🇺🇸 Marriage Visa & Spousal Visa Lawyer - CR-1/IR-1
Start Your Life Together in the United States
If you are married to someone who lives outside the United States, Pelican Johnson Immigration Law can help you navigate the marriage visa process from beginning to end.
We guide married couples through the entire consular processing process—from preparing and filing the initial I-130 petition with USCIS, through National Visa Center processing and financial sponsorship, to document preparation and the final immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Pelican Johnson Immigration Law is Trusted by Clients Across All 50 States and More Than 101 Countries.
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The Basics
Marriage & Spousal Visa Quick Facts
Understand who qualifies, how the process works, and what to expect when bringing your spouse to the United States.
Who Can File?
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may petition for qualifying foreign spouses.
Who Is It For?
This process is for married couples who will complete the immigrant visa process outside the United States.
What Are CR-1 and IR-1 Visas?
CR-1 and IR-1 are immigrant visa classifications for qualifying spouses of U.S. citizens.
What About Spouses of Green Card Holders?
Lawful permanent residents may also petition for spouses. These cases fall within the F2A family-preference category and are subject to visa availability.
What's the End Result?
If the immigrant visa is approved and the spouse is admitted to the United States, the spouse enters as a lawful permanent resident- a green card holder.
Does the Spouse Need to File Adjustment of Status After Entering?
No. This is an immigrant visa process, so the spouse generally becomes a permanent resident upon admission to the United States.
Why Couples Choose Pelican Johnson
Take the Guesswork Out of Your Spousal Visa
Marriage-based immigration involves multiple agencies, documents, deadlines, and requirements. We guide you through each stage so you know what’s needed, what to expect, and what comes next.
All 50 States
U.S. immigration law is federal. We can represent clients throughout the United States without requiring you to live near our office. We can work with you remotely anywhere in the world.
More Than 101 Countries
We work with couples and families in more than 101 countries around the world. Our process is designed to provide clear, efficient representation from the initial petition through the U.S. Embassy interview.
No Guesswork
We provide clear instructions throughout your case. You will know what documents are needed, and what to expect as your case moves forward.
Spousal Visa Attorney Services
USCIS Forms Preparation ✓
Truly Flat Fee ✓
Collection of Form Information ✓
Supporting Document Advice and Preparation ✓
24/7 Online Client Portal ✓
NVC Document Preparation and Continued Monitoring and Correspondence ✓
Embassy Spousal Visa Application Preparation ✓
“Mock Interview” Preparation With Spouse ✓
Continued Monitoring and Correspondence With Foreign Embassy ✓
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About Marriage & Spousal Visas
What Is a Marriage or Spousal Visa?
A marriage or spousal visa allows a qualifying foreign spouse to immigrate to the United States based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
For spouses living outside the United States, the process generally begins with Form I-130 and continues through USCIS, the National Visa Center, and a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Once approved and admitted to the United States, the spouse generally becomes a lawful permanent resident.
CR-1 vs. IR-1 Spousal Visas
Both CR-1 and IR-1 visas allow qualifying spouses of U.S. citizens to immigrate to the United States as permanent residents.
CR-1 Visa
Applies when the marriage is less than two years old when permanent residence is obtained. The spouse receives conditional permanent residence and will later need to apply to remove the conditions.
IR-1 Visa
Applies when the marriage is at least two years old when permanent residence is obtained. The spouse receives permanent resident status without the two-year marriage condition.
Important Note:
Unlike the K-1 fiancé(e) visa process, a spouse entering with a CR-1 or IR-1 immigrant visa generally does not need to file a separate Adjustment of Status application after entering the United States.
Who Qualifies?
The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, the couple must be legally married and legally free to have married, and the marriage must be genuine and not entered into solely for immigration purposes.
Prior marriages, immigration history, criminal history, previous visa applications, financial issues, and other circumstances can affect eligibility. We review these issues with our clients before the case is filed.
The Process
How It Works - Step by Step
USCIS: I-130 Petition
We prepare the I-130 petition, review your relationship history and documentation, organize your supporting evidence, and prepare the case for filing with USCIS.
National Visa Center
This stage includes additional forms, civil documents, financial sponsorship documentation, and government fees.
Embassy or Consulate
The foreign spouse completes the required medical examination and attends the immigrant visa interview at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Enter the United States
If the immigrant visa is approved and issued, the foreign spouse can travel to the United States. Upon admission with the immigrant visa, the spouse generally becomes a lawful permanent resident.
PREPARED FROM PETITION TO APPROVAL
Guidance Through Every Part of Your Case
A successful spousal visa case involves more than filing forms. We help you prepare for the key requirements and decisions that can arise throughout the immigration process.
Proving Your Marriage
Evidence may include photographs, communication records, joint finances or property, evidence of financial support, wedding documentation, children together, and other evidence of your relationship.
At Pelican Johnson Immigration Law, we identify the evidence needed, determine how much to include, and organize it strategically to clearly document your relationship.
Financial Sponsorship & Joint Sponsors
If the petitioner’s qualifying income is insufficient, other options may be available depending on the circumstances, including qualifying assets, household-member income, or an eligible joint sponsor.
Financial sponsorship can be more complicated when the petitioner is self-employed, lives abroad, earns foreign income, recently changed employment, or has limited U.S. tax records.
Petitioners Living Abroad
We help clients living abroad identify this issue early and determine what evidence may be needed to establish or reestablish U.S. domicile.
Embassy Interview Preparation
As your case approaches the Embassy stage, we review your case, discuss what to expect, identify the documents that should be provided during the interview, and prepare the foreign spouse for the types of questions that may arise.
You should arrive at your interview prepared, organized, and knowing what to expect.
After Entering the U.S.
If the marriage is less than two years old when permanent residence is obtained, the spouse generally receives conditional permanent residence and will later need to apply to remove the conditions.
Marriage Visa & Spousal Visa — CR-1/IR-1
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from clients and prospective clients about bringing a husband or wife to the United States through consular processing. If you’re considering hiring our firm and don’t see your question below, please contact us to discuss how we may be able to help.
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and your spouse lives outside the United States, the process generally begins by filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
After USCIS approves the petition, the case generally moves to the National Visa Center (NVC) for immigrant visa processing. Once the NVC requirements are completed, the case is forwarded to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the immigrant visa interview.
If the visa is approved, your spouse can enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident.
CR-1 and IR-1 visas are immigrant visas for spouses of U.S. citizens.
A spouse who enters the United States after being married for less than two years generally receives conditional permanent resident status and is classified as a CR-1.
If the couple has been married for at least two years at the time the foreign spouse enters the United States, the spouse generally enters as an IR-1 and receives permanent resident status without the two-year condition.
Yes. Unlike the K-1 fiancé(e) visa, which is available only to U.S. citizens, a lawful permanent resident can petition for a spouse.
However, spouses of permanent residents are generally subject to immigrant visa availability under the family-sponsored preference categories, while spouses of U.S. citizens are considered immediate relatives.
The petitioner and beneficiary must have a legally valid marriage, and the marriage must be genuine and not entered into solely for immigration purposes.
The petitioner must generally establish the qualifying marital relationship, and the couple must provide evidence demonstrating that they have a bona fide marriage.
The foreign spouse must also be otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa.
Processing times vary considerably depending on USCIS processing, the National Visa Center, the Embassy or Consulate handling the case, interview availability, and the individual circumstances of the case.
No attorney or law firm can guarantee exactly how long a spousal visa will take. We help our clients move through each stage efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays caused by incomplete forms, missing documents, or preventable mistakes.
USCIS wants to see evidence demonstrating that your marriage is genuine and was not entered into simply to obtain an immigration benefit.
Every marriage is different. The important issue is presenting evidence that accurately reflects your particular marriage and circumstances.
Anastasia helped me through both the K1 visa and Green Card process, and I would so quickly recommend her to anyone moving through the immigration process. She was attentive, helpful and swift to respond throughout our time working together. She turned what would have been a very stressful process into something much more manageable. Absolutely 5 stars in every aspect. My husband and I were searching and searching for a good immigration lawyer shortly after getting married. We called several immigration firms in our area and other areas. (We live in Virginia)
We found Anastasia Johnson who helped us beyond what I could have hoped for. She was very efficient and made us feel confident throughout the unfamiliar process. Our case was approved very quickly! From the very beginning, Anastasia was attentive, caring, patient, and down to business. She’s incredibly talented as an immigration lawyer. She is in Florida and I’m in Michigan, but that didn’t stop me from retaining her for my fiancés K-1 visa process. We did everything she asked and had many questions for her along the way. Her responsiveness was incredibly helpful and we are so grateful. My fiancé successfully obtained her visa and we will be hiring Anastasia again for the green card process. Thank you Anastasia! If you are looking for a good immigration lawyer you have found them. Pelican Johnson immigration law firm have brought me and the love of my life together. They are so kind and helpful. They will help you through every step and explain everything. The process was pretty fast with their help. I would really recommend going to them if you need immigration help. 5 star Pelican/Johnson immigration Law is an excellent law firm. Special thanks to Ms. Anastasia Johnson with assisting my fiancée and I with our K1 visa process. Every step was approved first time go throughout the process. She is always available for any questions it concerns throughout the process. Stress free of having to deal with any run arounds that the immigration agencies may bring your way. I also highly recommend this law firm to all my fellow active military and veterans.Ready to Bring Your Spouse Home?
Let's Get Your Spousal Visa Process Started.
You are already building a life together. Immigration paperwork should not stand in the way of knowing what comes next.
Let our experience help guide your family through the U.S. immigration process.
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