the USCIS begins work on the petition. However, since your spouse is a US citizen, you are given priority and would not need to wait very long.
Your spouse will need to submit the form with certain supporting documents to prove your marriage’s genuineness and validity. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will then process the application and, if they are satisfied, forward it to the NVC. The NVC, National Visa Center, will take care of the rest of the application from here on out. They will send you an electronic or physical email containing instructions on the next step.
The next step of the application process involves you submitting forms and getting interviewed in the Dominican Republic. The interview typically holds at Santo Domingo since there is only one United States Consulate in the Dominican Republic. The US Embassy in Santo Domingo handles everything that has to do with immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.
Filing the right forms at the consulate is imperative to ensure your request is properly processed. Moreover, making mistakes in the forms can cause a delay in your application – or even an outright denial.
Below are the documents to bring with you to the immigrant visa interview at the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic:
Herman Legal Group is a law firm founded on a sincere belief that immigration makes America stronger. It was founded by Richard Herman, who has advocated for immigrant rights globally for years. He has more than twenty years of experience helping immigrants move to the United States.
Although our headquarters are based in Ohio, our services are global; we have lawyers situated in the Dominican Republic. Thus, if you need a marriage-based immigration lawyer, feel free to book online or call us at +1-216-696-6170.
Marriage to a citizen of the United States gives you direct passage into the country, but not automatically. You still need to apply, starting with your US-citizen spouse filing Form I-130. After that, you will carry on with the consular processing at Santo Domingo, the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic.
If you are a citizen or resident of Jordan married to a US citizen or green card holder. You may be eligible to apply for a marriage-based green card, but you must apply at the US Embassy in Jordan.
Many stages are involved in the application process for a spousal visa, including the one at your local Consulate – called “consular processing.” The consular processing enables you to get either a CR1 or IR1 visa; both let you live and work in the US.
If you are curious about what they are and which one applies to you, keep reading. In this article, we have enumerated the differences between the IR1 and CR1 visas and also explained how to apply for them.
CR1 and IR1 visas offer the same immigration rights and privileges, but on different timelines. First off, CR1 means “Conditional Resident” while IR1 means “Immediate Relative.” The Conditional Resident Visa is given to beneficiaries who have been married for two years when they entered the US. As the name implies, the visa is given on a conditional basis; the couple must remain married for two years.
As a conditional resident, you get a temporary resident card, which is valid for two years. After two years, the couple is mandated to apply to have the conditions removed, after which they get the ten-year green card. Failure to apply to remove the conditions tells the government that the marriage has ended, in which case the foreign-national spouse must leave.
On the other hand, the Immediate Relative Visa is given to couples whose marriage is over two years when the card is approved. Applying for the IR-1 visa grants you a direct ten-year permanent resident card, without the conditions.
Once the ten years are up for the permanent resident card, you have two options. Either you apply for naturalization and become a full-fledged US citizen or you renew your permanent resident card. Since your spouse is there in the US and you want to live there with them permanently, naturalization is best.
To get the CR1/IR1 visa, you will apply through either of the following consular processing processes:
A CR1/IR1 visa grants the spouse of a US citizen or green card holder entry into the US, provided they fulfill the following requirements:
The first step is to be certain you are eligible to apply for the visa (CR1 or IR1). If you are, your US spouse can go ahead and file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the USCIS.
You will need to wait a few weeks (or over a year, especially if the sponsor is a permanent resident). If the USCIS (the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) approves the petition, you can proceed to the next step.
At this stage, the NVC has your case and has assigned a number. You will receive mail (electronic or physical, depending on the address you provide) on documents to submit and fees to pay.
When you pay the fees, the NVC will process your case and schedule you for an interview through US Travel Docs. You will also do a medical examination at the approved medical center; unapproved centers are not accepted.
Meanwhile, you are to submit the required documents two weeks before your interview to avoid a delay in processing your visa. You are to send the complete document package to the US Embassy in Jordan through Aramex; in-person is not allowed.
Applying for a CR1/IR1 visa is a long and daunting process – and anything can go wrong without legal guidance. At Herman Legal Group, we provide this legal guidance at its best in the US and also internationally. We have already helped thousands of Jordanians through the process of obtaining a visa until they got it.
Therefore, if you have questions or need legal assistance with your application, you can reach out to us. Although we are based in Ohio, we offer services in the US and beyond; therefore, book online today or call +1-216-696-6170.
Applying for a US CR1/IR1 visa starts in the US; your US sponsor will file Form I-130 with the USCIS. Meanwhile, the CR1 and IR1 visas have similar immigration benefits, but on different terms and conditions.
The CR1/IR1 Visa, also known as the marriage green card, grants foreign spouses of US citizens to enter the US. When you leave Germany to be with your US spouse on either of these visas, they become permanent residents.
The IR1 is the Immediate Relevant Visa while the CR1 is the Conditional Resident Visa, with different timelines. The CR1 visa is for couples married for less than two years while the IR1 is for those married for longer.
If you enter the US with CR1, you can transition to IR1 after two years, provided your marriage is still ongoing. However, if your marriage ends before the two years are up, you will lose your CR1 status and return to Germany.
Below, we have provided pieces of information concerning the spousal visa, including how to apply and the requirements for applying.
To be eligible to apply for CR1/IR1 visa, you must be legally married, with official documents to prove it. Your marriage certificate is usually enough to prove you have a legal marriage, but the USCIS officer can request other proof. Besides the legality of your marriage, you must also prove that you have been living with your US-citizen spouse.
For the IR1 visa, you must have been married to your US spouse for at least two years. If your marriage is not up to two years, you are only eligible for the Conditional Resident Visa.
Also, your spouse must be a US citizen; green card holders cannot sponsor foreign spouses for this visa. Furthermore, your US-citizen spouse must be domiciled in the US (live there or intend to return with you). Last but not least, your US-citizen spouse must have enough to support both of you while you are in the US.
The application process for any type of US visa starts with the petitioner, who can be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. In the case of the CR1/IR1 visa process, only the US citizen can sponsor a foreign national spouse and file Form I-130.
He or she will file this form with the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS will process this petition and make its decision whether to accept or deny it.
If the USCIS approves the petition, you can proceed to any US Embassy in Germany for consular processing. The first step in the consular processing is filing Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application. In the form, you answer questions regarding your background and purpose for immigrating. After submitting the form, you will be directed to a confirmation page; print and keep it safe because you’ll need it later.
Next, you will undergo a medical examination and get vaccinated, if applicable, in the approved medical center. Then, you will compile all the documents required by the National Visa Center for the next step: the visa interview. The visa interview is the last stage and very crucial; you will convince the immigration officer that you should get the visa.
Meanwhile, visa applications in Germany are handled by US Travel Docs. US Travel Docs is the official visa service provider of the US Embassy in Germany. It is a private company, the only one, authorized by the US Embassy in Germany to render visa application services.
The USCIS requires the following supporting documents to prove your eligibility for the CR1/IR1 immigrant visa:
Many applicants don’t seek legal aid until it is too late; you don’t want to do that. You should contact a legal representative even before you start your application at all. Nevertheless, this is not mandatory; it is only to ensure you don’t make mistakes and also to make the process more streamlined.
Herman Legal Group is an experienced immigration law firm with highly versatile, professional, and empathetic lawyers. With a record of helping thousands of German spouses through their CR1/IR1 visas, they can help you with yours also.
Distance is no barrier, and neither is language because our lawyers are well-equipped to provide the best help possible. Therefore, reach out to us today by booking online or calling +1-216-696-6170 for a consultation.
Now, you have a good idea of how the CR1/IR1 visa application works in Germany. There are US Consulates scattered across Germany, so just find one closest to you for an easy commute. However, ensure you are eligible to apply for the visa before you begin the application; an experienced immigration attorney can help clear all doubts.
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