Online or via mail?

[Speedy troy 7]

What's the best way to submit my CR1 application?

I'm at the final step of completing my online application but I wanted to make sure that it's "the best way" to submit it instead of sending the application via mail.

Also somehow I can't upload our whatsapp conversation file during the engagement period, is that necessary in the additional proof of marriage? - I have tried several browsers to upload the pdf file which includes around 400 pages and under 3 MB.

[SalishSea 17,928]

3 minutes ago, Speedy troy said:

What's the best way to submit my CR1 application?

I'm at the final step of completing my online application but I wanted to make sure that it's "the best way" to submit it instead of sending the application via mail.

Also somehow I can't upload our whatsapp conversation file during the engagement period, is that necessary in the additional proof of marriage? - I have tried several browsers to upload the pdf file which includes around 400 pages and under 3 MB.

USCIS does NOT want you to send a 400 page file of WhatsApp!!    

[Speedy troy 7]

Fair enough, so what's the best way to prove that our marriage is legit?

I included pictures of our honeymoon and a couple from the wedding it self.

[SalishSea 17,928]

Just now, Speedy troy said:

Fair enough, so what's the best way to prove that our marriage is legit?

I included pictures of our honeymoon and a couple from the wedding it self.

Evidence of time spent together in person, spouse named as beneficiary for accounts, wills, POA.   

[Speedy troy 7]

I tried adding my spouse to my bank account but I was told that my bank can't add her since my spouse doesn't have an A number. I don't have any assets to have a will. Also will pictures suffice to show that indeed we've spent time together?

One last thing, is the online filling a good option?

[Peter and Tam 33]

Airline tickets to his place, visas and stamps and also family and friends who have a knowledge about your relationship and marriage to write a letter of support, these are required especially if you have no joint account, will or mortgage together. 

[Speedy troy 7]

10 minutes ago, Peter and Tam said:

Airline tickets to his place, visas and stamps and also family and friends who have a knowledge about your relationship and marriage to write a letter of support, these are required especially if you have no joint account, will or mortgage together. 

What do you mean by this part "also family and friends who have a knowledge about your relationship and marriage to write a letter of support"? Do I need to have friends and family write something in English stating that they know us being a married couple then have them sign and date the document? I can open a joint bank account where we're from easily, but I can't add her as my joint to my US bank account.

[Peter and Tam 33]

Yes. Just few of them can do that for you and I am not sure about just opening a joint account from somewhere the petitioner is not a resident there anymore. Maybe someone can clarify that for you. 
 

Just include any evidence that shows that you and your partner has been physically met or been together and then decided to get married. 

Edited September 30, 2022 by Peter and Tam

[Speedy troy 7]

Ok, I will get that letter. How about the method of filling?Is there a difference between the online method and the mailing method?

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports to IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures ***

 

2 hours ago, Speedy troy said:

I'm at the final step of completing my online application but I wanted to make sure that it's "the best way" to submit it instead of sending the application via mail.

 

Neither online or mail is better than the other.  Each has its own pros/cons.

 

Online filing --

• Get almost-immediate receipt notice
• You have control over how your evidence is digitally recorded
• Web form could be confusing or have incomplete instructions

Paper filing --

• No need to deal with the quirks of the web form
• No file size limit for the evidence you want to submit
• Could get lost in the mail or some documents could get lost at USCIS

[Steve & Erma 36]

I just finished filing mine and for evidence I gave them a bunch of pictures, flight itinerary, flight tickets, hotel and air B&B receipts, and chat logs from messenger. With my chat logs I downloaded them from Facebook and then copied a day here and a day there (15 files in total for 6 months) and pasted just the text into word and saved them as PDF's.

 

As far as joint accounts and such I haven't done any of that, nor have I changed my beneficiary for my life insurance or retirement plan yet.

 

If you read the info given under evidence proof there is a spot that explains the letters from relative and friends and exactly what needs to be on them to qualify.

 

IMO online is the best option.

[pushbrk 12,975]

3 hours ago, Speedy troy said:

What do you mean by this part "also family and friends who have a knowledge about your relationship and marriage to write a letter of support"? Do I need to have friends and family write something in English stating that they know us being a married couple then have them sign and date the document? I can open a joint bank account where we're from easily, but I can't add her as my joint to my US bank account.

The evidence asked for is not to prove you're married.  It's evidence of your relationship.  She can be added as a beneficiary to live insurance or even your bank account, but those are small things.  Concentrate on evidence of time spent together in person.

 

In my opinion filing by mail is still the best option.  The PDF form has less glitches and you can write on it by hand if needed.

[SalishSea 17,928]

5 hours ago, Peter and Tam said:

Airline tickets to his place, visas and stamps and also family and friends who have a knowledge about your relationship and marriage to write a letter of support, these are required especially if you have no joint account, will or mortgage together. 

Affidavits written by friends and family are weak evidence, at best.  OP, you should focus on collecting higher quality evidence.

[ilikepotatoes 57]

7 hours ago, Speedy troy said:

I tried adding my spouse to my bank account but I was told that my bank can't add her since my spouse doesn't have an A number. I don't have any assets to have a will. Also will pictures suffice to show that indeed we've spent time together?

One last thing, is the online filling a good option?

Pictures are great supporting evidence, but the best evidence of time spent together is solid proof like boarding passes and passport stamps. Our lawyer said that WhatsApp chat logs aren’t necessary. If you want to add them, you can, but 400 pages would be excessive and just not worth it since it’s not the kind of evidence they’re looking for anyway. Good luck!

[Peter and Tam 33]

5 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Affidavits written by friends and family are weak evidence, at best.  OP, you should focus on collecting higher quality evidence.

Many times we quote weak evidence whereas those are part of the requirements especially to new couples who doesn’t have all those strong evidence.

 

I can clearly understand what weak is especially when you have all those joint accounts, mortgages and other properties and you wanna make a choice then you can consider letter of affidavits as a weak evidence but not to someone who has to include every pieces of support that will make their case strong. Especially people who has never lived together and the beneficial is still living in their home country: 

 

I will advise adding any little things that will make your case go well for you. Wish you all the best of luck!