The CR1 visa is the type of US visa issued in favor of spouses of US citizens and lawful permanent residents who are living outside the United States if they have not been married for two years or more.
How to get CR1 Visa in Thailand?
The application process for CR1 visa will at all times commence through the filing of the US citizen spouse (petitioner) of a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) with the authorized United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS for brevity) Service Center. The objective of this petition is to establish the existence of a bona fide relationship with the applicant (alien spouse).
Once approved, the petition along with the supporting documents will be forwarded by the USCIS to the National Visa Center or NVC.
The NVC serves as the collecting and processing agent of immigrant visa applications. CR1 petitions may only be processed by NVC when the priority date of the application is current. The period of time before the status becomes current depends on the filing date and the volume of pending applications.
When the status is already current or is close to being current, the NVC will send the petitioner the instruction on how to pay the appropriate processing fees. After payment has been made, the petitioner will receive a request for further documentations. Consequently, all the relevant documents will be sent to the US Embassy in Thailand.
The NVC will set a consular interview appointment and notify the beneficiary of the scheduled date.
Based on the submitted documents and interview, the consular officer will decide on the eligibility of the applicant. If approved, the visa may already be available for pick up within 2-3 business days.
Additional Information
To avoid cases of immigration fraud through marriage, the US Immigration Law imposed a conditional permanent residence for two years to CR1 Visa holders. Within ninety (90) days from the second anniversary of the entry of the CR1 spouse in the United States, the spouses need to apply together “to remove the condition” to the USCIS in the locality. Failure to remove the condition before the expiration of the visa will subject the holder to removal or deportation.
