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CR-1 and IR-1
Under 8 U.S.C. 1186a(h)(1), a spouse whose marriage was entered into less than 24 months before obtaining permanent residence receives it on a conditional basis: the CR-1 visa. A spouse married 24 months or more receives unconditional permanent residence: the IR-1 visa.
Conditional residents must file a joint petition with their spouse (Form I-751) during the 90 days before the second anniversary of their status, under 1186a(c)(1) and (d)(2)(A); the fee is USD 750 under 8 CFR 106.2.
Spouses of green card holders are not immediate relatives; they file in the F2A category and wait for a Visa Bulletin date. See US green card. Couples not yet married use the K-1 fiancé(e) visa.
Spouse visa steps
Step one: register the marriage. In Thailand this is done at any district (amphur) registration office, free of charge; both parties must be legally free to marry.
Step two: the US citizen files Form I-130 with USCIS (USD 675 under 8 CFR 106.2).
Step three: after approval, the National Visa Center (NVC) takes the case; the applicant submits the immigrant visa application and civil documents, and the sponsor submits Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), which has no fee.
Step four: complete the medical exam and attend the interview. For appointments scheduled by NVC from 1 November 2025, the State Department requires immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district of their residence, or in their country of nationality on request.
Step five: once the visa is issued, pay the USD 235 USCIS Immigrant Fee so USCIS can issue the permanent resident card after entry.
Sponsor income (Form I-864)
8 U.S.C. 1183a(f)(1)(E) requires the sponsor to show the means to maintain an annual income of at least 125% of the Federal poverty line. Active-duty sponsors petitioning for a spouse or child need 100% under (f)(3), and the affidavit remains enforceable until the immigrant naturalizes or it otherwise terminates under the statute.
The table below is calculated from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and DC, published on 15 January 2026. Alaska and Hawaii use different figures, and USCIS publishes the figures it applies on Form I-864P.
| Sponsor's household size | 2026 poverty guideline | 125% minimum income |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | USD 21,640 | USD 27,050 |
| 3 | USD 27,320 | USD 34,150 |
| 4 | USD 33,000 | USD 41,250 |
| 5 | USD 38,680 | USD 48,350 |
| 6 | USD 44,360 | USD 55,450 |
The 2026 immigrant visa situation
21 January 2026. The State Department paused immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, including Thailand. Applicants could still apply and interview but could not be issued visas, except dual nationals using a passport of an unlisted country. Nonimmigrant visas such as tourist visas were not affected.
21 August 2026. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, in Catholic Legal Immigration Network v. Rubio, vacated that nationality-based pause, according to the Immigration Policy Tracking Project.
25 August 2026. Media and law firms reported that the State Department paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide to train officers on public charge screening. As of the date checked, we could not confirm from an official source when normal scheduling resumed.
18 September 2026. DHS rule 91 FR 45324 took effect, rescinding the 2022 public charge rule and giving officers broader discretion to weigh all relevant facts.
Applicants should check the Embassy's latest notices before planning travel, and prepare full evidence of income and self-sufficiency.
Documents from Thailand
The State Department's civil documents schedule for Thailand states:
- Marriage certificate: issued by any district (amphur) registration office, free of charge
- Divorce certificate: issued by the office where the marriage was registered or any district office, free of charge
- Police certificate: Police Clearance Service Center, Royal Thai Police; THB 100; about 30 business days
- Birth certificate: district registration office where the birth occurred, free of charge
Thai-language documents must be translated into English with a certified translation before submission.
Visa Connext spouse visa service
Visa Connext determines whether the spouse falls under CR-1 or IR-1, prepares relationship evidence and I-130 documents, calculates sponsor income against the current year's guidelines, coordinates civil documents and translations, prepares applicants for the interview and tracks notices on immigrant visa scheduling and issuance. See our US visa service.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a queue for a US spouse visa?
Spouses of US citizens are immediate relatives under 8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), so there is no numerical limit or Visa Bulletin wait, though USCIS, NVC and interview scheduling still take time. Spouses of green card holders wait in F2A.
Source: 8 U.S.C. 1151(b)
What is the difference between CR-1 and IR-1?
CR-1 applies where the marriage is less than 24 months old when status is obtained and gives 2-year conditional residence, removed by filing Form I-751 in the 90 days before the second anniversary. IR-1 applies to marriages of 24 months or more.
Source: 8 U.S.C. 1186a
How much income does the sponsor need?
At least 125% of the poverty guidelines. For a household of 2 in the 48 states in 2026 that is USD 27,050 a year, calculated from the HHS guideline of USD 21,640. Check USCIS Form I-864P for the figures applied.
Source: 8 U.S.C. 1183a(f) · HHS Poverty Guidelines 2026
What are the spouse visa fees?
Form I-130 USD 675, USCIS Immigrant Fee USD 235, Form I-864 no fee, and for CR-1 Form I-751 USD 750, plus the visa application fee and medical exam.
Source: 8 CFR 106.2
Can Thai nationals still get a US spouse visa in 2026?
Yes, they can apply. The 75-country immigrant visa pause that included Thailand (from 21 January 2026) was vacated by a court on 21 August 2026, but a worldwide pause on interview appointments was reported from 25 August 2026. Check the Embassy's latest notices.
Source: U.S. Department of State · Immigration Policy Tracking Project
Can a Thai marriage registration be used?
Yes. Marriage certificates are issued by district registration offices free of charge and must be translated into English with a certified translation.
Where is the spouse visa interview held?
In the consular district of the applicant's residence, or in the country of nationality on request, for appointments scheduled by NVC from 1 November 2025.
Sources and legal texts used on this page
- 8 U.S.C. 1151(b) — Immediate relatives
U.S. Code 2024 edition (govinfo) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 8 U.S.C. 1186a — Conditional permanent resident status
U.S. Code 2024 edition (govinfo) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 8 U.S.C. 1183a — Affidavit of support
U.S. Code 2024 edition (govinfo) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - HHS — 2026 Poverty Guidelines (FR Doc. 2026-00755)
published 15 Jan 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 8 CFR 106.2 — USCIS fees
last amended 91 FR 51971 (11 Aug 2026) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Reciprocity and Civil Documents: Thailand
checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Adjudicating Immigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence
28 Aug 2025 · effective 1 Nov 2025 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage
effective 21 Jan 2026 · page updated 2 Feb 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - Immigration Policy Tracking Project — 75-country immigrant visa pause (CLINIC v. Rubio, S.D.N.Y.)
vacated 21 Aug 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - Immigration Policy Tracking Project — Worldwide immigrant visa appointment pause
reported 25 Aug 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 91 FR 45324 — Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility (FR Doc. 2026-14539)
effective 18 Sep 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026