Evidence of Relationship for CR-1 Spousal Visa

[TheArtist 1]

Hello All I made a topic earlier and got to choose which Visa Route to take. I did more research and I think these are the evidence below I can submit with the I -130 form. I am heading for us to meet and this will be the first time of me visiting her since we started talking which is last month. I have placed my kola and I am heading for us to tie the marriage but celebration will be coming later we are just registering our marriage then we do the ceremony some other time. Is it too soon to apply? not sure when I can visit to show another Itinerary because of work. But with these evidence do I stand a good chance?

1. Letter to immigration of how we met and how the relationship started
2. Money Sent to her for herself
3. Chat Logs
4. Affidavits from relatives/friends
5. Pictures of us together and with family
6. Evidence of me adding her to my life insurance policy(After heading back to the states)
7. Evidence of visit like plane ticket and Itineraries
8. Marriage Certificate

[SalishSea 17,808]

2 hours ago, TheArtist said:

Hello All I made a topic earlier and got to choose which Visa Route to take. I did more research and I think these are the evidence below I can submit with the I -130 form. I am heading for us to meet and this will be the first time of me visiting her since we started talking which is last month. I have placed my kola and I am heading for us to tie the marriage but celebration will be coming later we are just registering our marriage then we do the ceremony some other time. Is it too soon to apply? not sure when I can visit to show another Itinerary because of work. But with these evidence do I stand a good chance?

1. Letter to immigration of how we met and how the relationship started
2. Money Sent to her for herself
3. Chat Logs
4. Affidavits from relatives/friends
5. Pictures of us together and with family
6. Evidence of me adding her to my life insurance policy(After heading back to the states)
7. Evidence of visit like plane ticket and Itineraries
8. Marriage Certificate

Which consulate?

 

You only started chatting LAST MONTH?  Jeez.

 

You have an uphill battle.  Your list focuses on secondary/less important items.  You need more time spent together, and marrying on the first visit one month after chatting and filing right after that will (rightly) attract scrutiny.

 

BTW:  It is not smart to send money to someone you've never met/barely know.  This is a classic marriage fraud red flag.  Just don't do it.

Edited January 9 by SalishSea

[TheArtist 1]

2 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Which consulate?

 

You only started chatting LAST MONTH?  Jeez.

 

You have an uphill battle.  Your list focuses on secondary/less important items.  You need more time spent together, and marrying on the first visit one month after chatting and filing right after that will (rightly) attract scrutiny.

 

Yea I know this is from Freetown sierra Leone. I know we are marrying early but you see we are both muslims and from the same tribe and we were introduced. So it's more like an arranged marriage but we really like eachother and gets along well.

[SalishSea 17,808]

2 minutes ago, TheArtist said:

Yea I know this is from Freetown sierra Leone. I know we are marrying early but you see we are both muslims and from the same tribe and we were introduced. So it's more like an arranged marriage but we really like eachother and gets along well.

Well, good luck.  You can take or leave the feedback you get here.  Like I said, I think you have an uphill battle in this situation.

[TheArtist 1]

7 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Well, good luck.  You can take or leave the feedback you get here.  Like I said, I think you have an uphill battle in this situation.

Thanks for you input

[carmel34 3,620]

DO NOT get married on the first visit after one month of online chat.  For Sierra Leone, you will need multiple trips to see each other in person, prior to getting married, before you file an I-130 petition.  If you disregard this advice, your chance for approval is very, very, low.

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

You know her family from living there?

Have u met her in the past even as children?

It is normal in Sierra Leone to have arranged marriage but not for immigration

and she is over 18 so she satisfies the law of her country

 

U need more than 1 visit and honestly this process whether K1 or CR1 is not fast

it will be about 2 years from petition to interview

 

do not send proof of sending money unless u say its for the Islam bride price as agreed on in marriage certificate (1 time money) otherwise immigration will think the bene (her) uses u (USC)  for money

chats not needed

copy of any boarding passes is better than itinerary as itinerary doesn't show u actually went

photos (about 20) of u and her /some with her family (mother is important) to show they approve

FYI  since children are important to muslim familys having  a baby during this process does not increase the chances of a visa

also , check the poverty guidelines each year during the process to make sure your income meets the requirements

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

 

use the drop down box for our 48 states and check in 2025 and 2026 for the new income levels

understand that if u try for K1 100% is needed for interview and 125% needed for CR1 /or AOS after US marriage

 

allah yessir

 

[TheArtist 1]

4 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

You know her family from living there?

Have u met her in the past even as children?

It is normal in Sierra Leone to have arranged marriage but not for immigration

and she is over 18 so she satisfies the law of her country

 

U need more than 1 visit and honestly this process whether K1 or CR1 is not fast

it will be about 2 years from petition to interview

 

do not send proof of sending money unless u say its for the Islam bride price as agreed on in marriage certificate (1 time money) otherwise immigration will think the bene (her) uses u (USC)  for money

chats not needed

copy of any boarding passes is better than itinerary as itinerary doesn't show u actually went

photos (about 20) of u and her /some with her family (mother is important) to show they approve

FYI  since children are important to muslim familys having  a baby during this process does not increase the chances of a visa

also , check the poverty guidelines each year during the process to make sure your income meets the requirements

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

 

use the drop down box for our 48 states and check in 2025 and 2026 for the new income levels

understand that if u try for K1 100% is needed for interview and 125% needed for CR1 /or AOS after US marriage

 

allah yessir

 

Thank you and yes I was born in Sierra and our tribe is known to have arranged marriages. We are from the same tribe and practice th same religion.Her uncle who introduced us is man I have known since I was a child so he is more like family. I am planning to visit next month as well even if we don't tie the marriage maybe that can help that I have visited her at least. Now the red flag that most people here are stating is the short courtship but our tribe that is how we do it and we don't date at all as our marriages are arranged. The problem lies in explaining this as proof to immigration. I don't get much time off work so I want to this this in my travel next month if possible to marry. Our tribe in general and the Islamic law don't really do engagement. Not planning on going to marry and have kids but to just meet her. I also talk to her parents and it turns out they knew my mom a while back. I know I might have to do the CR-1 as we don't engage we just put dowry which counts as engagement but also doesn't as courtships are not long in our tradition. The reason I wanted to use this opportunity to go now is to avoid the proxy marriage and that I can be there to when we are getting our certificate. Most of our marriages in Sierra Leone are done by proxy as per culture I just chose to be there for mine. Now the proof and how to explain this to immigration is the issue because of the short courtship.

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

3 minutes ago, TheArtist said:

Thank you and yes I was born in Sierra and our tribe is known to have arranged marriages. We are from the same tribe and practice th same religion.Her uncle who introduced us is man I have known since I was a child so he is more like family. I am planning to visit next month as well even if we don't tie the marriage maybe that can help that I have visited her at least. Now the red flag that most people here are stating is the short courtship but our tribe that is how we do it and we don't date at all as our marriages are arranged. The problem lies in explaining this as proof to immigration. I don't get much time off work so I want to this this in my travel next month if possible to marry. Our tribe in general and the Islamic law don't really do engagement. Not planning on going to marry and have kids but to just meet her. I also talk to her parents and it turns out they knew my mom a while back. I know I might have to do the CR-1 as we don't engage we just put dowry which counts as engagement but also doesn't as courtships are not long in our tradition. The reason I wanted to use this opportunity to go now is to avoid the proxy marriage and that I can be there to when we are getting our certificate. Most of our marriages in Sierra Leone are done by proxy as per culture I just chose to be there for mine. Now the proof and how to explain this to immigration is the issue because of the short courtship.

USCIS recognizes proxy marriage from Utah BUT only if the couple meet after this event to consumate the marriage so go  meet,  travel later to marry

and yes,  this takes time and money but its the only way immigration will approve a visa / again,  u r looking at least 2 years to have an interview

[TheArtist 1]

4 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

USCIS recognizes proxy marriage from Utah BUT only if the couple meet after this event to consumate the marriage so go  meet,  travel later to marry

and yes,  this takes time and money but its the only way immigration will approve a visa / again,  u r looking at least 2 years to have an interview

Thank you and Yea I will have to visit first I will worry about the marriage side on a second visit hopefully by the end of the year then I will do the petition after. I also have an appointment with an immigration lawyer next year but I think I'll just do the visit anyway for a more stronger evidence. Will also take as much pictures as I can with her and her parents that can be used as evidence down the line. Thank you!

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

21 minutes ago, TheArtist said:

Thank you and Yea I will have to visit first I will worry about the marriage side on a second visit hopefully by the end of the year then I will do the petition after. I also have an appointment with an immigration lawyer next year but I think I'll just do the visit anyway for a more stronger evidence. Will also take as much pictures as I can with her and her parents that can be used as evidence down the line. Thank you!

Always good idea to consult an attorney but 1 is not needed to do the petition  and reading on here many times the lawyer's office makes mistakes with the petition and u r responsible for it as u sign it. 

u have to do all the work to gather needed documents thruout this process /all a lawyer does is collect them from u,  fill out the petition  and mail it

they do not attend interview and respresent u after mailing the form

u sign/ u r responsible

[TheArtist 1]

2 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Always good idea to consult an attorney but 1 is not needed to do the petition  and reading on here many times the lawyer's office makes mistakes with the petition and u r responsible for it as u sign it. 

u have to do all the work to gather needed documents thruout this process /all a lawyer does is collect them from u,  fill out the petition  and mail it

they do not attend interview and respresent u after mailing the form

u sign/ u r responsible

Noted and yes I don't plan on having them do it for me I just wanted to get placed on the right path with what I typed above and I will proceed on my own