Time for Obtaining a Marriage Visa: Immigration Attorney in Philadelphia, PA Explains
There are many different types of visas, and a marriage visa is one of the most common. It allows a spouse who is foreign-born to enter the United States to live with their spouse who is either a United States citizen or is a permanent resident. There are two different types, and selecting the correct type is important to ensure your application is granted without delays. This is because the process itself can take a considerable amount of time, especially during the delays caused by the coronavirus known as COVID-19. If you or a loved one are looking to apply for a marriage visa, ask our experienced immigration lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, for help with your application.
Here at the immigration law firm of MC Law Group, LLC, we have dedicated our practice to helping individuals fulfill their immigration dreams. Our law firm can handle nearly any type of immigration application or proceeding, offering individuals and their families the quality and competent representation that they deserve. If you or a loved one are looking for a visa lawyer in Philadelphia, PA, ask how our law firm can help you.
Different Types of Marriage Visas
A marriage visa comes in two different forms. It is important to select the right form when applying, otherwise your application may be denied, and you will have to start over. This can result in significant delays for your papers.
The two different types of marriage visas are the following:
CR-1
This is known as a conditional resident form or CR form. The CR-1 is the type of marriage visa that allows couples who have been married for less than two years to live together in the United States.
IR-1
This is known as the immediate relative form or IR form. The IR-1 is a type of marriage visa that allows couples who have been married for more than two years to live together in the United States.
How is the CR-1 and IR-1 Different From a K-1?
The CR-1 and IR-1 are different from the K-1 because the couple in a CR-1 and IR-1 are already married. Whereas in K-1, the couple is engaged to be married but not yet married. The CR-1 and IR-1 come with a permanent residency card, or green card, unlike the K-1, which requires the green card to be applied for shortly after the marriage.
How Long Does it Take to Get a CR-1 or IR-1?
Before the pandemic, the average time to obtain a marriage visa through the CR-1 or IR-1 was approximately 5-8 months. However, due to the pandemic, the process is taking 10 months or longer. This is due to less staffing, backlogs, and social distancing requirements.
Factors That Can Slow Down a Marriage Visa
While the largest factors that can slow down a marriage visa are often the ones we cannot control, such as the pandemic, other factors could affect a marriage visa. This include:
- Workload/backlog of agency you submit to
- Originating country
- Follow-up questions or requests for information/evidence
- Mistakes in your application
- Unanswered questions
- Payment issues, and
- Other factors that could slow down an application.
Ask Our Lawyers For Help Obtain Your Marriage Visa: Immigration Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA
While our law firm cannot promise to get your application processed faster or with any special treatment from the government, our immigration lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, will get your application properly completed, answer all requests for information or evidence quickly, and avoid common mistakes in applications to reduce the potential for delays. Our visa lawyers have handled many marriage visas and know how important it is for couples to get their paperwork processed promptly.
If you or a loved one are looking to apply for a CR-1, IR-1, or any other type of visa, call our experienced immigration lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, at MC Law Group, LLC for help today by dialing (215) 496-0690 to schedule your free consultation with our office.
