CR2/IR2 VISA FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 21

The CR2/IR2 visa is for Unmarried Children under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen who wish to enter and remain in the U.S. permanently with their U.S. citizen parent. This visa is valid for qualifying biological children, step-children, and adopted children. The CR-2 category applies specifically to someone whose parents have recently married, and allows the foreign child to obtain a Conditional Resident card. The IR-2 category applies after the parents’ two years of marriage when the foreign child will then be considered an immediate relative and will be granted a Permanent Resident Card.

At Tsang & Associates, we have a long history of helping thousands of clients successfully file for CR2/IR2 based visas and will help our clients with the entirety of the process from beginning to end.

READ OUR I-130 SUCCESS STORIES

legal fee

Our fee structure is unique to us as we strive to tailor our services for each client individually. We adapt price standards that are capable of fluctuating for each client depending on their unique needs. Clients may retain us for one or all of the above steps/services.

Our typical fee for a standard IR-2/CR-2 case is $3,500, not including government fees and third-party expenses.  We are happy to customize a proposal for your case during the consultation.  Please see below for more information.

CASE PROCESSING OVERVIEW

This is the most crucial step for your entire CR2/IR2 Visa. We will review all of the supporting documents to create a strategy, a customized checklist, and a timeline to serve as the guiding foundation for the entire case preparation. The steps may vary depending on your situation:

A.) We will submit the petition and then continue with the Consular Processing; or

B.) We will submit the petition and apply for Adjustment of  Status with USCIS.

Our team will complete all forms, package supporting documents, and assemble all documents and information into the proper application format to enhance your chances of getting approved.

You will need to attend a biometrics appointment most commonly known as the fingerprinting appointment. USCIS will conduct a mandatory criminal background check and verify your identity. The process itself does not take long and our office will assist you during this process.

Once the I-130 Petition is approved by USCIS, the case will subsequently be transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing. Our team will guide you throughout this process and ensure that the NVC has all the documentation needed to continue to process your case in a timely manner.

Once USCIS has cleared your background check, you will receive an approval for your Employment Authorization Card (I-765) and your Social Security Card will follow.  If eligible, you will also receive the approval for your Travel Document (I-131) which allows to travel while your Adjustment of Status Application is in process.

We will help guide the client in his/her preparation for the interview with the US Embassy/ Consulate or with USCIS by simulating the interview and ensuring the client is well-versed in the application material. Our services include a comprehensive strategy for answering inquiries posed, practice questions, thorough feedback, and other tools to help clients succeed during the interview. If your interview is at the US Embassy, you will attend it by yourself per Embassy rules. If your interview is with USCIS you can attend the interview by yourself or inquire about our attorney appearance service at an additional cost.

After the interview, we will review with you the possible responses from the US Embassy or USCIS. From additional document requests to continuance notices and fraud alerts.

A.) Once you obtain an CR2/IR2 Visa, you will be allowed to travel to the U.S. and after paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee, you will receive your Permanent Resident Card.

B.) After USCIS approves your Adjustment of Status you will become a Permanent Resident and will be issued a Green Card.

Our Team will help prepare a plan for future goals, such as petitioning family members or becoming a U.S. Citizen.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The updated filing fee for Form I-130 IR2 visa can be found using here. The filing fee for this petition cannot be waived.

NOTE: The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on this petition. DO NOT MAIL CASH. You must submit all fees in the exact amounts.

The criteria for the CR2/IR2 visa is not as extensive as some other types of visa. The child of the U.S citizen must be:

  • Under 21 years old.
  • Unmarried.
  • Living in a foreign country.
  • Has been living with adoptive U.S citizen parents for at least 2 years.

Besides the criteria for the child who will be applying for the CR2/IR2 visa, the U.S citizen must fulfill these criteria:

  • Consent to adopting an unmarried child under 21 years old from a foreign country.
  • Be a U.S citizen.
  • Have adopted the child from a foreign country and lived with them for 2 years.

SAMPLE & TEMPLATES

  • Attorney Brief: [coming soon] We will provide an attorney brief sample for the I-130 petition.
  • Cover Letter: [coming soon] We will also provide a cover letter sample for the I-130 petition.
  • Sample Request for Evidence: [coming soon] Requests for evidence can be used to strengthen the case.
  • Forms: Here is a list of the forms that are needed by USCIS
  • Sample Checklist: [coming soon] We look at the client’s unique situation and create customized checklists to strengthen their cases.
  • USCIS Fee Calculator: This is to help calculate how much the filing fee will be.
  • USCIS Mailing Address: This address is where it is mailed to USCIS.
  • USCIS Processing Timetable: This will help you figure out how long it will take to process.
  • ASC Field Offices: Listed are the addresses of the field offices for the bio-metrics.

frequently asked questions

The processing time for the CR2/IR2 immigrant Visa can last from 3-12 months, but it all depends on the individual circumstances. Since this visa has no annual cap, the processing time is less than the family preference visas.

Generally, your child will automatically become a U.S. citizen if your adopted child is:

  • admitted to the United States with an IR-2 immigrant visa
  • residing in the United States in the U.S. citizen parent’s legal and physical custody before the child’s 18th birthday
  • fulfills the conditions of the Child Citizenship Act (CCA)

When your child is admitted to the United States with an CR2/IR2 visa, your child will be mailed a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and can then apply for a Certificate of Citizenship by filing a Form N-600, Application for Certification of Citizenship with a fee or apply for a U.S. passport, if eligible.  See U.S. Citizenship for an Adopted Child for more information on how children issued IR-2 visas may acquire or document U.S. citizenship.

Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application is the form that all applicants for immigrant visas must submit.

The application can be accessed by using the NVC case number which links it to your case and the approved petition. The CR2/IR2 visa applicant or someone helping them must fill out all the necessary sections, which will have questions related to the applicant’s information, background, and purpose of immigrating to the U.S.

When you submit the DS-260 form, you will get a confirmation page and number which you must attach to your supporting documents.

The U.S has certain medical and vaccination requirements that its citizens and immigrants must fulfill. Anyone who wants to immigrate to the U.S must get the necessary medical check-ups and vaccines.

The NVC package which the applicant received after the approval of the petition will specify what medical procedures the applicant must complete and the vaccines they need to get. Only a licensed doctor who will sign them can complete the documents and the check-ups. These documents will be attached to your supporting file which you will then send to the NVC.

If the child’s IR2 visa is approved, they can travel to the U.S freely. The visa will be stamped on their passport and the Embassy will give them a package which the child must bring to the U.S when they first enter the country. You should not open this package under any circumstances. Only the U.S immigrant officials at any U.S point of entry will open it and decide whether the applicant can enter the country or not.

schedule a session

Each legal consultation, connects you quickly with a legal expert in your case category to answer your questions. If we can’t answer a question, we’ll find a team member who can. To help you as fast a possible, we prioritize urgency and immediate availability of slots and flexibility.

This strategy consultation is not a sales call; we are here to provide clear guidance first. If you want to hire us afterward, we can provide a retainer after the call, but our main goal in your session is to help you with your immigration case or legal matter.

Our consultation fee ranges from $250 to $500, depending on your case type as different cases have different levels of complexity. When you select your case type in the scheduler, you’ll see the fee for your case type before you schedule.