xyang410

Understood, crazycat and pushbrk, I appreciate the clarification. Only a few months away, I will just focus on prepping the documents now, and file after we meet.

Hey everyone, thank you again for the feedback earlier! I did legally marry Van on August 18th through the Utah online marriage service and have our official marriage certificate. Due to deployment, we have not yet met in person since the online wedding. I plan to visit her in April 2026 after the deployment, during which we will travel together and take lots of photos as evidence. My question is: Can we start the CR1 case now based on our Utah online marriage, and then later (after we meet in person in April 2026), add the evidence of our in-person meeting and relationship to the case? Or is it generally better to wait to file until after we have met in person? Thanks all!

Much thanks!

Hi all, running into another question, hoping to get some help. I'm submitting the application using the Utah online marriage service. When filling in my fiancé's name, should I put my last name as her new last name? Or should I keep her current last name? She is willing to adopt my last name after the marriage. How will this affect the filing of CR1 in the future? Thank you!

That's good to know but I'm in a 3rd world country in Africa. So that wouldn't be an option for me. However, consulting with base legal would be a good idea still

I will not be able to meet her in person during my deployment, but just to confirm, are you saying I can file the CR1 right after the online marriage, and then continue adding evidence later, especially after our in-person wedding once I return?

Thanks everyone for your input. We have decided to still move forward with the online marriage in July, continue gathering supporting evidence during my deployment and hold our wedding ceremony in Vietnam once I return. After the ceremony, we will file the CR1 with a strong set of documents. I understand the process will be long, but this seems to be the most secure and straightforward path for us to be together.

Hello all, I am a U.S. citizen, and my fiancée is Vietnamese, currently residing in Vietnam. I am deployed overseas and will not return until early to mid-2026. We plan to marry in early July via the Utah online marriage service and file the CR1 petition right after. I understand the process can take quite a while. After deployment, I plan to go to Vietnam for a family wedding celebration and hope to bring her back with me soon after. My questions: 1. Will an online marriage through Utah be recognized for a CR1 visa? 2. What is the current average processing time for a CR1 visa for a Vietnamese spouse? 3. We do not have many photos together. What is the minimum recommended for proof of relationship? 4. Do we need shared property or a joint bank account for additional proof? 5. Is there anything I might be missing or should prepare for? 6. Does my military status help or hurt in this process? Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!