CR1 vs IR1: Navigating Conditional vs 10-Year Green Cards in 2026

CR1 and IR1 spouse visas both lead to a green card, but your marriage length on the approval day decides whether the card is conditional for two years or permanent for 10. In 2026, couples should expect 12–24 months from filing to visa issuance on average, with closer review of relationship evidence and more digital processing tools. This guide walks through the full journey, from Form I-130 to the consular interview, and explains what happens after entry for CR1 holders.

The rule that decides CR1 vs IR1

USCIS still uses one bright line: if you have been married less than two years when the immigrant visa is issued or your green card is approved, you enter as a CR1 conditional resident. If the marriage is two years or longer at that same point, you qualify for IR1 and receive a 10-year card without conditions.

That timing surprises many couples because the wedding date matters less than the government’s approval date. VisaVerge.com reports that stronger “ongoing relationship” proof is now expected even for long-married spouses, so treat IR1 as simpler, not effortless.

What you get on arrival in the United States 🇺🇸

Both CR1 and IR1 entrants become lawful permanent residents the moment they are admitted at a port of entry, and they can work right away without applying for an EAD card. Your physical green card usually arrives by mail within weeks.

The main operational difference after arrival:
– CR1 holders must remove conditions later.
– IR1 holders renew their card every decade using Form I-90.

Starting the case: Form I-130 and the relationship evidence

The journey usually starts when the U.S. citizen files Form I-130 with USCIS and pays the $535 fee listed for 2026. The petition proves two things:
– the petitioner is a U.S. citizen, and
– the marriage is real.

In 2026, officers expect a thicker file, including joint financial records, shared address proof, photos across time, and digital trails like travel receipts and message logs. Average approval for the I-130 stage runs 8–18 months.

The 2026 consular processing timeline, stage by stage

Most spouses abroad complete consular processing, which moves the case from USCIS to the National Visa Center (NVC) and then to a U.S. embassy or consulate. USCIS and the State Department have pushed more online steps in 2026, and the shift has cut some NVC delays by 20–30%. Still, high-volume posts, including India and Mexico, often add 2–6 months.

1. NVC intake and fees

– Submit the online immigrant visa application (DS-260), choose an agent address, and pay about $445 in NVC fees before document review begins.
2. Affidavit of Support
– The U.S. citizen files Form I-864 and must show income at 125% of the poverty guideline: $22,887 for a household of two in 2026.
3. Medical exam and civil records
– The spouse completes the required medical exam and gathers police certificates, vaccination records, and original civil documents. Medical costs often run $200–$400.
4. Consular interview
– A consular officer reviews the case, asks detailed questions about your life together, and may issue a request for more evidence if answers or documents don’t line up.
5. Entry and green card production
– After approval, the visa is placed in the passport, and lawful permanent residence starts the day you enter the United States 🇺🇸.

Across these steps, many couples spend $1,680–$2,880 when adding government fees, the medical exam, and document costs. That range usually stays well below fiancé visa routes because the spouse arrives already as a resident.

Preparing for stricter scrutiny and faster digital review

USCIS has leaned into fraud detection, and couples see it in the paperwork. The 2026 playbook favors clear, consistent records over large piles of random photos. Request for Evidence (RFE) letters are reported to be up 15% when submissions are vague, so send a well-labeled set of documents from the start.

Good evidence usually includes:
– joint bank or credit statements spanning multiple months
– a lease or mortgage showing the same home
– insurance policies listing each other as beneficiary
– travel itineraries and passport entry stamps from trips together
– chats, call logs, or emails that match key dates

Keep copies in a single folder, and update it every few months. That habit also helps later if you need to respond to an RFE within the cited 87 days.

Important: RFE responses must be timely and well-organized. Vague submissions increase the chance of additional requests and delays.

After entry: the CR1 conditional period and Form I-751 timing

If you enter on CR1, your green card lasts exactly two years, and the government expects a second check on the marriage. You must file to remove conditions in the 90-day window before the card’s second anniversary.

Key points for CR1 holders:
– File Form I-751 to remove conditions. The 2026 fee is $680.
– File within the 90-day window before the two-year anniversary—USCIS says late filings risk losing status.
– Processing commonly runs 12–18 months; you retain resident status while USCIS reviews the petition.

If the marriage has ended, the law allows an I-751 waiver filing, but you must show the marriage began in good faith and ended for reasons outside a fraud plan. In 2026 analyses, approval rates are about 88% for joint filings and 70% for waiver cases with strong proof.

IR1 holders: fewer steps, same expectations

If you qualify for IR1, you skip the I-751 stage entirely. However, you still should keep proof of a real marriage because:
– it matters for naturalization,
– it may be requested later for verification.

Most spouses of U.S. citizens can apply for citizenship after three years as a resident while living in marital union.

Example timeline to map to your own case

Ana, a Mexican citizen, married David, a U.S. citizen, in June 2024. He filed Form I-130 in July 2024, and USCIS approved it in January 2026, after 18 months. Because their marriage was still under two years, the consulate issued CR1, and Ana entered in March 2026.

• Her card expired in March 2028, so they needed to file I-751 in the 90 days before that date, using joint tax returns and bank logs.
• If approval had occurred after June 2026, she would have entered as IR1 and avoided the extra filing.

Practical actions that keep cases moving

Treat the process like a long project with checkpoints, not a single application.

Recommended actions:
– Track key dates: wedding date, approval date, entry date, and the I-751 window if you receive CR1.
– Budget broadly: include translations, travel, and incidental costs even if your base total is near $1,680.
– Use clear file names: match every document to a person and date to help officers reviewing files digitally.
– Prepare a joint sponsor early if needed for Form I-864 so the case does not stall at NVC.

For official instructions on immigrant visas for spouses, see the State Department’s immigrant visa information page: immigrant visa information page

When the foreign spouse is already in the United States 🇺🇸

Some couples start with the same approved I-130 but finish through adjustment of status rather than consular processing. The foreign spouse files Form I-485 to apply for a green card inside the country.

Key notes for adjustment applicants:
– The CR1 vs IR1 rule still turns on the marriage length on the approval day.
– Adjustment applicants often file for work and travel documents while the case is pending, then attend a USCIS interview.
– Long trips abroad during the process can create problems—plan travel carefully and keep proof of your shared home.
– After entry or status change, update your address promptly and save every notice USCIS sends.