IR-1 Spouse of a U.S. Citizen Visa

The IR-1 Immigrant Visa — also known as the Immediate Relative Visa — allows the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen to obtain permanent residency and live in the United States. It provides a direct pathway to a Green Card without the need for lengthy waiting periods under visa quotas.

Key Features of the IR-1 Visa:

• Eligibility: The IR-1 visa is available to legally married spouses of U.S. citizens. Applicants must prove the marriage is genuine and not entered into for immigration purposes.
• Immigrant Intent: The IR-1 visa is an immigrant visa, meaning it is specifically for individuals intending to reside permanently in the United States with their U.S. citizen spouse.
• Form I-130 Petition: The U.S. citizen spouse must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to establish the relationship and begin the immigration process.
• National Visa Center (NVC) Processing: Once the petition is approved, the case is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for document collection, fee payments, and interview scheduling.
• Visa Interview: The foreign spouse must attend a visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, presenting documents that verify the marriage’s authenticity, financial sponsorship, and admissibility to the U.S.
• Conditional Residency: If the marriage is less than two years old at the time of entry to the U.S., the spouse receives a two-year conditional Green Card. Before the second anniversary, the couple must jointly file Form I-751 to remove conditions and obtain permanent residency.
• Permanent Residency: Once conditions are removed, the foreign spouse receives a 10-year Green Card, granting the right to live, work, and study in the U.S. without restrictions.
• Citizenship Eligibility: After three years of permanent residency while married to a U.S. citizen, the foreign spouse may apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
• Derivative Visas: Children of the foreign spouse may qualify for IR-2 visas if they are unmarried and under 21 years old, allowing them to immigrate to the U.S. as dependents.

The IR-1 visa provides one of the most secure and efficient routes to U.S. permanent residency for married couples. At Visa2Migrate, we help ensure that every step — from petition filing to Green Card approval — is completed with accuracy and confidence.