New to CR-1 Process

[bsg 0]

Hi, folks

 

I'm new to all of this. I'm a U.S. citizen and my wife is Indonesian (she's currently in Indonesia - never been to the U.S.). I've filled out the i-130 and i-130a and have gathered all the necessary documents. We have a couple of issues though: we married after only knowing each five months and also she was engaged to an American before. She and her ex-fiance started the K1 visa process and it was approved. She even went in for the interview but they didn't finish the process because they broke up. The trouble is she started the K1 process in June 2016, went for the interview, didn't finish the process, and then application expired in June 2017 (even though the previous relationship ended before that). Well, we met in July 2017 and then married in December 2017. I'm sure I'm correct in assuming that these will be major red flags for USCIS. We do in fact have a bona fide marriage: we married out of love but I'm really worried that the fact that we only knew each other for five months before we married and the fact that she was previously engaged to another American will cause problems for us. I've considered hiring a lawyer (although I'm not exactly sure what that would accomplish other than costing me a lot of money). I would greatly appreciate any feedback some of you more experienced folks could give me. Many thanks!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

2 minutes ago, bsg said:

Hi, folks

 

I'm new to all of this. I'm a U.S. citizen and my wife is Indonesian (she's currently in Indonesia - never been to the U.S.). I've filled out the i-130 and i-130a and have gathered all the necessary documents. We have a couple of issues though: we married after only knowing each five months and also she was engaged to an American before. She and her ex-fiance started the K1 visa process and it was approved. She even went in for the interview but they didn't finish the process because they broke up. The trouble is she started the K1 process in June 2016, went for the interview, didn't finish the process, and then application expired in June 2017 (even though the previous relationship ended before that). Well, we met in July 2017 and then married in December 2017. I'm sure I'm correct in assuming that these will be major red flags for USCIS. We do in fact have a bona fide marriage: we married out of love but I'm really worried that the fact that we only knew each other for five months before we married and the fact that she was previously engaged to another American will cause problems for us. I've considered hiring a lawyer (although I'm not exactly sure what that would accomplish other than costing me a lot of money). I would greatly appreciate any feedback some of you more experienced folks could give me. Many thanks!

Why would you hire a lawyer???? A lot of people start the process and then never finish it. You can rest assured that you will be asked about the previous petition for her. So she went to the interview and was she approved/denied or given a request for more evidence????

[bsg 0]

She went through the interview but after that the ex-fiance apparently didn't provide the follow-up financial documents they asked for because he was stalling and wanted to the end the relationship. I believe everything was approved but because he never submitted the additional paperwork they requested, the process was never finished. They broke up before the application process expired in June 2017. 

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

It can be seen as a red flag obviously, one USC petitioned her as a fiance... regardless of the outcome, then as yourself stated after short time married you. This can obviously be over come with good evidence of a solid marriage. Wouldn't think a lawyer would be needed or helpful really.

[bsg 0]

1 minute ago, Ben&Zian said:

It can be seen as a red flag obviously, one USC petitioned her as a fiance... regardless of the outcome, then as yourself stated after short time married you. This can obviously be over come with good evidence of a solid marriage. Wouldn't think a lawyer would be needed or helpful really.

Thanks for the reply. The only evidence we have of our bona fide marriage is photos together on vacation, photos from the wedding, photos with her family, print out of conversations from catholicmatch.com where we first met, and an affidavit of support from my priest. What do you think? Will they still want more? We've never lived together and thus haven't co-mingled our finances yet (aside from me sending her some money each month). 

[arken 4,197]

While your marriage could be bonafide, the officer might doubt it because of her timeline you mentioned.

So the best is to have as many evidences of bonafide relationship as possible. In addition to what you already have, i suggest the following.

1. Add her as your beneficiary in banking accounts (no need of ssn for beneficiary)

2. Add her as your beneficiary in your 401k and/or any insurances if applicable.

3. Keep documents of any money or gifts sent to her

4. They usually ask some sort of disclaimer from the the dating website.

5. Tickets/iteneraries or passport stamps provings your travel to meet her or marry her.

6. One Affidavit of marriage each from your and her parents side.

7. Communication records to/from your personal accounts like fb or watsapp or viber...., before n after marriage.

8. Wedding cards, receipts related to wedding cermony/reception

etc....

[bsg 0]

7 minutes ago, arken said:

While your marriage could be bonafide, the officer might doubt it because of her timeline you mentioned.

So the best is to have as many evidences of bonafide relationship as possible. In addition to what you already have, i suggest the following.

1. Add her as your beneficiary in banking accounts (no need of ssn for beneficiary)

2. Add her as your beneficiary in your 401k and/or any insurances if applicable.

3. Keep documents of any money or gifts sent to her

4. They usually ask some sort of disclaimer from the the dating website.

5. Tickets/iteneraries or passport stamps provings your travel to meet her or marry her.

6. One Affidavit of marriage each from your and her parents side.

7. Communication records to/from your personal accounts like fb or watsapp or viber...., before n after marriage.

8. Wedding cards, receipts related to wedding cermony/reception

etc....

On number 4, what do you mean by a disclaimer from the dating website? Thanks!

[arken 4,197]

Some sort of document from dating site that they are either not an International Marriage Broker and/or that the foreign person has given consent to release his/her info to the US person(you), something like that.

[pushbrk 13,268]

27 minutes ago, arken said:

Some sort of document from dating site that they are either not an International Marriage Broker and/or that the foreign person has given consent to release his/her info to the US person(you), something like that.

If it is a dating site, then it is not an IMB.  If you state it is not an IMB and it is not, then such a statement is not necessary for an I-129F petition.  However, such things are totally irrelevant to a spouse case.  Affidavits from parents are pretty much useless and tend to make the couple look desperate.  Concentrate on evidence of time spent together in person.

[yuini 29]

We used affidavits of our parents, both sides. 

 

Use any documents you can to prove you guys have solid marriage. It's better over prepared.