Family-based green card
CR-1 Visa: The Conditional Green Card for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (2026)
The CR-1 visa is the immigrant visa — the green card — for the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen when the couple has been married less than two years at the moment the spouse is admitted to the United States. "CR" stands for Conditional Resident. Your spouse enters as a lawful permanent resident, but on a 2-year conditional green card rather than the standard 10-year card.
That "conditional" status, and the step required to lift it, is what most people are really searching for when they look up "CR-1 visa." This page explains what the CR-1 is, how it differs from the IR-1, the Form I-751 step that removes the conditions, the consular process to get there, and where to find current fees and timelines.
CR-1 vs. IR-1: The 2-Year Rule
CR-1 and IR-1 are not two different visas you choose between. They are the same spouse-of-a-U.S.-citizen immigrant visa. The government assigns the label based on one fact: how long you have been married when your spouse is admitted as a permanent resident.
- Married less than two years at admission → CR-1. Your spouse gets a 2-year conditional green card and later has to file Form I-751 to remove the conditions and keep permanent status.
- Married two years or more at admission → IR-1. Your spouse gets a standard 10-year green card and becomes a full lawful permanent resident, with no extra step tied to the marriage.
| CR-1 | IR-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies when | Married under 2 years at admission | Married 2+ years at admission |
| Green card | 2-year (conditional) | 10-year |
| Extra step | Must file I-751 to remove conditions | None specific to the marriage |
| Rights to live, work, travel | Full (identical while the card is valid) | Full |
Two things worth knowing:
- You do not pick. Your length of marriage at admission decides it for you.
- The clock is measured at admission, not at filing. Because these cases take time, a couple who files at 18 months of marriage can cross the two-year mark before the visa is issued — and end up with an IR-1 instead of a CR-1.
For the standard-card version of this same visa, see our IR-1 spouse visa page.
Removing Conditions: The Form I-751 Step
A conditional green card is real permanent residence — your spouse can live, work, and travel from day one — but it expires after two years. To keep permanent status, the couple must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.
The essentials:
- When: the joint I-751 is filed in the 90-day window before the conditional card expires — that is, before the two-year anniversary of admission.
- Why: the filing asks USCIS to confirm the marriage is genuine and to convert the conditional status into unconditional permanent residence (the 10-year card).
- What it needs: evidence that the marriage is bona fide across the two-year period — things like shared finances, a shared home, and joint responsibilities.
- If circumstances change: couples normally file I-751 jointly, but a waiver of the joint-filing requirement may be available in situations such as divorce or abuse. Whether a waiver applies is fact-specific and worth reviewing with an attorney.
Missing the I-751 deadline can jeopardize permanent status, so this step matters. Our guide on removing conditions with Form I-751 walks through it in detail.
Who Qualifies for a CR-1 Visa
To pursue a CR-1, the case generally needs to meet these conditions:
- The petitioner is a U.S. citizen (a permanent-resident petitioner would fall in a different category).
- The couple is legally married, and the marriage is less than two years old at the time of admission.
- The marriage is bona fide — entered in good faith, not to obtain immigration benefits.
- The U.S. citizen spouse can meet the financial sponsorship requirement (the Affidavit of Support).
- The foreign spouse is admissible to the United States.
The CR-1 Process: How It Works
The CR-1 is an immigrant visa obtained through consular processing — meaning the foreign spouse is generally abroad and finishes the case at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The path looks like this:
- File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The U.S. citizen spouse files this to establish the marriage relationship.
- USCIS review. USCIS adjudicates the I-130 and may issue a Request for Evidence.
- National Visa Center (NVC). Once the I-130 is approved, the case moves to the NVC for fee payment, form submission, and document collection.
- Affidavit of Support (Form I-864). The U.S. citizen sponsor documents that they meet the income requirement.
- Immigrant visa application (DS-260) and gathering of civil documents, police certificates, and the medical exam.
- Consular interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Visa issuance and entry. On admission to the U.S., your spouse becomes a conditional permanent resident.
- Green card in the mail — the 2-year conditional card, because the marriage was under two years at admission.
- Remove conditions (Form I-751) in the 90 days before that conditional card expires, to obtain the 10-year card.
Fees and Timeline
We do not publish specific dollar amounts or a fixed timeline here, because both are set by the government and change over time. Use the official tools so you always see current figures:
- Filing fees: the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) lists the current government filing fees for the I-130, I-751, and related forms. These are government fees only — not Altius Law attorney fees.
- Timeline: the USCIS processing times tool shows current I-130 processing times, which are the biggest variable in how long a CR-1 case takes.
CR-1 Visa FAQ
What is a CR-1 visa?
The CR-1 is the immigrant visa (green card) for the spouse of a U.S. citizen when the couple has been married less than two years at the time of admission. The spouse enters as a conditional permanent resident and receives a 2-year conditional green card.
What is the difference between a CR-1 and an IR-1 visa?
It is the length of the marriage at admission. Less than two years produces a CR-1 and a 2-year conditional green card that later requires Form I-751 to remove conditions. Two years or more produces an IR-1 and a 10-year green card with no such step. See our IR-1 spouse visa page.
Does a CR-1 holder have to remove conditions?
Yes. Because the marriage was under two years old at admission, a CR-1 holder receives conditional residence and must file Form I-751 in the 90 days before the 2-year card expires to obtain unconditional permanent residence. See removing conditions with Form I-751.
Can my spouse work right away?
Yes. A CR-1 holder is a permanent resident on arrival — conditional, but with full rights to live and work in the United States immediately, without a separate work permit.
What happens if we divorce before removing conditions?
The joint I-751 requirement can be a concern after a divorce, but a waiver of the joint-filing requirement may be available in situations such as divorce or abuse. Whether it applies depends on the facts of your case and is worth discussing with an attorney.
How long does the CR-1 process take, and what does it cost?
Both depend on current government figures. Check the USCIS processing times tool for the current timeline and the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055) for current filing fees.
Talk to a Family Immigration Attorney
Whether your case is heading toward a CR-1 or an IR-1 — and, if it is a CR-1, making sure the Form I-751 is filed correctly and on time — an immigration attorney can map out the exact steps and timeline for your situation.
- Learn more about our family-based immigration services
- Compare the standard-card version on our IR-1 spouse visa page
- Contact Altius Law to schedule a consultation
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees, and processing times are set by USCIS and the U.S. Department of State and can change; the descriptions here are current as of July 2026. Always confirm current fees on the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055) and current timelines on the USCIS processing times tool. For advice on your specific case, contact Altius Law.