Should CR1 Evidence Include Relationship Proof from Before Divorce Was Finalized?

[menegichu 0]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a question regarding the evidence to submit with our CR1 visa application. My husband and I started dating in May 2022, but at that time, he was still legally married to a foreign national and in the process of divorce proceedings. Their divorce was finalized in July 2023, and we got married in August 2024.

The reason for the gap between the divorce and our marriage is that we were in a long-distance relationship during that time. Because of the distance, we don’t have many photos and document together for 2023 only screenshots of our chat logs and calls.

 

My question is:

 

Should we include photos and documents that prove our relationship starting from May 2022 (when we started dating), or should we only include evidence from after the divorce was finalized?

 

I want to ensure we’re providing strong and honest evidence while being mindful of the timeline. Thank you for your advice!

[OldUser 6,760]

Yes, I'd include evidence from that period too as you want to be upfront as you said. Spouse may be asked when and how you met during the interview. You wouldn't want to bend the truth then.

[W199 335]

2 hours ago, menegichu said:

Hi everyone,

 

I have a question regarding the evidence to submit with our CR1 visa application. My husband and I started dating in May 2022, but at that time, he was still legally married to a foreign national and in the process of divorce proceedings. Their divorce was finalized in July 2023, and we got married in August 2024.

The reason for the gap between the divorce and our marriage is that we were in a long-distance relationship during that time. Because of the distance, we don’t have many photos and document together for 2023 only screenshots of our chat logs and calls.

 

My question is:

 

Should we include photos and documents that prove our relationship starting from May 2022 (when we started dating), or should we only include evidence from after the divorce was finalized?

 

I want to ensure we’re providing strong and honest evidence while being mindful of the timeline. Thank you for your advice!

This is not the dark ages. I'm sure that not a day goes by they don't meet couples who met before their ex's divorce was final. Its quite normal and common. And dating before your ex's divorce was final has nothing to do with the bonafide relationship. In fact, the longer you've been dating and known each other the better.  You should submit photos of the wedding and photos that include family members and friends, with captions that include dates, location, and whose in the photoss

 

[menegichu 0]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

Yes, I'd include evidence from that period too as you want to be upfront as you said. Spouse may be asked when and how you met during the interview. You wouldn't want to bend the truth then.

Thank you so much for your reply! I really appreciate it, and I understand the importance of being upfront about our timeline.

Would you recommend that we explain in the photo captions that we met during the divorce proceedings, or is it better to leave that for the interview explanation instead? 

Thanks again for your advice!

[menegichu 0]

2 hours ago, W199 said:

This is not the dark ages. I'm sure that not a day goes by they don't meet couples who met before their ex's divorce was final. Its quite normal and common. And dating before your ex's divorce was final has nothing to do with the bonafide relationship. In fact, the longer you've been dating and known each other the better.  You should submit photos of the wedding and photos that include family members and friends, with captions that include dates, location, and whose in the photoss

 

Thank you so much for your reply and for sharing your perspective! That’s really reassuring to hear.

Regarding the photo captions, do you think it’s necessary to mention that my husband was in the process of a divorce during the time we were dating? Or would it be better to leave that for the interview explanation instead? thank you in advance.

[OldUser 6,760]

18 minutes ago, menegichu said:

Thank you so much for your reply! I really appreciate it, and I understand the importance of being upfront about our timeline.

Would you recommend that we explain in the photo captions that we met during the divorce proceedings, or is it better to leave that for the interview explanation instead? 

Thanks again for your advice!

You don't need to emphasise or point out you met during divorce proceedings. Don't even mention it during interview unless they ask.

 

Example

 

Officer: So when did you meet your spouse?

You: May 2022

 

Note, you're answering question honestly, straight to the point. You're not telling stories, you're not telling whether your spouse was in divorce proceedings. Why? Because officer asked when, not how or any other questions. If they ask other questions, answer truthfully and concisely. Don't hide things, but also don't volunteer unless asked.

People often get in trouble for saying things they weren't asked about.

 

There's may be long pauses and silence during interview. This is normal. Officer may be typing something, reading about your case. Don't chat to fill the void.

 

 

For photo captions:

Date, location, occasion, who's on photos. That's all you need.

Edited November 26 by OldUser

[W199 335]

On 11/26/2024 at 12:01 AM, menegichu said:

Thank you so much for your reply and for sharing your perspective! That’s really reassuring to hear.

Regarding the photo captions, do you think it’s necessary to mention that my husband was in the process of a divorce during the time we were dating? Or would it be better to leave that for the interview explanation instead? thank you in advance.

All that they will look for is that your marriage date was after the date the divorce was finalized and absolute, and that your relationship is bonifide and not for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit. When they asked my fiancee why did we wait so long to get married (strange question), she did NOT say "because we were waiting for the divorce to my ex", instead she said "waiting for my child to be emancipated" .. Both of which are 100% true. Just point out the positives.

[pushbrk 12,913]

1 hour ago, W199 said:

All that they will look for is that your marriage date was after the date the divorce was finalized and absolute, and that your relationship is bonifide and not for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit. When they asked my fiancee why did we wait so long to get married (strange question), she did NOT say "because we were waiting for the divorce to my ex", instead she said "waiting for my child to be emancipated" .. Both of which are 100% true. Just point out the positives.

Nice answer, really, but what they will look at and care about is less predictable than you might think.  It's all circumstantial.  But, unless there's more too it, they don't care if you met before a divorce was final, if that's the whole story.  A common fraud scenario is when one or both divorce and marry so the first can immigrate, then divorce the petitioner, remarry their ex, and bring them.  This is not something that is assumed or even suspected, just because you met while one of you was still married.  There would have to be other factors pointing to such a concern.

[menegichu 0]

On 11/26/2024 at 11:46 AM, W199 said:

This is not the dark ages. I'm sure that not a day goes by they don't meet couples who met before their ex's divorce was final. Its quite normal and common. And dating before your ex's divorce was final has nothing to do with the bonafide relationship. In fact, the longer you've been dating and known each other the better.  You should submit photos of the wedding and photos that include family members and friends, with captions that include dates, location, and whose in the photoss

 

thank you very much for your detailed advice!

 

On 11/26/2024 at 2:15 PM, OldUser said:

You don't need to emphasise or point out you met during divorce proceedings. Don't even mention it during interview unless they ask.

 

Example

 

Officer: So when did you meet your spouse?

You: May 2022

 

Note, you're answering question honestly, straight to the point. You're not telling stories, you're not telling whether your spouse was in divorce proceedings. Why? Because officer asked when, not how or any other questions. If they ask other questions, answer truthfully and concisely. Don't hide things, but also don't volunteer unless asked.

People often get in trouble for saying things they weren't asked about.

 

There's may be long pauses and silence during interview. This is normal. Officer may be typing something, reading about your case. Don't chat to fill the void.

 

 

For photo captions:

Date, location, occasion, who's on photos. That's all you need.

Thank you for your reply! I understand your point and I will be careful during the interview. thank you again for your help! 

 

[menegichu 0]

On 11/28/2024 at 10:31 AM, W199 said:

All that they will look for is that your marriage date was after the date the divorce was finalized and absolute, and that your relationship is bonifide and not for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit. When they asked my fiancee why did we wait so long to get married (strange question), she did NOT say "because we were waiting for the divorce to my ex", instead she said "waiting for my child to be emancipated" .. Both of which are 100% true. Just point out the positives.

thank you for your advice and for sharing your experience! I appreciate it a lot.

[menegichu 0]

On 11/28/2024 at 11:59 AM, pushbrk said:

Nice answer, really, but what they will look at and care about is less predictable than you might think.  It's all circumstantial.  But, unless there's more too it, they don't care if you met before a divorce was final, if that's the whole story.  A common fraud scenario is when one or both divorce and marry so the first can immigrate, then divorce the petitioner, remarry their ex, and bring them.  This is not something that is assumed or even suspected, just because you met while one of you was still married.  There would have to be other factors pointing to such a concern.

Thank you for your response! I really appreciate the insight. That makes sense about how the circumstances are taken into account. In our case, there are no such concerns.. Thanks again for sharing your perspective!