Getting ready to apply for CR-1

[KevLiez 1]

My fiance and I plan to get married in December and I would like to file for CR-1 in January when i get back to the states.

Is there a certain amount of time they like to see you married before you can apply?

Also, is it a requirement for my future wife to change her family name to my name or can she keep her name and change it some time down the road?

If we plan to do a small civil wedding with just her family present what pictures could we use as supporting documents for our marriage?

Thank you all for your help!

Edited September 2, 2011 by kevperz

[Inky 1,111]

My fiance and I plan to get married in December and I would like to file for CR-1 in January when i get back to the states.

Is there a certain amount of time they like to see you married before you can apply?

Also, is it a requirement for my future wife to change her family name to my name or can she keep her name and change it some time down the road?

If we plan to do a small civil wedding with just her family present what pictures could we use as supporting documents for our marriage?

Thank you all for your help!

No certain time of marriage required.

Does not matter what she does with her last name its her choice.

Any pictures you want to use you can use.

[KevLiez 1]

thanks inky. you rule!

[angelo gutierrez 6]

My fiance and I plan to get married in December and I would like to file for CR-1 in January when i get back to the states.

Is there a certain amount of time they like to see you married before you can apply?

Also, is it a requirement for my future wife to change her family name to my name or can she keep her name and change it some time down the road?

If we plan to do a small civil wedding with just her family present what pictures could we use as supporting documents for our marriage?

Thank you all for your help!

You can apply right after the wedding, but you would need to wait atleast 2 months. It takes at least 2 months for NSO in P.I to produce the certified copy of your wedding certificate which is needed for your application. Take lots of pictures during your civil wedding, it would help you in the future (Interview).

[KevLiez 1]

You can apply right after the wedding, but you would need to wait atleast 2 months. It takes at least 2 months for NSO in P.I to produce the certified copy of your wedding certificate which is needed for your application. Take lots of pictures during your civil wedding, it would help you in the future (Interview).

Do i have to be present in the philippines to obtain the NSO certified copy of your wedding certificate?

[DouglasFiel 53]

I don't believe you need an NSO certified copy to file the I130. I submitted a photocopy of the local registrar copy with the priests' signature. My application was approved with no RFE... When the paperwork got to the NVC... I Submitted the NSO copy of the marriage certificate.

Regards,

[angelo gutierrez 6]

Do i have to be present in the philippines to obtain the NSO certified copy of your wedding certificate?

No. Your wife can apply for the certificate online.

I don't believe you need an NSO certified copy to file the I130. I submitted a photocopy of the local registrar copy with the priests' signature. My application was approved with no RFE... When the paperwork got to the NVC... I Submitted the NSO copy of the marriage certificate.

Regards,

Belay my last, yes you are right you can send a copy, but for me i sent the originals just to be on the safe side and I sent both NSO and registrars copy from the city hall in Manila.

Edited September 3, 2011 by angelo gutierrez

[Scott and Mhay 57]

As long as you have the marriage certificate you can apply. A photocopy of the original will work, but u will have to send an original to the nvc. We waited for the nso copy. We got married end of august & I sent in the package in november. It only took a little over a month for us to get the nso copy. We had a friend that worked in municiple hall take the marriage contract 2 the nso office in manila ryt after the wedding. that is how we got it back so quick.

[DouglasFiel 53]

We got married 3/21/09, submitted I130 with copy of marriage Certificate on 4/8/09 and did not have NSO certified copy in hand until first week

of May. Waiting would of cost us a month or more.

Regards,

Doug

[needhelp2 0]

My fiance and I plan to get married in December and I would like to file for CR-1 in January when i get back to the states.

Is there a certain amount of time they like to see you married before you can apply?

Also, is it a requirement for my future wife to change her family name to my name or can she keep her name and change it some time down the road?

If we plan to do a small civil wedding with just her family present what pictures could we use as supporting documents for our marriage?

Thank you all for your help!

They dont require u to have some time being married BUT.... ur spouse will be getting a CONDITIONAL visa...

"If you have been married for less than two years when your foreign citizen spouse enters the United States on an immigrant visa, his or her permanent resident status is considered “conditional.” The immigrant visa is a conditional resident (CR) visa, not an immediate relative (IR) visa.

You and your spouse must apply together to USCIS to remove the conditional status within the ninety days before the two-year anniversary of your spouse’s entry into the United States on his or her immigrant visa. The two-year anniversary date of entry is the date of expiration on the alien registration card (green card). See Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage on the USCIS website. "

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=745218a1f8b73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4ca43a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD