United States: Whether a category CR_6 for permanent residents exists; description and conditions (January-November 2004)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 24 November 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | USA43173.FE |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, United States: Whether a category CR_6 for permanent residents exists; description and conditions (January-November 2004), 24 November 2004, USA43173.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df61bd2f.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an officer at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Buffalo, New York, CR_6 refers to the conditional status given to a foreign national who has been married to an American citizen for less than two years (United States 19 Nov. 2004). This practice is in place in order to dissuade people from committing marriage fraud (ibid.). A customs officer at the Embassy of the United States of America in Ottawa said that the CR_6 category indicates that the person obtained conditional status at the request of his or her spouse, who is an American citizen; at the time the request was made, this person had another status in the United States (visitor, tourist, etc.) (18 Nov. 2004). If a request is made outside the U.S., the person obtains CR_1 status (Embassy of the United States of America 18 Nov. 2004).
CR_6 is therefore conditional permanent resident status, which is indicated on the back of the permanent resident card, also known as a "green card" (I-551) (ibid.; United States 30 Oct. 2003). During the procedure for obtaining CR_6 status, the person cannot leave the United States (ibid.).
To obtain CR_6 status, the spouse must complete Form I-30, Petition for the Alien Relative, in addition to other forms that may be applicable, such as an Application for Employment Authorization (I-765), an Application for Travel Document (I-131), or an Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status (I-485) (Embassy of the United States of America 18 Nov. 2004). All of these forms can be found at the following address:
A person who has received permanent residence based on marriage to an American citizen must apply to have the conditions removed 90 days before the second anniversary of the date he or she obtained conditional resident status (United States n.d.). For more information on the procedures to follow and on Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence, please see USA43172.FE of 24 November 2004.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Embassy of the United States of America, Ottawa. 18 November 2004. Telephone interview with a customs officer.
United States. 19 November 2004. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Telephone interview with an officer from the office in Buffalo, NY.
_____. 30 October 2003. Department of Homeland Security. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "How Do I Renew My Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)?"
_____. n.d. Department of Homeland Security. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence."
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: American Citizen Information Services, Immigration Links, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.