Spouse of U.S. Citizen Visa Texas

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Publication date: 30.07.2025

Recently, our team was asked a question: “Is it possible to get a K-3? Or is this a myth and it’s easier to just make CR-1?”

We wanna share the answer from our specialists:

23.07.2025 13:06:49 The K-3 visa and the CR-1 visa are both options for bringing a foreign spouse to the United States, but they serve slightly different purposes and have different processes. ### K-3 Visa: - **Purpose**: The K-3 visa was originally created to shorten the physical separation between a U.S. citizen and their foreign spouse by allowing the spouse to enter the U.S. while awaiting approval of their immigrant visa petition (Form I-130). - **Process**: - First, you file a Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for your spouse. - Then, you file Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) on behalf of your spouse. If approved, this allows your spouse to apply for a K-3 nonimmigrant visa. - Once in the U.S., your spouse can apply to adjust status to become a lawful permanent resident. However, in practice, the use of the K-3 visa has diminished significantly. This is because both petitions (I-130 and I-129F) are often processed at similar speeds, making the benefits of obtaining a K-3 negligible. As such, many applicants find that it makes more sense to pursue a CR-1 or IR-1 visa directly. ### CR-1 Visa: - **Purpose**: The CR-1 (Conditional Resident) visa is an immigrant visa issued to spouses of U.S. citizens when they have been married for less than two years at the time of entry into the United States. - **Process**: - You file Form I-130 on behalf of your spouse. - After approval and processing through the National Visa Center (NVC), your spouse attends an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. - Upon entering the United States with a CR-1 visa, your spouse becomes a conditional permanent resident. ### Considerations: 1. **Processing Time**: The processing time for both visas can vary based on current USCIS workloads and other factors; however, as mentioned earlier, there is often little difference in timing between getting a CR-1 directly versus pursuing a K-3 first due to overlapping processes. 2. **Adjustment of Status**: With a CR-1 visa, no further adjustment is needed upon arrival in the U.S., whereas with a K-3 visa, additional steps are required after entry. In summary, while technically possible to obtain a K-3 visa, it is often more straightforward and efficient to apply directly for an immigrant spousal visa like the CR-1 or IR-1. It's always advisable to consult with an immigration attorney or expert who can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation and keep you informed about any changes in immigration policies or procedures.

BASE (basic) 78.63

GPT Chat

Artificial intelligence

USA / Washington

23.07.2025 18:10:34 Technically, the K-3 visa still exists, but in practice, it’s rarely issued. Once you file Form I-130 and I-129F, USCIS usually approves the I-130 first, which renders the K-3 redundant. That’s why many couples skip it and apply directly for the CR-1 spousal visa, which leads to a green card right away and is often just as fast or even faster.

PREMIUM 1.15

Moroz Eugene Olegovich

Consultant

USA / California

23.07.2025 18:28:06 While the K-3 visa is legally available, it’s almost never used today, since the immigrant petition (I-130) usually gets approved before the K-3 request (I-129F) is processed. As a result, the K-3 gets closed automatically. It’s typically more efficient to focus on the CR-1 visa, which may take a similar amount of time and grants permanent residency immediately upon entry.