Bona Fide Marriage when foreign spouse is still abroad

[MyJourney 276]

We are already married. Our religious values do not let us just "date" without marriage, so we got married as soon as we decided to be a family. 

[Crazy Cat 42,563]

2 hours ago, MyJourney said:

Approximately how long it might take between application and interview? I will be happy to go and attend, I am planning to visit anyway. 

For a CR1, the time is approximately 12-14 months if all goes well. For some cases and countries, it could be longer.

Edited October 30, 2017 by missileman

[Ketsuban 1,034]

We had the same issue. We sent chat logs, gift receipts, photos of our visits, passport stamps, emails (our inbox, not the actual content), basically anything that showed how our relationship worked while we were apart while also showing we had spent time together. There are probably some companies that will let you  have a joint account or policy if your spouse is a non-resident alien with no SSN but unfortunately we didn't come across any.

[MyJourney 276]

2 hours ago, missileman said:

For a CR1, the time is approximately 12-14 months if all goes well. For some cases and countries, it could be longer.

And for some countries/cases shorter, I guess. 

[Crazy Cat 42,563]

Just now, MyJourney said:

And for some countries/cases shorter, I guess. 

Not really.  On average, about 400 days from NOA1 to interview per Visa Journey members.  

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ir1cr1historical

[MyJourney 276]

Just now, missileman said:

Not really.  On average, about 400 days from NOA1 to interview per Visa Journey members.  

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ir1cr1historical

That is fine, I think. We are hoping one visit to the US and one visit to her country in between. That should cover at least 7-8 months for us.  But waiting so long without seeing each other would definitely suck. 

1 hour ago, Ketsuban said:

We had the same issue. We sent chat logs, gift receipts, photos of our visits, passport stamps, emails (our inbox, not the actual content), basically anything that showed how our relationship worked while we were apart while also showing we had spent time together. There are probably some companies that will let you  have a joint account or policy if your spouse is a non-resident alien with no SSN but unfortunately we didn't come across any.

Thank you for your short, concise, to the point info! 

[Crazy Cat 42,563]

Just now, MyJourney said:

That is fine, I think. We are hoping one visit to the US and one visit to her country in between. That should cover at least 7-8 months for us.  But waiting so long without seeing each other would definitely suck.  

I understand.  Waiting is the toughest part.  We were apart a year during the process.

[natasha-mehdito 137]

6 hours ago, Nitas_man said:

And save time and future trouble by attending the interview with your spouse.  Also let the embassy know you're attending.  

Can't believe all these people who hang their beneficiaries out in the breeze after going through all the trouble to get them to that counter.

 

In the big picture the interview's more important than the dam wedding.

True but not every embassy allows the spouse to attend the interview, unfortunately.

[JbTin 51]

My experience was 4 years ago but thought it might help a little. Hubs and I filed for CR1 while I was still in my country. We basically just sent in photos of us from our travels and from the wedding (we included pics of him with my family), birthday/holiday cards, plane tickets, money tranfer receipts, call logs, chat logs, and of course our marriage certificate. We didnt get any RFE. During the interview I was ask to show a picture of us during the wedding. That was all. I dont know if it’s different now but we didnt submit any health insurance or bank statements etc.

Edited October 31, 2017 by JbTin

[JbTin 51]

Oh and I forgot, he also included a copy of his life insurance showing that I am the beneficiary. I think that helped a lot too. He didn’t attend the interview with me. I saw other ladies who brought their sponsors with them to the interview but they were not allowed to be with them in front of the interviewer. They just sat there and waited. 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

Hm.  I always attend interview whether they talk to me or not.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Nitas_man

[Nitas_man 3,100]

3 hours ago, MyJourney said:

And for some countries/cases shorter, I guess. 

Getting the medical and police cert as soon as the embassy has the case has been a great time saver.  The embassies do have flexibility and will work with couples who are ready to go.

My rule of thumb:. All correspondence with the embassy should be handled by the USC not the applicant.

I have signed as the preparer of every single form ever filed.

I am always there, whether they want to talk to me or not.  Every time, they talk to me.

[audacieux89 256]

Marriage certificate

Pictures of the wedding

Pictures with family and friends

Proof that you have your spouse as beneficiary on your health/ life insurance

Proof that relationship is ongoing (chats, visits, gifts for each other, etc)

Anything else you co - own together

Joint savings accounts etc...

Edited October 31, 2017 by audacieux89

[MyJourney 276]

Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and experience, I appreciate it.