| As one of the top tourist destinations in the | | | | The IR-1 (Immediate Relative) Visa is intended for |
| world, Thailand boasts a large number of foreign | | | | those Thai-American couples who have been |
| visitors each year. The upshot of this situation is | | | | married for over 2 years and wish to immigrate |
| the fact that many Americans visit the Kingdom | | | | to the United States. As in the case of the IR-1 |
| and fall in love not only with the culture, but some | | | | Visa, an I-130 must be filed to obtain this visa. |
| residents as well. | | | | Those holding an IR-1 Visa are granted |
| When a Thai-American couple decides to get | | | | Unconditional Permanent Residence upon entry |
| married, they must also make the decision of | | | | into the United States. For Thai-American couples |
| where to live. Some decide to remain in Thailand, | | | | who have been married for more than 2 years |
| however, many make the decision to move back | | | | this visa is very beneficial because adjustment of |
| to the US with their Thai wife and obtain a visa | | | | status is not necessary. |
| for her to return as well. This article should help | | | | The K-3 Non-Immigrant Spouse Visa: |
| shed light upon the US Immigrant Visas for Thai | | | | The K3 Visa is a non-immigrant us visa designed |
| Spouses | | | | as an expedited Visa for those already married. |
| The CR1 Visa: | | | | The impetus for creating this type of visa was |
| The CR1 Visa is the acronym for Conditional | | | | based upon the fact that at the time the K3 was |
| Resident 1 Visa. An I-130 Visa petition must be | | | | created it was taking as long as 3 years to |
| filed to obtain a CR-1 Visa. A Conditional Resident | | | | adjudicate an I-130 petition. Today, it takes far |
| is one who enters the US as a Conditional | | | | less time to adjudicate an I-130 petition and the |
| Permanent Resident. This means that the visa | | | | time difference between a K-3 and an Immigrant |
| holder has all of the benefits of a permanent | | | | Visa is far less than it once was. Unless time is a |
| resident, but they have a condition to their | | | | major factor in one's decision making about US |
| residence that at some point must be lifted in | | | | Immigration, it would probably be best to obtain a |
| order to remain in the US. In the US Family | | | | CR1/IR1 visa because doing so eliminates the |
| Immigration context a CR-1 Visa can have the | | | | need for adjustment of status. |
| conditionality lifted after 2 years and the US | | | | Nothing in this article should be used in lieu of |
| Citizen Spouse must file an I-751 petition to | | | | advice from a licensed attorney with experience |
| remove conditions upon residence. | | | | in US Immigration matters. |
| The IR-1 Visa: | | | | |