Immigrant Visa for Spouse of a US Citizen
IR1 / CR1
A US citizen can sponsor a foreign spouse for permanent residence by filing Form I-130. If the spouse is abroad, the case goes to the National Visa Center and a US consulate for an immigrant visa. Spouses married under 2 years at entry get a 2-year conditional green card (CR1); those married 2 years or more get a 10-year card (IR1). Spouses are immediate relatives, so there is no visa bulletin wait.
3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
If you're not a US citizen and you've been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you can't enter the United States. This includes green card holders. The US government renewed this on 11 October 2026 for another 30 days.
CDC Order: Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons... (order history) Federal Register 2026-18948 (Sept 16, 2026 continuation) CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas (updated Sep 11, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo in the last 21 days
Anyone who has been in DR Congo in the last 21 days, Americans included, can't board a commercial flight to the United States. US citizens are asked to wait outside DR Congo for 21 days before flying.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC Travel Health Notice Level 2: Ebola Bundibugyo in DRC and Uganda (reviewed Aug 28, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Health screening after a stay in Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
US citizens who have been in Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days must fly into Washington-Dulles, Atlanta or New York JFK for a health check, and get text-message check-ins for 21 days.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC: Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Begins at Washington-Dulles Checked October 19, 2026
Entry restrictions apply to 40 passports for United States
The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos
- Libya
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Palestinian Territories
- Republic of the Congo
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Afghanistan
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Chad
Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
Dominica
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Gabon
Gambia
Haiti
Iran
Laos
Libya
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Myanmar (Burma)
Niger
Nigeria
Palestinian Territories
Republic of the Congo
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweSource: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force
Life in United States
Money
3
Currency
US Dollar
USD
US Dollar
Cost of living
100
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–37%
Income tax (national)
social security 7.65%
Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).
Living
1
Happiness
#22 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign spouses of US citizens who want to move to the US as permanent residents.
Eligibility
US citizen spouse
The petitioner must be a US citizen legally married to the beneficiary. (Permanent residents can also file I-130 for spouses, but under a different category with a visa wait.)
Valid marriage
The marriage must be legally valid with all earlier marriages ended, and genuine rather than for immigration purposes.
Affidavit of support
Sponsor files Form I-864 and shows household income of at least 125% of the HHS poverty guideline, or uses assets or a joint sponsor.
From 1 Mar 2026$27,050
Income to show (48 states, household of 2)
- Amount given is for the 48 states
Official wording
The citizen sponsor must file Form I-864 and show household income of at least 125% of the HHS poverty guideline ($27,050 for a household of 2 in the 48 states from 1 Mar 2026), or use assets or a joint sponsor.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementConditional residence
- Document checklistForm I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- FeesForm I-130 (paper)
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 3 more requirements
- 9 documents
- 6 fees
- 8 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in United States
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- USCIS - Bringing Spouses to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents
- USCIS - I-130 (updated 7 Oct 2026)
- USCIS - I-864P Poverty Guidelines (effective 1 Mar 2026, updated 27 Feb 2026)
- USCIS - G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26)
- eCFR - 22 CFR 22.1
- DOS - Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Reliance
- DOS - Public Charge Bonds for Immigrant Visa Applicants
