IR1 and CR1 are two types of visas available to spouses of U.S. citizens who are seeking to immigrate to the United States. Both visas are intended for spouses who are living outside of the United States and who wish to join their U.S. citizen spouse in the United States.
What is an IR1 visa?
An IR1 visa is an immigrant visa that is available to spouses of U.S. citizens who have been married for more than two years. The IR1 visa allows the spouse to enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and to live and work in the United States permanently.
To be eligible for an IR1 visa, the U.S. citizen spouse must file an immigrant visa petition on behalf of their spouse. The petition must be filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the foreign national spouse must go through the consular processing and attend an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
What is a CR1 visa?
A CR1 visa is also an immigrant visa available to spouses of U.S. citizens who are living outside of the United States. However, the CR1 visa is available to spouses who have been married for less than two years.
The process for obtaining a CR1 visa is similar to that of an IR1 visa. The U.S. citizen spouse must file an immigrant visa petition on behalf of their spouse, and the foreign national spouse must attend an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
What are the differences between IR1 and CR1 visas?
The primary difference between IR1 and CR1 visas is the length of the marriage. Spouses who have been married for more than two years are eligible for an IR1 visa, while spouses who have been married for less than two years are eligible for a CR1 visa.
Another difference between the two visas is the length of time it takes to obtain them. IR1 visas tend to take longer to process, as they require more extensive background checks and documentation. CR1 visas tend to be processed more quickly, as they require less documentation and background checks.
In conclusion, IR1 and CR1 visas are available to spouses of U.S. citizens who are seeking to immigrate to the United States. The main difference between the two visas is the length of the marriage, with IR1 visas available to spouses who have been married for more than two years and CR1 visas available to spouses who have been married for less than two years. Both visas require an immigrant visa petition to be filed by the U.S. citizen spouse, and both visas require the foreign national spouse to attend an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.