A US citizen can file for a petition (I-130) to sponsor his/ her immediate relatives to be able to come and live in the US as a permanent resident.  There is no visa quota for immediate relatives, so they can obtain permanent resident status immediately upon their entry into the United States.

 

IR1 vs. CR1?

IR means Immediate Relative.  Applicants under the IR1 category will obtain a 10-year Green Card, which is renewable, without any condition.

CR stands for Conditional Residency.  Applicants who have been married to US citizens or permanent residents for less than 2 years will be classified under the CR1 category and receive a 2-year conditional Green Card.  In order to remove the condition, applicants and sponsors must apply together to USCIS within the ninety days before the two-year anniversary of the applicants’ entry into the United States on their immigrant visa.  The two-year anniversary date of entry is the date of expiration on the alien registration card (green card).

Eligibility

  • Petitioners must be at least 18 years of age
  • Petitioners must be a US citizen and have residence in the US
  • Petitioners must meet financial requirements of 125% of Poverty Guidelines

 

Who can be sponsored?

  • Spouse
  • Dependent children under the age of 21
  • Parents

 

Application Process

 

IR-1 CR-1 Visa Application Processes Big Box Text Effect

 

Filed outside the US

  1. A US citizen submits an I-130 to the USCIS
  2. Once the petition is approved, I-797 will be issued and the National Visa Center will be notified of the approval of the petition
  3. The petitioner will be required to submit an Affidavit of Support (I-864)
  4. At the same time, the applicant will need to complete an online visa application, DS260 and pay a fee for a visa
  5. The applicant will be called into the local consular or embassy for an interview
  6. Visa approval

 

Filed within the US

  1. The petitioner and applicant submit I-130, I-864 and I-485 (adjustment of status to permanent resident) to the USCIS
  2. A file number is issued
  3. The applicant is requested for fingerprinting
  4. The petitioner and applicant are called into the local USCIS office for an Interview
  5. Green Card approval