If you've already married abroad, the CR-1 / IR-1 immigrant visa is the path that brings your husband or wife to the United States as a lawful permanent resident — a green-card holder from the day they land, free to work and travel right away. It begins with Form I-130 and runs through a consular interview in your spouse's home country. We handle the petition, the timing, and the documents, in English, Russian, Spanish, and Uzbek.
These are our base flat fees. They cover a standard case, start to finish, quoted in writing before you commit. More complex matters — and Stokes interviews, or attorney travel outside the NYC metro area or South Florida — are quoted separately. Government filing fees are set by USCIS and the State Department and are not included. Includes the DS-260.
The two names point to the same immigrant visa for a spouse; the only thing that separates them is how long you've been married when your spouse is actually admitted to the United States.
If the marriage is less than two years old on the day your spouse is admitted, they receive a two-year conditional green card — that's the CR-1, where "CR" stands for conditional resident. Before that card expires, the two of you file Form I-751 together to remove the conditions and convert it to the standard ten-year card.
If the marriage is two years or older at admission, your spouse skips the conditional stage and receives a full ten-year green card straight away — that's the IR-1, for immediate relative. Same petition, same process; the marriage's age at the moment of entry decides which card prints.
Information current as of July 2026. If your spouse arrives on a CR-1, the I-751 step comes later — read about removing the conditions on a green card →
The U.S. citizen or permanent-resident spouse files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS. This is where you prove your marriage is real and establish the relationship.
After USCIS approves the petition, the case moves to the National Visa Center. There you file the DS-260 visa application, the I-864 Affidavit of Support, and your civil documents.
Your spouse completes a medical exam and attends the consular interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country. When it's approved, the immigrant visa is issued.
Your spouse travels on the immigrant visa and is admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident — able to work and travel from day one.
Steps two and three — the National Visa Center, the DS-260, the Affidavit of Support, and the interview abroad — are together what's called consular processing. It's the part of the journey that happens outside the U.S., and it has its own rhythm and paperwork. Read the full consular-processing walkthrough →
The deciding question is simple: are you already married, or planning to be? If you've married, the CR-1 is your path. If you're engaged and want to marry on U.S. soil, the K-1 fiancé visa is the other route. Here's an honest side-by-side.
| Question | CR-1 / IR-1 (spouse visa) | K-1 (fiancé visa) |
|---|---|---|
| Marital status required | Already married | Engaged, not yet married |
| Where you marry | Abroad, before the visa is filed | In the U.S., within 90 days of arrival |
| How your partner arrives | As a permanent resident on arrival | As a nonimmigrant who then adjusts status |
| Extra step after arrival | None — they're already a resident | Must file Form I-485 to adjust status |
| Work on arrival | Yes — work and travel immediately | After the EAD / adjustment of status |
| Best when | You're married and want your spouse to land as a resident, ready to work | You're engaged and want to reunite and marry in the U.S. |
Not married yet? The fiancé route may be the better fit. Learn more about the K-1 fiancé(e) visa →
Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can petition for a husband or wife — but the categories aren't identical. A citizen's spouse is an immediate relative, which means there's no waiting line for a visa number to become available. A permanent resident's spouse falls into the F2A preference category, which is subject to the monthly Visa Bulletin and can involve a wait depending on demand.
It's the same Form I-130 either way; the difference is timing, not eligibility. We confirm which category fits your situation at the start so there are no surprises about the timeline.
The petition that starts it all is the I-130. Read more about the family petition (Form I-130) →
A spouse-visa case carries government fees at a few different stages, plus our flat legal fee, which we quote up front before you commit to anything.
| Cost | Who sets it |
|---|---|
| Form I-130 — $675 by mail / $625 online | USCIS, current 2026 |
| DS-260 immigrant visa fee + Affidavit of Support review | State Dept. / NVC |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee (after entry) | USCIS, current 2026 |
| Our flat legal fee | Quoted up front, separate |
Government fees change, so always confirm the current amounts with the official USCIS fee calculator ↗ and the State Department at travel.state.gov ↗. See how our flat legal fee works on our fees page.
It depends on USCIS processing times for the I-130, the National Visa Center, and the workload at your spouse's consulate — all of which shift through the year. For a permanent-resident petitioner, the F2A category may add wait time tied to the Visa Bulletin. We give you a realistic timeline for your specific facts at the consultation, and a complete, well-documented petition is the best way to avoid added delay.
It's possible but delicate. Once an immigrant petition is on file, showing immigrant intent, a consular officer may be reluctant to issue a visitor visa, since a B-2 is meant for temporary stays. Some couples do visit successfully; others are refused. It's worth discussing your specific situation before anyone books a trip, so a denial doesn't complicate the case.
The Affidavit of Support, Form I-864, is the sponsoring spouse's legally enforceable promise to financially support the immigrant so they don't become a public charge. You'll need to show income at or above the required level for your household size, and if your own income falls short, a joint sponsor can step in. It's filed during the National Visa Center stage.
Yes. A CR-1 / IR-1 spouse is a lawful permanent resident, and permanent residence is the standard road to naturalization. The spouse of a U.S. citizen can generally apply for citizenship after three years of permanent residence, provided the other requirements are met. If your spouse arrived on a CR-1, removing the conditions with Form I-751 comes first, then the citizenship clock continues.
The full walkthrough of the abroad stage — the NVC, the DS-260, the Affidavit of Support, and the interview at the consulate.
Read the guide →Not married yet? See how the fiancé visa works — eligibility, the I-129F petition, and the path to a green card after the wedding.
Read the guide →Two ways to get the green card. We compare adjusting status inside the U.S. against processing abroad — and when each one makes sense.
Read the guide →A short consultation tells you whether a CR-1 or IR-1 applies, what to gather, and what the timeline looks like for your situation. Flat fee, no hourly meter.
