Spouse Green Card (CR1/IR1)

Spouse Green Card (CR1/IR1 Visa)

For couples where the foreign spouse has no visitor visa

You don’t need a tourist visa to start a life together in the United States. If you are already married to a U.S. citizen, there is a clear process to apply from outside the U.S., complete an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country, and enter the U.S. as a permanent resident. Our clients usually have a U.S. husband with enough income and assets, so the financial part tends to be straightforward. What you need from us is a plan, organization, and steady guidance from start to finish.

Is this a good fit for you?

This service is built for married couples who want to keep things simple and legal. Many foreign spouses we help do not have a visitor visa, and that’s okay—the spouse green card path is separate from tourist visas. If your U.S. citizen spouse can comfortably meet the financial requirements, you’re likely in the right place.

• You are legally married (or on track to get married) to a U.S. citizen and living outside the United States.
• The U.S. citizen spouse has a substantial income and can act as the sponsor.
• You prefer to arrive in the U.S. already as a resident, rather than enter first and adjust status later.

How the process works (in plain English)

The marriage‑based green card through consular processing follows a steady path. First, the U.S. spouse files a family petition to show the marriage is real. After that is approved, your case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC) for forms and documents. The final step is conduct in your country and includes a medical exam and an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that serves your country.

1. Family petition (Form I‑130). The U.S. spouse asks the government to recognize the marriage for immigration.
2. USCIS approval → NVC. NVC creates your case, collects fees, and gives you access to the online system.
3. Online application (DS‑260). You fill out the immigrant visa form and upload civil documents following your country’s rules.
4. Financial form (I‑864). The U.S. sponsor confirms income/assets. For our typical clients, this is usually smooth.
5. Medical exam and interview. You attend a medical with a panel physician and then your interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
6. Enter as a resident. With the immigrant visa in your passport, you enter the U.S. as a permanent resident. Your visa plus entry stamp work as temporary proof while your physical green card is produced and mailed.

CR1 visa or IR1 visa? If you’ve been married under two years when you enter, you receive a conditional card (CR1 ). At two years or more, it’s an IR1(no conditions).

What changes the day you arrive

When you land with an immigrant visa, you’re admitted as a permanent resident. That means you can start your life: move into your home, open accounts, and begin work once your employer verifies your status with the temporary proof in your passport. The plastic card follows by mail. We’ll explain how to use your documents at each step so there are no surprises.

• Expect a short “settling in” period while you wait for the physical card.
• If you plan to work right away, we’ll show you how your passport stamp works for employer verification.
• We’ll also outline when to visit your local Social Security office if needed.

Proving your marriage is real

A marriage certificate is important, but it doesn’t tell your story. Officers want to see everyday life and real connection. We’ll help you build a simple, honest package that shows who you are as a couple—without drowning you in paperwork.

• Include labeled photos with names, places, and dates so the officer understands the moments.
• Write a short timeline of your relationship: how you met, visits, important events, and plans.
• Add proof of time together—travel stamps, tickets, hotel bookings, messages, and family gatherings.
• Where available, include shared things like a lease, bank account, or insurance; if you don’t have them yet, we’ll focus on other proofs that make sense for your situation.

If you see possible “red flags”

Some couples worry about things like a big age difference, different first languages, a short courtship, living apart before the move, or an old visa denial. None of these mean automatic refusal. They do mean we’ll explain your story carefully and back it up with consistent evidence.

• Age or language gap: We’ll show how you communicate daily and how your families support the relationship.
• New marriage: A clear timeline and proof of in‑person meetings help the officer understand your path.
• No cohabitation yet: We’ll include concrete post‑arrival plans for housing, budgeting, and family life.
• Prior visa denials: We’ll address what was denied and why this category is different from a tourist visa.

Honesty is the rule. If something is sensitive, we won’t hide it—we’ll organize and explain it.

About the financial sponsorship

Marriage‑based cases require the U.S. sponsor to sign an Affidavit of Support confirming income or assets. Because our clients usually have strong finances, we rarely need a joint sponsor. We’ll still review the numbers in your consultation and make sure they’re documented correctly. No complicated charts here—just a clean, compliant file.

Timelines (kept general on purpose)

Processing moves through different government offices (USCIS, NVC, and your Embassy/Consulate). Times change by country and workload. We’ll give you a realistic range during the consultation and update it as your case moves forward.

Not married yet and in a hurry? (Small alternative)

If you are not married and want to reunite in the U.S. to marry there, the K‑1 fiancé (“Noiva”) visa could be a fit. You must have met in person within the last two years (with limited exceptions), marry within 90 days after arrival, and then apply for the green card inside the U.S. This route brings you together sooner to marry in the U.S., but it adds steps after you arrive. For couples who are already married—or ready to marry abroad—the CR1 visa/IR1 visa path is usually simpler overall.

What happens in the interview

Most interviews are straightforward when your file is organized and your answers match your documents. We’ll prepare you with a practice session so you know what to expect: where to go, how to check in, what common questions look like, and how to keep calm. Your interview will be at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that serves your country of residence.

How we help (and how we work)

You deserve clear answers and a steady hand. We handle the legal forms and strategy; you focus on your life together; we are U.S.-licensed attorneys and we file our attorney‑of‑record form so agencies contact us about your case. In English or Portuguese—or both in the same call—we can meet so everyone understands the plan. We promise careful work and real talk; we do not offer guarantees.

• We map your path (CR1 visa/IR1 visa vs. alternatives) and spot risk early.
• We build a clean evidence package that tells your story, not just your paperwork.
• We prepare you for the interview so the day feels familiar, not frightening.
• We keep you updated and answer agency requests the right way.

What to bring to your consultation

A little preparation makes the call more productive. Bring what you easily have; we’ll make a full list after we review your situation.

• Marriage certificate (or wedding plan details if you are considering K‑1).
• Passports, any prior U.S. visa decisions, and your basic travel history.
• A short relationship timeline and a few labeled photos.
• Addresses and jobs for recent years, and any past immigration filings.
• Sponsor’s basic income details so we can confirm the financial form.

https://youtu.be/i1X6P2qO5_M

Ready when you are

Legal note: This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, and every case is unique. We are licensed in the United States, offer bilingual consults, and make no guarantees.