Merlofil

Thank you for your answer, its very helpful!

Correct.

I dont need a K-1 to get married in the US. I can get married on an esta, fly home and apply for a CR1 and thats what we intend to do. I do not want to sit at home for six months while we wait for my status to be adjusted. 

I dont need a K-1 to get married in the US. I can get married on an esta, fly home and apply for a CR1 and thats what we intend to do. I do not want to sit at home for six months while we wait for my status to be adjusted. 

Hey everyone, 
 
My girlfriend (US citizen) and I (Italian) want to get married in the US, have me fly home and apply for the CR1 visa. I will be living in Europe while she will be living in the US after we get married. We will visit each other but we won't have a joint bank account (unless we add one another on our respective ones in our countries) and obviously we will not be able to have a joint lease. 
 
How do we prove our marriage is real? We have been dating for 3 years (2 years when we were students at the same university) and have many pictures together and have flight itineraries together. Will that be enough? 
 
Thank you!

We got a CR1 visa, and the part about having a joint bank account, living together and things like that are not usually needed if you have been married for under 2 years and living apart. They understand that logistically this doesn't make sense. 
 
The main thrust of your petition will be photos, travel documents showing you head travel to see each other, trips taken together.
 
Secondarily, some prints of text or messaging helps show a flow of regular communication. You don't need to go overboard on this, just a page per week over a period of time is plenty. The content of the conversations are not reviewed as much as dates.
 
For the financial part, I had my husband on my credit card as an authorized signer, but that may or may not make sense for you. It can be thrown in but that's more of a strategy of including everything plus the kitchen sink.

Perfect, thank you! Thats where my misconception was. I assumed that in every case when they asked my plan for the trip I had to say marriage when in reality I can answer visiting and then if asked about marriage answer that I will be. 

One thing with the cbp, be concise.  Don't be wordy.  Dont offer more information than asked. 
 
Purpose of visit? Getting married to my girl friend. (Or visiting girlfriend which is the truth) 
How long is your stay? Say date when you are leaving.
Where do you work? I dont I go to school at X. I'm in the middle of X degree. 
 
Dont go into immigration questions unless asked.