Evidence of Relationship Required for CR-1 Visa?

[William Overbeck 10]

12 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

Well, it is what it is. Even without COVID, international relationships involve separation time, delays and a lot of legal research. These are federal laws, not mere "suggestions" for people to follow. Immigration records are also permanent. It is extremely important for people to fully understand the process and all its details before embarking on it. If you've been with your significant other for 4 years, then you had plenty of time before COVID to get at least 1 or 2 visits under your belt. As aaron2020 pointed out, online marriages complicate the US immigration process, not make it easier. 

Marriage is a very huge thing to contemplate when it comes to making flights on the whim, and not everyone has greater access to financial access as the majority of you may have. This also might've been different for you, considering that you have met each other in-person before or have lived within at least a few states away. 

 

I understand that's the case for some, but I'm asking since we're currently in an LDR.

[William Overbeck 10]

20 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET MARRY?  FOR AN ONLINE MARRIAGE, YOU HAVE TO CONSUMMATE THE MARRIAGE IN ORDER TO FILE AN I-130 FOR HIM.

YOU WANT AN OFFICIAL LINK, THEN HIRE A LAWYER.

If you marry online and file before meeting, you will be flushing money down the drain.  

Hello! I appreciate your input, but if you don't have any official links to provide - I highly suggest that you provide the ones that were able to help you with your relationship. 

 

Thanks! 

[Crazy Cat 41,919]

7 minutes ago, volatilecerberus said:

Hello! I appreciate your input, but if you don't have any official links to provide - I highly suggest that you provide the ones that were able to help you with your relationship. 

 

Thanks! 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-2

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[mushroomspore 3,044]

7 minutes ago, volatilecerberus said:

Marriage is a very huge thing to contemplate when it comes to making flights on the whim, and not everyone has greater access to financial access as the majority of you may have. This also might've been different for you, considering that you have met each other in-person before or have lived within at least a few states away. 

 

I understand that's the case for some, but I'm asking since we're currently in an LDR.

Believe me, most people here are not wealthy or rich. My husband and I certainly am not. It was a struggle for us to get enough together for the filing fees alone. And of course, marriage is a major decision that requires deep consideration. My previous comment was geared towards the fact that you guys have not met in person and that is not going to help your immigration case. At this point in time, you guys need to meet in-person and start collecting that kind of evidence because it is the strongest type of evidence the embassy likes to see. If you were to marry online right now and file immediately, you would be wasting money and time.

 

Also, everyone who has commented on this thread so far has indeed gone through this process and are speaking from personal experience as well as collective research. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by mushroomspore

[aaron2020 11,651]

3 minutes ago, volatilecerberus said:

Hello! I appreciate your input, but if you don't have any official links to provide - I highly suggest that you provide the ones that were able to help you with your relationship. 

 

Thanks! 

Good luck.  

I highly suggest you take the advice of experienced posters.   

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

1 hour ago, volatilecerberus said:

Hello! I'm completely new to the form, and the visa journey. 

 

My backstory is that I'm trying to help my fiancé come to the US to be married and settle down together in FL. We're currently in an LDR, so we've never met in person within the last two years. Reading along the guidelines of the CR-1 visa - it shows that proof that we have an consistent relationship (for avoiding marriage fraud) is required. 

 

Even though we haven't met in person because of the travel ban, he would be staying in the States while waiting for his green card. 

What you’re suggesting is fraud and not permitted.. you cannot enter US get married and then stay while you await green card without a fiancé visa. 

 

you cannot apply for CR1 with him living in the US, he must go home once married and make application via the US consulate in his home country, he cannot stay in the US. 
 

you cannot apply for CR1 since you are not yet married. 
 

‘’you cannot apply for fiancé visa since you have never met in person.. 

 

‘’you may want to have a vacation in his country and meet him first then consider your options 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Duke & Marie

[beloved_dingo 1,979]

As many other posters have already said, you will have to meet in person at least once (but more trips = better chances of being approved) for either the K1 or CR1 visas. Also, most of us who are replying to you have been through this process ourselves, which is why you need to actually listen to the advice provided. Additionally, most of us were in LDRs before being together permanently (my husband was all the way in Australia, we were long distance from 2016 to 2019). 

[Boiler 45,579]

Marriage has to meet Immigration requirements and that has been quoted.

 

CR1 well I think most now will be IR1 as seems quite possible with the delays it will take 2 years, OP will have plenty of time to make more visits. Hopefully Covid issues will decline.

[William Overbeck 10]

14 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-2

 

 

 

Thank you for that, kind sir! We both will be present during the ceremony - no need to worry about it.

[Dutchster 1,107]

My husband and I chose for the K-1 visa in 2016. We were in a LDR for 2 years before that and on my third trip we got engaged, knowing that the only way I could legally come to the US was by K-1 or CR-1 visa. Basically, there are barely any options for your fiance. Unless he qualifies for a L1 or H1-B or have some kind of extraordinary ability and qualifies for a O-1 work visa. 

 

Best options would be: 

Meet in person a few times and file the K-1 visa. He won't be allowed to work until he receives his conditional green card or work authorization. But at least you would be together. It is pricier since adjustment of status will be an extra step at a bit over $1200. 

Meet in person a few times, get married abroad (or in the US and have him fly home) and file for CR-1. He will have his interview in Spain and receive a visa to enter the US. Upon enter, he will be a permanent resident and his green card will be mailed within a few weeks (give or take). 

 

Some people here have given you pretty solid advise and while the USCIS can give out confusing information, proxy marriages are not valid in their eyes and you will not be qualified enough to file for either visas. Harsh truth. It's not easy to emigrate to the US. Marriage is a big step indeed, but in my case, I do not regret it one bit and am the happiest I've ever been. If you think he's your soulmate,  go for it. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Dutchster

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

40 minutes ago, volatilecerberus said:

 

This is also a very costly process to repeatedly schedule short trips for the sake of proving that we're legitimate. The US tends to be very firm about these things, and I don't mind if we have to do 1-2 trips to show to officials that we're a couple.

Very costly for sake of proving the relationship is legitimate? I’m sorry, but this is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day 🤣 

 

I’m not rich believe me, my husband and I saved and saved hard to make our visits possible, I made 7 trips to the US and he made 2 to me just because we wanted to be together NOT for the need to prove anything to anyone.. our flights averaged $2-3000 each time and we’re still trying to find other evidence for USCIS that our relationship is legit and you have an issue with an average flight cost of $400? 
 

if you’re not willing to afford a few hundred dollars for a couple of flights a year simply because you love them are you sure you really want to be with this person for the rest of your life? Not to mention how on earth can you afford to sponsor them if you can’t find $400 for a trip?

[mushroomspore 3,044]

2 minutes ago, Duke & Marie said:

Very costly for sake of proving the relationship is legitimate? I’m sorry, but this is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day 🤣 

 

I’m not rich believe me, my husband and I saved and saved hard to make our visits possible, I made 7 trips to the US and he made 2 to me just because we wanted to be together NOT for the need to prove anything to anyone.. our flights averaged $2-3000 each time and we’re still trying to find other evidence for USCIS that our relationship is legit and you have an issue with an average flight cost of $400? 
 

if you’re not willing to afford a few hundred dollars for a couple of flights a year simply because you love them are you sure you really want to be with this person for the rest of your life? Not to mention how on earth can you afford to sponsor them if you can’t find $400 for a trip?

Pretty sure most people on this website aren't rich. A big reason why we're here is because it's free and most of us can't spend money on a lawyer so we're here trying to figure out how to do it ourselves.

Edited February 24, 2021 by mushroomspore

[William Overbeck 10]

20 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

As many other posters have already said, you will have to meet in person at least once (but more trips = better chances of being approved) for either the K1 or CR1 visas. Also, most of us who are replying to you have been through this process ourselves, which is why you need to actually listen to the advice provided. Additionally, most of us were in LDRs before being together permanently (my husband was all the way in Australia, we were long distance from 2016 to 2019). 

Good evening, ma'am. 

 

Your kind input is duly noted. I also like your honestly because the previous posters didn't include that in their initial statements. It's good to know that people like you are still out there. Congratulations for you and your husband being together! 

 

It's a very costly process to do more than one trip, so we're hoping that we can try to solve this with much help from the US embassies as we haven't been able to meet within the past years because of financial struggles.

[Boiler 45,579]

Consulates handle visa's, Embassy is not involved.

 

The Consulate is there to process applications simplistically, not to help you.

[William Overbeck 10]

5 minutes ago, Duke & Marie said:

Very costly for sake of proving the relationship is legitimate? I’m sorry, but this is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day 🤣 

 

I’m not rich believe me, my husband and I saved and saved hard to make our visits possible, I made 7 trips to the US and he made 2 to me just because we wanted to be together NOT for the need to prove anything to anyone.. our flights averaged $2-3000 each time and we’re still trying to find other evidence for USCIS that our relationship is legit and you have an issue with an average flight cost of $400? 
 

if you’re not willing to afford a few hundred dollars for a couple of flights a year simply because you love them are you sure you really want to be with this person for the rest of your life? Not to mention how on earth can you afford to sponsor them if you can’t find $400 for a trip?

Good evening, madam. 

 

That's super to hear that you were able to afford it much sooner than we are. Money doesn't come easy in this world, but it's good to know that you're using your resources in a productive rate.

From other people I have asked, they suggested several trips. Denying that 1-2 would suffice. It's good to know that you two love each other and have made it so.

 

As I have said in my other replies, that was a past issue that I've had during our beginning years together. Now, it's not an issue. We'd just like to save up for the long term.

 

The last two statements that you made are very unkind. It's not very polite to assume that you don't love someone solely because of throwing money away for the sake of it. 

 

Have a great day!