Couples who married in Colombia
U.S. citizens who traveled to Colombia, married their partner there, and now want their Colombian spouse to join them in the U.S.
Marriage Green Card · U.S. Permanent Residence for Colombian Spouses
U.S. Marriage Green Card for Colombian Spouses
If you are already married to a Colombian national, the marriage green card (CR-1 or IR-1) is the standard pathway for them to immigrate to the U.S. as a lawful long-term resident. We handle the Colombian-side documentation and coordinate with U.S. counsel for the full process.
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Overview
Quick Answer
The U.S. marriage green card — formally the CR-1 (Conditional Resident) or IR-1 (Immediate Relative) immigrant visa — allows the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful long-term resident to immigrate to the U.S. and receive a green card upon arrival. For Colombian spouses, the process runs through USCIS, the National Visa Center, and culminates in a consular interview at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.
CR-1 is issued when the marriage is less than 2 years old at the time of approval. IR-1 is issued when the marriage is 2+ years old. Both produce lawful long-term resident status; the CR-1 is conditional for the first 2 years and requires a follow-on filing to remove conditions.
Who This Visa Is For
Is the U.S. Marriage Green Card for Colombian Spouses right for you?
The marriage green card is for couples already legally married — Colombian spouses of U.S. citizens or U.S. lawful long-term residents. Common situations:
Couples who married in the U.S.
Sometimes the Colombian partner entered the U.S. on a different visa, married, and is now adjusting status — though that's typically a separate I-485 process distinct from this consular pathway.
Couples who married in a third country
Marriages performed in any country are recognized for U.S. immigration purposes as long as they were legal in the jurisdiction where they occurred.
Spouses of U.S. green card holders
U.S. long-term residents (not just citizens) can also petition for their foreign spouse, though the timeline is longer due to category-specific visa availability.
If you are engaged but not yet married, the K-1 fiancé(e) visa is the appropriate pathway instead. The decision between K-1 and CR-1/IR-1 often comes down to where you want to hold the wedding and how long you can wait before reuniting.
Requirements
What you'll need to prepare
Valid marriage certificate
Official marriage certificate from wherever the wedding took place. Colombian marriages: registered with the Registraduría. Foreign marriages: apostilled. All translated to English by a certified translator.
Petitioner's U.S. status documentation
U.S. citizen: passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. Lawful long-term resident: green card (Form I-551).
Bona fide marriage evidence
Joint bank accounts, shared lease or property deed, joint tax returns, photos together over time, communications, and statements from family/friends. USCIS and the consulate assess that the marriage is genuine.
Affidavit of Support (Form I-864)
The U.S. petitioner must demonstrate financial capacity at 125% or more of federal poverty guidelines. If income is insufficient, a joint sponsor may be required.
Colombian spouse's civil and criminal records
Birth certificate, police clearance (antecedentes penales), records from any country where the Colombian spouse lived 6+ months after age 16. All apostilled and translated.
Medical examination
Required before the consular interview. Must be completed by a U.S. Embassy–approved physician in Colombia, including specific vaccinations and screenings.
DS-260 immigrant visa application
The Colombian spouse completes the DS-260 online immigrant visa application through the National Visa Center.
We guide you through preparing and validating every required document to help avoid delays or rejections.
Requirements may vary based on individual circumstances and current Colombian immigration regulations.
Most delays happen before the application is submitted
We review every apostille, translation, and supporting document with you before filing — catching the issues that cause Cancillería to send the case back.
See how the process worksThe Process
A clear path from consultation to approval
We guide you through every step. No surprises, no confusing paperwork, no figuring it out on your own.
USCIS I-130 petition
The U.S. citizen or LPR petitioner files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS. Current processing time: 10–14 months for U.S. citizen petitioners, longer for LPR petitioners.
National Visa Center fee processing
After I-130 approval, the case goes to the National Visa Center. The petitioner pays fees, submits the Affidavit of Support, and uploads civil documents. The Colombian spouse completes the DS-260.
Document preparation in Colombia
We coordinate the apostille and certified translation of all Colombian-issued documents (birth certificate, police clearance, marriage certificate if Colombian). Medical exam is scheduled with an approved physician.
Consular interview at U.S. Embassy Bogotá
The Colombian spouse attends an in-person interview. The consular officer reviews all documentation and assesses the bona fide marriage. Decisions are typically issued within days.
Visa issuance and U.S. entry
Upon approval, the Colombian spouse receives an immigrant visa stamped in their passport, valid for 6 months. They enter the U.S. and become a lawful long-term resident immediately upon admission. Green card arrives by mail within weeks.
Removing conditions (CR-1 only)
If the green card is issued as CR-1 (marriage under 2 years), the couple must file Form I-751 to remove conditions in the 90 days before the 2-year anniversary of permanent residence. Failure to file results in loss of status.
Why Work With Us
Colombian-side document expertise for U.S. marriage green card cases
U.S. marriage green card cases pivot on the Colombian-issued documents — birth certificate, antecedentes penales, marriage certificate, apostilles, translations. Getting the Colombian side right is half the case.
Licensed Colombian immigration attorneys — Colombian document specialty
Bilingual coordination with U.S. counsel for USCIS filings
Apostille and certified translation handled in-country
U.S. Embassy Bogotá interview preparation for Colombian spouses
4.9 stars on Google · Trusted by 1,400+ clients
What Our Clients Say
Real Google reviews
4.9 · Google Reviews
"I had an excellent experience working with Natalia Torres from Colombian Visa Services. Her expertise was clear from the very first consultation, and she guided me through each stage of the visa process with patience and clarity. Natalia was always helpful, responsive, and thorough, and thanks to her support my visa was issued without any complications. Truly exceptional service."
Jeffrey Sutyla
Google Review
"I had an excellent experience with Colombia Visa Services. From the very first information session, they answered questions no one else could. Their process was super organized, with clear steps for uploading documents and helpful reminders to keep things moving. After submitting my visa application, I received weekly updates — something I really appreciated. I highly recommend them if you're applying for any Colombian visa."
Roberta Glaser
Google Review
"As experienced travellers who have to procure a visa for every country we visit, we found the Colombian application the trickiest to deal with by ourselves. We hired Colombian Visa Services for peace of mind and they delivered big time — answering all of our questions, providing specific instructions, and handling the submission for us. The company was efficient, professional, and communicated brilliantly. Highly recommend."
Vaughn
Google Review
"Very efficient and attentive company to help obtain your visa in Colombia. Personal and cordial service at every step in the process. You should not try to manage your own visa process unless you possess the knowledge that these lawyers possess. Highest recommendation!"
Brian Celce
Google Review
"This was the second time in two years that I used CVS for M type visa support. Nothing has changed my original opinions of the firm — I have been completely satisfied in their services and outcomes. Natalia was knowledgeable, professional, supportive, a good communicator and, importantly, always accessible when I had questions. I highly recommend their services."
J F
Google Review
"Colombian Visa Services is a top notch agency! They always stayed in contact and walked me through the process. Very professional and knowledgeable staff."
Donta Henson
Google Review
Not sure if this visa is right for you?
Take the qualifier or speak with our bilingual legal team before you apply.
Timeline & Costs
Processing time and costs
USCIS I-130 processing
10–14 months for U.S. citizen petitioners. Longer for LPR petitioners (depends on visa category availability).
Total time to green card in hand
Typically 14–22 months from I-130 filing to the Colombian spouse arriving in the U.S. with long-term resident status.
U.S. government fees
I-130: ~USD $675. Immigrant visa fee: ~USD $325. Affidavit of Support fee: ~USD $120. Medical exam: ~USD $200–$400. USCIS immigrant fee (post-approval): ~USD $235. Total: ~USD $1,500–$1,800.
Removing conditions (CR-1)
Form I-751 filing must occur in the 90 days before the 2-year anniversary of permanent residence. Filing fee: ~USD $750. Failure to file results in automatic termination of long-term resident status.
We handle government correspondence on your behalf
If Cancillería or Migración Colombia requests additional documentation, your attorney responds directly — no extra charges, no scrambling on your end.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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