US Spouse Visa Options

What are the visa options for a spouse of a U.S. citizen to come to the United States? Depending on the length of their marriage, there are three several options for the married couple.

K3 Visa

A K3 visa is under a non-immigrant visa issued to a spouse permitting her to enter the United States. There must be a pending immigrant petition filed by the U.S. citizen for the Thai spouse. The K3 visa is multiple entry two year visa. The benefit of a K3 visa is that it is the fast way for the spouse to enter the United States. Upon entry into the United States, the K3 status holder has to apply for adjustment of status to obtain permanent residency status. If the pending immigrant petition at the USCIS is approved prior to the fiancé petition, the fiancé petition will be closed in favor of the immigrant petition.

To start your K-3 Visa application, please follow this link.

 

IR-1 Visa

IR-1 visa or “Immediate Relative” is an immigrant visa issued to the foreign spouse of a U.S. Citizen who have been married for more than two years. The immigrant petition has to be filed in the United States with evidence of a valid marriage relationship and ability to financially support the immigrant. The process generally takes longer than the K3 visa. The benefit is that there is no need to file an Adjustment of Status petition. The IR-1 spouse will receive a full 10 year permanent residency status upon entry into the United States.

To start your CR-1 Visa application, please follow this link.

 

CR-1 Visa

CR-1 visa or “Conditional Resident” is similar to the IR-1 visa. The difference is that it is issued to a spouse of an American citizen who has been married for less than two years. Upon entry into the United States, the CR-1 spouse will receive a two year conditional permanent residency status. The couple will have to jointly file for removal of the conditional status two years upon the Thai spouse’s entry into the United States. The CR-1 spouse can also self-petition for the removal of conditional permanent residency status in certain circumstances such as violence in the marriage. If there is a failure to apply for removal of conditional permanent residency status, the CR-1 spouse may be subject to removal from the United States.

To start your IR-1 Visa application, please follow this link.

 

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