Question about Legality of travelling to the US to marry

[mallafri76 1,012]

Why are the CR-1 requirements much tougher? What else do they want to see that they don't for a K1?

First off, a K-1 is a non-immigration visa for people in a relationship. It gives you the option to coming to the US and "try" the relationship out before getting married. The CR/IR-1 is for people who are already married and legally committed to each other. E.g minimum requirements for K-1 is having met once in the last two years. For CR/IR-1 they want to see evidence of an ongoing marital union.

Second, the "vetting" process for a K-1 doesn't really happen until you're already in the US, married and doing AOS. The "vetting" for a CR/IR- happens abroad, before that visa is issued. E.g many embassies don't look at the financial requirements for the K-1 visa whereas you cannot get a CR/IR-1 visa unless you met the financial requirements.

There are pros and cons to both visas, you need to figure out which visa works best for the two of you.

[Harmonia 211]

Would you plan to marry a girl in the UK who you'd never met? Would you spend a month with her then marry?

There are some red flags for immigration, and I encourage you to slow down. Hiding a marriage so you can come and work isn't a good foundation for a life together. How will your families feel when they find out the truth?

Being a permanent resident means you permanently want to reside here, with your spouse, forever. Make sure that's what you want, not just a job opportunity.