Spouse & family.
Already married, planning to marry, or sponsoring a parent, child, or sibling — there's a path to bring your family to the United States.
- Already married — the spouse visa (CR-1/IR-1). An immigrant visa processed at a U.S. consulate; your spouse enters as a permanent resident.
- The recommended route. For married couples, the spouse visa produces a lawful permanent resident on entry — no separate adjustment-of-status step.
- Other relatives. U.S. citizens can also petition parents, children, and siblings; permanent residents, spouses and unmarried children.
- We handle the whole filing. The I-130 or I-129F petition, the DS-260 or DS-160, and the I-864 affidavit of support.
- From intake to approval. A licensed U.S. immigration attorney stays on your file the entire way.
The spouse visa (CR-1 / IR-1)
The CR-1 and IR-1 are immigrant visas for the foreign-born spouses of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents — and, for nearly every married couple, the best route to bring a spouse to the United States. The visa is issued at a U.S. consulate in the spouse's home country; on entry, your spouse becomes a lawful permanent resident, with no separate green-card application to file afterward.
- CR-1 (Conditional Resident): issued when the marriage is less than two years old at entry. The two-year condition is later removed with Form I-751.
- IR-1 (Immediate Relative): issued when the marriage is two years or older at entry — a ten-year green card, no conditions.
Not yet married? The practical answer is usually simple: marry, then pursue the spouse visa — it is faster and cleaner than the K-1 fiancé visa (see the note below).
How the process works
- Petition. The U.S. citizen or permanent resident files Form I-130 for the qualifying relative with USCIS.
- National Visa Center / consular prep. We prepare the immigrant visa application (DS-260), the affidavit of support (I-864), and assemble the civil and financial documents.
- Consular interview. Your relative attends an interview at the U.S. consulate in their country of residence.
- Entry to the U.S. Your relative enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident.
Other family members
Family-based immigration reaches beyond spouses and fiancé(e)s. U.S. citizens can also petition for parents, children, and siblings; lawful permanent residents can petition for spouses and unmarried children. Wait times vary by category and country, and we'll explain where your case falls during the consultation.
How we help
We prepare and review every form and exhibit, build the relationship-evidence packet, manage NVC follow-ups, prepare you and your partner for the interview, and respond to any Requests for Evidence. A licensed U.S. immigration attorney stays on the file from intake through approval.
A note on the K-1 fiancé visa. For couples who are engaged but not yet married, a K-1 fiancé visa is a separate route — but it is the last option we recommend. It requires a second, separate green-card (adjustment-of-status) filing after the wedding, and recent policy changes have made it slower and more burdensome. For nearly all couples, marrying and pursuing the CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa is faster, less expensive, and simpler.
Common questions.
Should I use a K-1 fiancé visa?
For nearly all couples, no — we recommend marrying and using the CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa instead. It produces a permanent resident on entry, avoids a separate adjustment-of-status filing, and isn't subject to the recent policy changes that have slowed the K-1. We'll discuss the K-1 only if it's genuinely the better fit for your situation.
Can a permanent resident sponsor a spouse?
Yes. Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can petition for a spouse with Form I-130. A citizen's spouse is an immediate relative with no wait line; a permanent resident's spouse falls under the family-preference categories.
What if my spouse is already in the U.S.?
If your spouse entered lawfully and is otherwise eligible, adjustment of status (Form I-485) may be available from inside the United States. See our Green Card page.
Does income matter?
Yes. The petitioner must meet the I-864 affidavit-of-support income threshold for the household size. A joint sponsor can be used if income is below the threshold.
Bring your partner home.
Free consultation with a U.S. immigration attorney. No obligation.