Some people marry young, pursue opportunities in the United States alone and then reunite with their spouses. Others might fall in love while traveling for work or pleasure. Some people even meet online or have their families arrange their marriages. Those with foreign national spouses often want to bring their partners to the United States. The fastest way to do so is through a spousal visa.
Spousal visas make the spouses of United States citizens eligible for green cards. They can enter the country, become permanent residents and eventually seek citizenship for themselves. Spousal visas are typically the fastest option available for helping a loved one enter the country, but they do require patience.
There are two spousal visas
A United States citizen hoping to reunite with their spouse must petition for a visa. They submit paperwork to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting a visa for their spouse. The exact document is a Form I-130, a Petition for Alien Relative.
There are technically two spousal visa programs available. Those who recently married have to seek a CR-1 visa. These visas are available to those who have been married to a United States citizen for less than two years at the time that they secure their green card. A CR-1 visa provides a spouse with a conditional green card. They have to apply to remove the conditional status after residing in the country for approximately 21 months but before the two-year green card expires.
If the marriage has lasted longer than two years already, then the spouse may qualify for an IR-1 visa. Provided that the USCIS approves the petition, the foreign national spouse is eligible for a standard green card that lasts for 10 years between renewals.
Both spouses typically have to provide information about the relationship during the visa application process. The foreign national spouse must undergo a background check and submit medical records in most cases. There is no firm timeline for a spousal visa. Some people navigate the process in under a year. Others report waiting two years or even longer for their spouses to enter the country.
The sooner that immigrants begin the process, the sooner they can reunite with their spouses. Learning more about spousal visas and green cards can help people reunite with their loved ones after a lengthy international separation.
