The US Spousal Visa
Are you planning to marry overseas?
This visa is for a foreign spouse of a United States citizen requesting permanent immigration to the US. This petition must be filed in the United States and issued in the country where the marriage took place.
The Spousal Visa is a complicated filing:
The petition consist of two separate filings; the required CR1 (Form I-130) and the optional K3 (Form I-129F). These two petitions travel through the system independently of one another.
The CR1 (I-130) petition must be filed first.
The K3 (I-129F) petition can only be filed after the CR1 has been received by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).
In most cases, the K-3 (I-129F) moves ahead of the CR1 (I-130) and your spouse will be able to have his/her interview and come to the United States several months sooner than on the CR1 (I-130).
Checklist of Spousal Visa Procedures
- You must marry in her country before you can file the petitions.
- You will need several photographs of the two of you together and proof of travel documentation.
- Separate petitions are required for each child immigrating.
- You will need to provide us with background information and required documents.
- We will review your documents and complete your spousal visa petitions and mail them to you with instructions for your signature and filing with USCIS. Government fees are not included in our visa service packages.
- Both petitions will be reviewed and approved by 2 different government agencies.
- At this point customized instructions will be provided to our clients for each petition.
- If approved, the petitions go to the US Embassy in your Spouse's resident country. We will provide interview information to you and your Spouse.
- Once the interview has been scheduled, a medical exam will also be required. There are additional government fees associated with the interview process.
- At the interview, if your Spouse's petition is approved, a visa will be issued within 10 to 14 business days.
- Depending on which petition was used to enter the USA, additional paperwork for the "Green Card" may be required. We can assist with that paperwork if required.
