497

The interactive data file included as an exhibit to this filing relates to the supplements to the prospectuses for Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund and Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund and filed pursuant to Rule 497(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on January 25, 2013 (Accession No. 0001193125-13-023318), which is incorporated herein by reference.

XML

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21^st Century Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund)		Class 1 Shares	Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.77%	0.77%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		none	0.25%
Other expenses		0.11%	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		0.88%	1.13%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.07%)	(0.07%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		0.81%	1.06%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 1 Shares	[1]	83	274	481	1,078
Class 2 Shares	[1]	108	352	616	1,368

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.81% for Class 1 and 1.06% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

XML

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis)	0 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2013
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund) | Class 1 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.77%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	0.88%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.07%)	[2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	0.81%
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund) | Class 2 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.77%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	0.25%
Other expenses	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	1.13%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.07%)	[2]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	1.06%
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund) | Class 1 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.77%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	0.92%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.13%)	[3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	0.79%
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund) | Class 2 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.77%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	0.25%
Other expenses	0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	1.17%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.13%)	[3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	1.04%
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund) | Class 1 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.77%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	0.88%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.09%)	[3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	0.79%
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund) | Class 2 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.77%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	0.25%
Other expenses	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	1.13%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.09%)	[3]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	1.04%
(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund) | Class 2 Shares
Operating Expenses:
Management fees	0.87%	[1]
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	0.25%
Other expenses	0.17%
Total annual Fund operating expenses	1.29%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	(0.08%)	[4]
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements	1.21%

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.81% for Class 1 and 1.06% for Class 2.

[3] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.79% for Class 1 and 1.04% for Class 2.

[4] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rate of 1.21% for Class 2.

XML

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund)		Class 1 Shares	Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.77%	0.77%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		none	0.25%
Other expenses		0.15%	0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		0.92%	1.17%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.13%)	(0.13%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		0.79%	1.04%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 1 Shares	[1]	81	280	497	1,119
Class 2 Shares	[1]	106	359	631	1,409

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.79% for Class 1 and 1.04% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

XML

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21^st Century Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund)		Class 1 Shares	Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.77%	0.77%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		none	0.25%
Other expenses		0.11%	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		0.88%	1.13%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.07%)	(0.07%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		0.81%	1.06%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 1 Shares	[1]	83	274	481	1,078
Class 2 Shares	[1]	108	352	616	1,368

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund)		Class 1 Shares	Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.77%	0.77%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		none	0.25%
Other expenses		0.15%	0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		0.92%	1.17%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.13%)	(0.13%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		0.79%	1.04%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 1 Shares	[1]	81	280	497	1,119
Class 2 Shares	[1]	106	359	631	1,409

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund)		Class 1 Shares	Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.77%	0.77%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		none	0.25%
Other expenses		0.11%	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		0.88%	1.13%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.09%)	(0.09%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		0.79%	1.04%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 1 Shares	[1]	81	272	479	1,076
Class 2 Shares	[1]	106	350	614	1,367

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund)		Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.87%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		0.25%
Other expenses		0.17%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		1.29%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.08%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		1.21%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 2 Shares	[1]	123	401	700	1,549

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.81% for Class 1 and 1.06% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.79% for Class 1 and 1.04% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.79% for Class 1 and 1.04% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rate of 1.21% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

XML

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund)		Class 1 Shares	Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.77%	0.77%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		none	0.25%
Other expenses		0.11%	0.11%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		0.88%	1.13%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.09%)	(0.09%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		0.79%	1.04%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 1 Shares	[1]	81	272	479	1,076
Class 2 Shares	[1]	106	350	614	1,367

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.79% for Class 1 and 1.04% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Document Type

dei_DocumentType

Other

Document Period End Date

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Dec. 31, 2011

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I

Central Index Key

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

0001049787

Amendment Flag

dei_AmendmentFlag

false

Document Creation Date

dei_DocumentCreationDate

Jan. 25, 2013

Document Effective Date

dei_DocumentEffectiveDate

Jan. 25, 2013

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Jan. 25, 2013

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21^st Century Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

Expense Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock01

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

2013-04-30

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund) | Class 1 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.77%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.11%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.88%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.07%)

^[4]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.81%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

83

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

274

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

481

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,078

^[5]

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico 21st Century Fund) | Class 2 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.77%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.11%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.13%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.07%)

^[4]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.06%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

108

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

352

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

616

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,368

^[5]

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

Expense Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock01

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

2013-04-30

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund) | Class 1 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.77%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.15%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.92%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.13%)

^[3]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.79%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

81

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

280

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

497

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,119

^[5]

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Focused Equities Fund) | Class 2 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.77%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.15%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.17%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.13%)

^[3]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.04%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

106

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

359

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

631

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,409

^[5]

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

Expense Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock01

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

2013-04-30

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund) | Class 1 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.77%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.11%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.88%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.09%)

^[3]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.79%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

81

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

272

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

479

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,076

^[5]

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico Growth Fund) | Class 2 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.77%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.11%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.13%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.09%)

^[3]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.04%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

106

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

350

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

614

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,367

^[5]

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

Expense Supplement [Text Block]

columbia_SupplementTextBlock01

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

2013-04-30

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund) | Class 2 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.87%

^[1]

Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

Total annual Fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.29%

Fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.08%)

^[2]

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

1.21%

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

123

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

401

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

700

^[5]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,549

^[5]

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rate of 1.21% for Class 2.

[3] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.79% for Class 1 and 1.04% for Class 2.

[4] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rates of 0.81% for Class 1 and 1.06% for Class 2.

[5] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.

XML

(Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund)

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

(the "Fund")

Supplement dated January 25, 2013 to

the Fund's prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented

The Fund's prospectus is revised and supplemented as follows to reflect certain fee changes effective January 23, 2013:

The section of the Fund's prospectus entitled "Fees and Expenses of the Fund" is modified by deleting the table entitled "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the expense example table in the subsection entitled "Example" and replacing them with the following:

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund)		Class 2 Shares
Management fees	[1]	0.87%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees		0.25%
Other expenses		0.17%
Total annual Fund operating expenses		1.29%
Fee waivers and/or reimbursements	[2]	(0.08%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or reimbursements		1.21%

Expense Example (Columbia Variable Portfolio - Marsico International Opportunities Fund) (USD $)		1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class 2 Shares	[1]	123	401	700	1,549

[1] Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to investment advisory and administrative fee rates.

[2] Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) until April 30, 2013, unless sooner terminated at the sole discretion of the Fund's Board of Trustees. Under this agreement, the Fund's net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rate of 1.21% for Class 2.

[1] Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire one year from the date of the prospectus, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the 3, 5 and 10 year examples.