Considering Online Marriage

[spicynujac 91]

Based on our experience,  I strongly recommend you do the online civil marriage (assuming both parties are ready) IMMEDIATELY.

The clock for IR-1 starts ticking from WEDDING date, not filing date.

 

There is a great advantage in entering the USA as an IR-1 permanent resident.  No additional fees to the US Gov.  No additional meetings or appointments or forms to file.  Green card shows up automatically within 4 months.  Social security card shows up automatically within weeks.  10 year permanent resident card, meaning you never need to renew it assuming spouse becomes a US citizen within those 10 years.  Spouse can freely travel in and out of the country and work (she is going back home next month which would have been impossible under a K-1).  Far cheaper than the fiance K-1 or even the similar CR-1 visa.

 

We did the online marriage route, then met again in person (a *requirement* before filing your case), then waited a year before our form I130 began processing.  At that point we knew the ball was finally rolling and began planning a nice church wedding in the Philippines, with all the pomp and circumstance (highly recommended if you are religious) and all this planning really took our (especially her) minds off the wait.  During this time you can also work on CFO requirements, getting a new Philippine passport issued in her married name (strongly recommend this--it is the cheapest and easiest way to change her name--do NOT wait until you are in the USA), and can do the required medical test in Manila.  By the time the visa was received, we decided to wait about 6 weeks so that we were married 2 full years before we entered the USA (CR-1 becomes an IR-1).  We planned the wedding date on this 2 year anniversary, and then had a nice Filipino honeymoon too.

 

Then when you enter, you are no longer Conditional CR-1, but a superior IR-1 immigrant.

Plus there are generally US income tax advantages to being married for tax years 2025 and 2026...

The immigration process was not fun, but after reading other's experiences (which I did a LOT of before deciding on this path), I'm very happy we picked this route.

[artsa22x 0]

5 hours ago, spicynujac said:

Based on our experience,  I strongly recommend you do the online civil marriage (assuming both parties are ready) IMMEDIATELY.

The clock for IR-1 starts ticking from WEDDING date, not filing date.

 

There is a great advantage in entering the USA as an IR-1 permanent resident.  No additional fees to the US Gov.  No additional meetings or appointments or forms to file.  Green card shows up automatically within 4 months.  Social security card shows up automatically within weeks.  10 year permanent resident card, meaning you never need to renew it assuming spouse becomes a US citizen within those 10 years.  Spouse can freely travel in and out of the country and work (she is going back home next month which would have been impossible under a K-1).  Far cheaper than the fiance K-1 or even the similar CR-1 visa.

 

We did the online marriage route, then met again in person (a *requirement* before filing your case), then waited a year before our form I130 began processing.  At that point we knew the ball was finally rolling and began planning a nice church wedding in the Philippines, with all the pomp and circumstance (highly recommended if you are religious) and all this planning really took our (especially her) minds off the wait.  During this time you can also work on CFO requirements, getting a new Philippine passport issued in her married name (strongly recommend this--it is the cheapest and easiest way to change her name--do NOT wait until you are in the USA), and can do the required medical test in Manila.  By the time the visa was received, we decided to wait about 6 weeks so that we were married 2 full years before we entered the USA (CR-1 becomes an IR-1).  We planned the wedding date on this 2 year anniversary, and then had a nice Filipino honeymoon too.

 

Then when you enter, you are no longer Conditional CR-1, but a superior IR-1 immigrant.

Plus there are generally US income tax advantages to being married for tax years 2025 and 2026...

The immigration process was not fun, but after reading other's experiences (which I did a LOT of before deciding on this path), I'm very happy we picked this route.

That great to hear! I'm planning to do the online wedding within two weeks time. My only question is for the CFO requirements, did you file ROM (Report of Marriage), and if so what did you do to satisfy the "proof of filipino citizenship" requirement? Did you wait for her last name to be changed before filing the I-130?

[pushbrk 13,798]

21 hours ago, artsa22x said:

That great to hear! I'm planning to do the online wedding within two weeks time. My only question is for the CFO requirements, did you file ROM (Report of Marriage), and if so what did you do to satisfy the "proof of filipino citizenship" requirement? Did you wait for her last name to be changed before filing the I-130?

You can file the I-130 using the married name, as soon as you have evidence of consummation.  Do the ROM with Philippine Consuulate in San Francisco, as soon as you have the documents they require.  The name change, new passport etc. are neede before the pre-interview in Manila.  There's plenty of time to get it done.  No actual name change until PSA processes their end after the ROM is done, but you can still file using the name she intends to use going forward.

[spicynujac 91]

On 8/18/2025 at 7:41 PM, artsa22x said:

That great to hear! I'm planning to do the online wedding within two weeks time. My only question is for the CFO requirements, did you file ROM (Report of Marriage), and if so what did you do to satisfy the "proof of filipino citizenship" requirement? Did you wait for her last name to be changed before filing the I-130?

 

Civil Registry/Consular Mortuary Certificate – Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco

 

A copy of both passports is required.  That would prove Filipino citizenship.

I will PM you the contact for a Reverend Chris at Universal Heart Ministry who officiated our virtual wedding and was fantastic (he charged us about $10 more than a state of Utah bureaucrat charges and it was a lovely ceremony).