Case Album

Spouse Visa Checklist (CR-1/IR-1): NVC Documents and Interview

Spouse abroad after I-130 approval? What to send the National Visa Center, the civil documents to collect and what to bring to the embassy interview.

Published

2 min read

Create my evidence package

This is what your album looks like

Each photo has its date, place and who is in it. Pages are in date order.

Free to make. Pay only when you download.

Make my photo album
Sample album cover with the couple's names and case numbers
Cover
Sample album page with three photos, each with its date, place and who is in it
Page 2
Sample album page with two more photos and their captions
Page 3

Swipe to see each page.

Free to make. Pay only when you download. Add your photos, add short captions, and get your PDF in minutes.

Español简体中文Tiếng Việt

How the spouse visa works

After USCIS approves Form I-130, the case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC) and then to a U.S. embassy or consulate. CR-1 is for couples married less than 2 years when the spouse enters the U.S. (a 2-year green card). IR-1 is for couples married 2 years or more (a 10-year green card).

Your official instructions come first. Use the NVC's messages, the document page for your spouse's country on travel.state.gov and the embassy's interview letter.

Step 1: what to send the National Visa Center

Fees, paid online in CEAC

  • Immigrant visa application fee
  • Affidavit of Support fee

Forms

  • Form DS-260, completed online by your spouse. Save the confirmation page.
  • Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, from the U.S. citizen, with the most recent federal tax return (with W-2s) or IRS transcript and proof of current income
  • A joint sponsor's Form I-864 and documents, if the citizen's income is not enough

Civil documents

  • Passport biographic page
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Proof that every earlier marriage ended, for both of you
  • Police certificates from the countries your spouse's country page lists
  • Court and prison records, if any
  • Military records, if any
  • Certified translations of documents that are not in English

Step 2: what your spouse brings to the embassy interview

Appointment

  • Interview appointment letter
  • DS-260 confirmation page
  • Valid passport
  • Two 2x2 photos, if the embassy asks
  • Original civil documents or certified copies, plus photocopies and translations

Medical exam

  • Results from the embassy's approved panel physician, with the required vaccinations. If you get a sealed envelope, bring it unopened.

Financial support

  • A copy of the I-864 and the sponsor's latest tax and income documents

Proof your marriage is real

  • Photos together over time, with a caption under each Make this part now
  • Records of visits: tickets, boarding passes and passport stamps
  • A few samples of messages and call history from different months
  • Wedding photos and records

After the visa

  • Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online, ideally before you travel. USCIS does not make the green card until it is paid.
  • Enter the U.S. while the visa is valid. The green card is mailed to the U.S. address you gave.
  • CR-1 (2-year card): in the 90 days before it expires, file Form I-751 together. Our I-751 checklist covers it.

Make your marriage easy to see

Officers review a lot of paper. A clear PDF in date order, with the date, place and names under every photo, lets them see your story in a few minutes instead of digging through loose files.

Case Album builds that PDF from your photos and documents, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to us. You see every page free and pay only to save the file.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current USCIS instructions for your form, or ask an immigration attorney about your own case.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CR-1 and IR-1?

Both are immigrant visas for the spouse of a U.S. citizen. CR-1 is for marriages under 2 years old when the spouse enters the U.S. and gives a 2-year conditional green card. IR-1 is for marriages of 2 years or more and gives a 10-year green card.

What documents does the NVC ask for?

The DS-260, the Affidavit of Support with the sponsor's tax and income documents, and civil documents: passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, proof that earlier marriages ended, police certificates and any court or military records, with translations.

What should my spouse bring to the immigrant visa interview?

The appointment letter, DS-260 confirmation, passport, photos if asked, original civil documents, medical exam results, a copy of the I-864 and proof of your relationship.

Turn this checklist into one clean PDF

Add your photos and documents. Case Album puts them in date order with a caption under every photo, ready to upload or print. Your files stay on your phone or computer. See every page free before you pay.

Create my evidence package

Official references

Case Album is independent software, not affiliated with USCIS. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Read our editorial standards.

Relationship Evidence for NVC and the Embassy InterviewSpouse outside the U.S.? What happens after I-130 approval, what NVC asks for, and why you should still bring relationship proof to the interview.I-864 Affidavit of Support Checklist: Documents for SponsorsWhat a sponsor sends with Form I-864: tax return, W-2s, proof of income and status, plus what a joint sponsor, household members and assets need.Relationship Evidence When You Don’t Live TogetherLiving apart? Ideas for showing your relationship to USCIS: visit records, dated photos, messages and support, organized clearly.I-751 Checklist: Documents to Remove Conditions on Your Green CardWhat to send with Form I-751 when you file together: green card copy, joint records since the wedding, sworn statements and photos, plus the interview list.How to Organize I-130 Photo EvidenceA simple way to organize your marriage photos for Form I-130: pick good photos, put them in date order and add a short caption to each one.How Many Photos for a Marriage Green Card?USCIS sets no number. How to choose photos that show your life together over time, caption them and put them in one PDF.