Marriage Visa
Homeland Security (Uscis) offer a K3 visa or the CR1/IR1.
However in February 2010 Uscis stopped issuing the K3 visa. Instead Uscis issue the CR1/IR1, which includes the green card processing.
CR1 means you have been married for less than two years, IR1 means you have been married for two years or more.
- The basic requirements of the CR1/IR1 are
- You are a US citizen.
- You are legally married to your spouse.
- Certain minimum income requirements.
If your spouse has an unmarried child aged under 18, it is possible to obtain a CR1/IR1 dependent visa.
There are three stages in the application
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (Uscis)
- National Visa Center (NVC)
- US Consulate Abroad
Thus the spouse visa & green card process takes place whilst your spouse is abroad.