I have been married for 5 yrs. I want to know the difference between CR1 and IR1? Which form I have to use?
Thank you
Full Version: What is the difference between CR1 and IR1?
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QUOTE(boing @ May 20 2007, 01:00 PM) 
I have been married for 5 yrs. I want to know the difference between CR1 and IR1? Which form I have to use?
The forms are the same. The difference is, if one has been married for less than 2 years at the time of getting immigrant visa (CR-1) and entering the US with immigrant visa, a conditional green card will be issued. That person would have to remove conditions after 2 years of GC issuance. Person married for more than 2 years, is awarded IR-1 immigrant visa.
If you are adjusting status from K3, and since you have been married for 5 years, you'll get little IR-6 mark on GC.
USCIS will figure it out which class you are belonging to...
IR1 stands for Immediate Relative type 1, I think.
If you married with same person for more than 2 years when you get interviewed, it will be considered as IR-1 and they will give permanent resident card (I-551) with 10 year validity.
If you married with less than 2 years for same person when you get interviewed, they will issue Conditional permanent resident card with 2 year validity marked as CR-1.
Difference between IR-1 and CR-1 is following.
- IR-1 will receive 10 year validity versus CR-1 will receive 2 year validity.
- IR-1 may need to renew their Permanent Resident Card (also known as Green Card) when 10 year validity (expiry) day comes, but even if you don't renew it, or you miss it, you don't loose Legal Permanent Resident Status. You just have a couple of restrictions such as Country In/Out (Foreign country travel), Naturalization... You can renew it whenever it is convenient for you even AFTER expiry date.
- CR-1 needs to file I-751 to remove the condition for your Green Card for 2 year validity, and need to PROVE your marriage is indeed maintained with same person for those 2 years. There are some exceptions, but you have to file I-751 to remove the condition. You can file I-751 from 90 days prior to expiry date to expiry date, and if you miss it, you will loose your legal permanent resident status.
Except above, it is same.
Do I miss anything? :-)
I think if you married with same person for 5 years, it will be qualified for IR-1.
IR1 stands for Immediate Relative type 1, I think.
If you married with same person for more than 2 years when you get interviewed, it will be considered as IR-1 and they will give permanent resident card (I-551) with 10 year validity.
If you married with less than 2 years for same person when you get interviewed, they will issue Conditional permanent resident card with 2 year validity marked as CR-1.
Difference between IR-1 and CR-1 is following.
- IR-1 will receive 10 year validity versus CR-1 will receive 2 year validity.
- IR-1 may need to renew their Permanent Resident Card (also known as Green Card) when 10 year validity (expiry) day comes, but even if you don't renew it, or you miss it, you don't loose Legal Permanent Resident Status. You just have a couple of restrictions such as Country In/Out (Foreign country travel), Naturalization... You can renew it whenever it is convenient for you even AFTER expiry date.
- CR-1 needs to file I-751 to remove the condition for your Green Card for 2 year validity, and need to PROVE your marriage is indeed maintained with same person for those 2 years. There are some exceptions, but you have to file I-751 to remove the condition. You can file I-751 from 90 days prior to expiry date to expiry date, and if you miss it, you will loose your legal permanent resident status.
Except above, it is same.
Do I miss anything? :-)
I think if you married with same person for 5 years, it will be qualified for IR-1.
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