mseh25103

Thanks for the write-up!! Totally jealous of your very short processing times compared to London (I am grateful still quicker than filing in the US). Best of luck with your move.

My husband and I began the entire process in February 7, 2017 and by the end of March 2017 we were approved for the CR 1 Visa. I wanted to share the process with the hope that I can be of use and help to those filing in Italy!
 
We began by putting together our I-130. We included everything in our checklist. I called the U.S. Embassy in Milan about 5 times just to ask questions and to clarify anything I was not sure about on the checklist. In example, I had read that you needed to be a resident of Italy for at least 6 months before being apply to apply, but when I called, they told me that it didn't matter, just as long as I had my "permesso di soggiorno." Though, I did have a temporary permesso by June 2016 and received my permanent one until January 2017. I included copies of both in my packet. 
 
Things I included to prove bonafide marriage:
1. Italian healthcare booklet copies that showed my husband and I shared the same family doctor and address. 
2. Copy of a notarized affidavit written by my mother stating her knowledge of the relationship between my husband and I 
3. Copy of our joint bank account cards
4. Letter written by myself explaining our relationship and our story
5. Copies of the stamped pages of my passport to show when I came to visit husband, vacations, and roadtrip through East Europe we took to visit his birth place
6. Copies of first part of our instagram pages where you can see posts of us together
7. In timeline order:
Printed pages of few texts before and after marriage Mail sent by family and friends to our address in Italy for me which also usually included a note for husband photos of us before and after marriage of us when were dating, vacationing, with family and friends, honeymoon, and the wedding.  Wedding receipts  Copies of gift receipts  Copies of hotel receipts  
Our I-130 packet was approved in about 1.5 weeks after it was sent. We did not find out until 3 weeks later though because I called to ask the embassy since I had not heard anything. Our letter of approval arrived a few days later even though I had filled out the form for electronic notification. 
 
Our case was received on March 15, 2017 which was when we received our case number and information packet on everything we needed to have and do for the interview. It was received through email. 
 
We redid our evidence of bonafide marriage, gathered his police certificates (2), birth certificate (just for the beneficiary, not petitioner), I-864 packet for me and my joint sponsor since I had not worked in over a year, copy of his passport, marriage certificate, 6 passport style photos and the rest which I can't remember at the moment. 
When we had gathered everything we made an appointment online for the next week in Naples.
 
We booked our room at Palazzo Mirelli which was a great place to stay. Our window faced the U.S. Embassy.
We had the medical the day before our appointment. We arrived at about 7:40 or so. You get a ticket from the electronic machine in the front and sit and wait for your turn. They first did Chest X Rays,then they took some blood, then a talk with the doctor about where we would stay and what vaccinations husband had had so they took a look at his medical record/Vaccine history, then we found out he needed two vaccines so we went to do that and done. IMPORTANT: you should bring cash. we only had our debit card and had to pay up front, but there was no one there anymore (that dealt w/ the visa people) so we had to wait about 30 minutes so someone could come and let us pay and it was a hassle. 
The whole process took a little less than two hours.
The day of our appointment we got in line at about 7:35ish and we were the second ones in line. We were let in and waited in the waiting room for a few minutes. We then got called in to a more private window and a very nice Italian officer took our documents. You should have copies of your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and possibly police certificates (?) because they will ask for the copies of those. The only documents he didnt ask for were the proof of marriage.
 
we were then told to sit down and wait for the interview. We waited about 20-30 minutes. The interview was very short. The American officer asked my husband when and where we met and when did the relationship become serious. ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: As the beneficiary I did not expect to be asked questions, but I was. I had included in my I-864 my intent to reestablish domicile in the U.S., but the officer still asked me what were my plans when I got back and how could I prove that I was not planning on live 6 months here and there, etc. and whether I had a plane ticket. I could only tell her I had not made such concrete moves yet bc I was waiting to see if my husband was approved for the visa. I also did not have a lease or a job or really anything in Italy so i had nothing to close or quit. She told me i could write a letter stating my intent and plans in America. I still had an open bank account, my american phone number, we were moving in with my mother temporarily so I also wrote that, and I still had my car in America. I was also looking for work. She accepted it all and said we had been approved.
 
My husband received his visa in the mail about 3 days later
 
Long post but if anyone has questions, please ask :]
 
 
 
 

The organization of your supporting evidence really doesn't matter. Each CO has his own system, and will probably reorganize it anyway. Keep it consistent with what you say in the cover letter, so it's easier for them to find everything.
 
If they ask for a translation, give them a translation. They can be very strict about this.
 
Make sure the pictures follow the passport photo rules. They can be very strict about this.