What is a CR-2 Visa?

A CR-2 visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa issued to the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is immigrating to the United States. It is also called a Conditional Permanent Resident Spouse Visa. The CR-2 visa is a temporary visa that allows the spouse to enter the United States while their Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is being processed.

The CR-2 visa holder is considered to be a conditional permanent resident and will be allowed to live and work in the United States for two years. After two years, the CR-2 visa holder must apply to have the conditions removed from their permanent resident status, which requires them to file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.

The CR-2 visa holder is not allowed to apply for permanent residency while on CR-2 status. They must wait until the conditions are removed from their permanent resident status and then they can apply for permanent residency.

To apply for a CR-2 visa, the U.S. citizen spouse must first file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of the foreign spouse. Once the petition is approved, the foreign spouse must then apply for the CR-2 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.

Who Qualifies for CR-2 Visa?

To qualify for a CR-2 visa, an individual must be the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is immigrating to the United States. The U.S. citizen spouse must file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of the foreign national spouse, which must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the foreign national spouse can apply for the CR-2 visa.

It’s important that the marriage between the U.S. citizen and the foreign national spouse is legally valid and that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing immigration laws.

The foreign national spouse must also meet all the general requirements for a nonimmigrant visa, such as being admissible to the United States, and not being a security risk.

CR-2 visa holder is considered to be a conditional permanent resident and will be allowed to live and work in the United States for two years. After two years, the CR-2 visa holder must apply to have the conditions removed from their permanent resident status, which requires them to file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.

CR-2 visa holder is not allowed to apply for permanent residency while on CR-2 status. They must wait until the conditions are removed from their permanent resident status and then they can apply for permanent residency.

How to Apply for CR-2 Visa?

Here are the general steps for applying for a CR-2 visa:

1. File a petition: The U.S. citizen spouse must file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of the foreign national spouse with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and it must be approved.
2. Gather the required documentation: The foreign national spouse must gather all the required documents, such as proof of marriage, proof of U.S. citizen spouse’s citizenship, and proof of the foreign national spouse’s admissibility.
3. Complete the visa application: After the petition is approved, the foreign national spouse must complete the visa application form (DS-160) and pay the application fee.
4. Attend an interview: After the application and all required documents are submitted, the foreign national spouse may be required to attend an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
5. Wait for a decision: After the interview, the foreign national spouse must wait for a decision on their visa application.
6. Enter the United States: Once the visa is granted, the foreign national spouse must enter the United States within the validity period of the visa.

What is the CR-2 Visa Interview Process?

The CR-2 visa interview process typically involves an in-person interview with a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The purpose of the interview is to verify the information provided in the application and to determine whether the individual is eligible for the CR-2 visa.

During the interview, the consular officer may ask a series of questions to verify the individual’s identity, the relationship with the U.S. citizen spouse, and the information provided in the application. The officer may also ask about the individual’s qualifications and plans while in the United States. The consular officer will also check to ensure that the marriage between the U.S. citizen and the foreign national spouse is legally valid and that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing immigration laws.

It’s important for the applicant to be honest and accurate in their responses to the questions and to provide any additional documentation if required. The applicant must also be prepared to provide evidence of the authenticity of their marriage, such as wedding photos, certificates, joint bank accounts, and other documents that demonstrate that the marriage is bona-fide.

What are the Required Documents for CR-2 Visa?

The required documents for a CR-2 visa application can vary depending on the individual case and the U.S. embassy or consulate processing the application, but generally, the following documents are required:

1. Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative: This form must be filed by the U.S. citizen spouse on behalf of the foreign national spouse, and must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the foreign national spouse can apply for the CR-2 visa.
2. Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application: This form must be completed by the foreign national spouse and submitted along with the application fee.
3. Valid passport: A valid passport for travel to the United States, with at least 6 months of validity remaining beyond the intended stay in the United States.
4. Two recent 2×2 passport-style photographs: The photographs must be taken within the last six months, and meet the US visa photograph requirements.
5. Proof of marriage: Original or certified copies of the marriage certificate or other official documents that prove the marriage is legally valid.
6. Proof of U.S. citizen spouse’s citizenship: A copy of the U.S. citizen spouse’s birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or U.S. passport.
7. Proof of the foreign national spouse’s admissibility: This may include police certificates, court records, and other documents to demonstrate that the foreign national spouse does not have a criminal record or any other grounds of inadmissibility.
8. Proof of financial support: Evidence that the U.S. citizen spouse can support the foreign national spouse during their stay in the United States, such as bank statements, pay stubs, and income tax returns.
9. Proof of relationship: Additional documents that may be required to demonstrate the authenticity of the relationship, such as wedding photos, joint bank accounts, and other documents that demonstrate that the marriage is bona-fide.

What is the CR-2 Visa Fee?

The fee for a CR-2 visa application is currently $535. This fee is for the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, which is filed by the U.S. citizen spouse on behalf of the foreign national spouse and it must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the foreign national spouse can apply for the CR-2 visa.

What is the CR-2 Visa Processing Time?

The processing time for a CR-2 visa application can vary depending on the individual case and the U.S. embassy or consulate processing the application, as well as the demand. Generally, processing time can take several weeks to several months.

CR-2 Visa Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the CR-2 visa:

Q: Who is eligible for the CR-2 visa?
A: To be eligible for the CR-2 visa, an individual must be the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is immigrating to the United States. The U.S. citizen spouse must file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of the foreign national spouse, which must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the foreign national spouse can apply for the CR-2 visa.

Q: How do I apply for the CR-2 visa?
A: To apply for the CR-2 visa, the U.S. citizen spouse must first file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of the foreign spouse. Once the petition is approved, the foreign spouse must then apply for the CR-2 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.

Q: What are the required documents for the CR-2 visa?
A: The required documents for the CR-2 visa can include Form I-130, Form DS-160, passport, marriage certificate, proof of U.S. citizen spouse’s citizenship, proof of the foreign national spouse’s admissibility, and the application fee payment.

Q: What is the fee for the CR-2 visa?
A: The fee for the CR-2 visa is currently $535.

Q: What is the processing time for the CR-2 visa?
A: The processing time for the CR-2 visa can vary depending on the individual case and the U.S. embassy or consulate processing the application, as well as the demand. It’s generally several weeks to several months.