IR1/CR1 basic differences & advantages

[Monty007 1]

My interview letter says my visa type is CR1...not IR1?? What's the difference between IR1/CR1? Is there any problem that i don't get IR1 status?

[aleful 1,905]

hi

how long have you been married? that's the difference

married to a USC for less than 2 years, you will get the 2 year conditional GC, hence the category CR1. if you are married more than 2 years, you will get the 10 year GC and your category will be IR1

[Anh map 2,098]

Nothing to worry about. If at the time you enter the US you have been married for longer than 2 years you will be classified IR1 and get the 10 year green card. It's always a good idea to confirm that with the immigration officer that processes your entry.

[norishing2007 2]

My interview letter says my visa type is CR1...not IR1?? What's the difference between IR1/CR1? Is there any problem that i don't get IR1 status?

If you're married for less than two years probably your visa type is for cr1 which is going to be conditional with two years green card once after your two years anniversary you and your spouse is going to the uscis office to change it to unconditionally with ten years green card renew

[rutabaga 209]

When I was at the embassy, they even helpfully pointed all of that out and asked if I wanted to delay the interview a bit so they can issue me an IR1 (it was about a month before I'd be eligible for an IR1), but since that would have been to close to when I want to fly to the States I opted for the CR1, so I got a CR1 and they put in the annotation "IR1 as of <date>" and reminded me to definitely point it out to CBP at POE as they don't always pay attention to the date when CR1 becomes eligible for an IR1.

[Monty007 1]

Thnq u all... I have been married for 14 months...hopefully when i'll enter US then it'll be 17 months...

So i would ask at port of entry immigration officer to remind him to update my visa category to CR1 to IR1? Or after entering US i have to contact with USCIS after 24 months of my marriage?!

Edited April 6, 2016 by Monty007

[aleful 1,905]

hi

nope, it doesn't work that way, you have to already have been married over 2 years when you enter the country, at POE

so, you can stretch your process so you will be married for over 2 years, or if you enter the country at 17 months of marriage you will get the CR1 2 year GC and will have to remove conditions 90 days before the card expires, in order to get the 10 year GC

[rutabaga 209]

The problem being that if you get your visa at the point when you'll be married for 17 months you wouldn't be able to wait for the 24 month point as your visa (medical) won't be valid for that long.

[Monty007 1]

Sorry i didn't get it...@Rutabaga

Edited April 6, 2016 by Monty007

[rutabaga 209]

Your visa will be issued with a validity of six months from when you did your medical. So if you're married for 17 months when you get the visa, the math is 17+6=23, i.e., you'd still have to go through POE before being married for two years so you'd still be admitted as CR1.

Anyway, ROC is not that bad for avoiding it to warrant being separated for an extra 6-7 months if you ask me. We're waiting because we only have one extra month to wait, plus I'd probably have needed about a month anyway to tie up loose ends here.

Edited April 6, 2016 by rutabaga

[spousewaitingvisa 39]

Sorry i didn't get it...@Rutabaga

When is your interview date exactly? when is your medical date? and when is your married date?

For example,

Your interview date is May 6th, 2016.

Your record medical date is April 27th, 2016 -- expiring in 6 months: Oct 27th 2016

Your married date is Feb 7th, 2015 and your 2nd wedding anniversary date is Feb 7th, 2017.

Visa interview date: May 5th, 2016

Visa issuance date: May 19th, 2016 (depends on consular officer to approve, process visa issuance on computer and stamp visa. they won't issue a visa on the same day as your interview day).

Visa expiration date: either October 27th 2016 (expiring in 6 months from medical expiration date) or Nov 19th, 2016 (expiring in 6 months from visa issuance date). Just pay attention to visa expiration date.

You must enter the US at any port of entry (POE) before October 27th 2016 or Nov 19th 2016. Just to be safe, enter the US before Oct 27th. You will be admitted as CR1 (you will get a 2-year conditional green card) because it is less than your 2nd wedding anniversary date which is Feb 7th, 2017. You won't be admitted as IR-1 likely. Once you are in the US, you will apply for ROC (removal of conditions) in two years in order to get a 10-year permanent green card. This is just an example.

[Monty007 1]

Thnq u all! Really grateful to all of u!

[Cathi 5,863]

If you're married for less than two years probably your visa type is for cr1 which is going to be conditional with two years green card once after your two years anniversary you and your spouse is going to the uscis office to change it to unconditionally with ten years green card renew

not probably, definitely. If someone has been married less than 2 years it is a CR-1

[NikLR 13,234]

Thnq u all! Really grateful to all of u!

Cool now fill out your timeline!

[hellraiser 42]

Don't worry about the IR1 and CR1 difference. CR1 is conditional residency which means your green card will be issued for 2 years. Right before that you will need to submit for "condition removal" process and then you will get the 10 years green card. Apart from this there is no difference between the green cards. If your marriage age is less than 2 years it is marked as CR1, standard process.

So start collecting some evidence for the condition removal process. Open up a joint bank account, putting her Ina utility bill, getting drivers license/state ID where both of you have same address and etc. are just some tips for that time.

Don't worry and relax. One way for USCIS to make some money as well :-)