Evidence of a relationship

[kozvi]

My fiancee and I are in a bit of a jam. We've been in a relationship for two years now, and intend to marry in about a year from now. We've met once, but have been in contact daily. The software that we use doesn't keep records of chat logs. We both use prepaid phones. We didn't take many photographs when we met (neither of us owns a camera, and both of our phone cameras are pretty awful). And we're both pretty low-key people, so no parties, no friends, and actually our relationship is a closely guarded secret for both of us.
So up to this point, she has a postal mailer envelope that I sent her 1.5 years ago. We have 2 undated photographs of us together (taken 6 months ago). We have side-by-side seat round-trip tickets on a train to an adjacent city and a hotel reservation there. I have airline tickets to her home city and hotel receipts for my time there. And not much else. I will visit her again in a few months, and we plan to generate more evidence this time around. I'm thinking we should take time-stamped Polaroid photographs. We should have a declaration of our relationship status notarized at the embassy. We should open a joint bank account. And I could probably come up with other crazy ideas, but before I go too far, does this seem necessary? Do we have enough proof? Do we need to turn it up a notch? We'd like to keep to ourselves and not turn our relationship into a public spectacle, but is this possible?

[peace999]

Your post is missing these issues;

Are both of you in the US? what is your immigration status each of you? and what is the context of your question meaning do you plan to obtain any US immigration
benefit ( based on your future marriage)?

[kozvi]

Thanks peace999, to answer your questions. She is in China and I'm in the US. She is Chinese (and has never left China, or visited the US) and I am a US citizen. I don't plan to obtain any US immigration benefit, but I expect that she would.

Are both of you in the US? what is your immigration status each of you? and what is the context of your question meaning do you plan to obtain any US immigration
benefit ( based on your future marriage)?

[peace999]

Ok. and you said she is your fiancee. when did both of you get officially engaged? It must have been in china.

Also, will you be getting married in china or in US ?

I mean do you want to bring her to US on a fiancee visa (K1) and then get married in US?

[kozvi]

What exactly is an official engagement? If it involves bending a knee, pulling out a ring, proposing, and then throwing a party, we didn't do that and we don't plan to. In our thinking, it's a bit cliche, completely expensive, and impractical. We consider ourselves engaged as of the time we started making plans that involved marriage, which was February this year--not a specific date, but around then. If a ring and a proposal are required, then I can do that when I visit her in a couple of months. It would be a formality specifically for immigration purposes in that case, and we would both know it. Seems awkward to say the least.
The marriage is anticipated to happen in the US, in as much secrecy as we've grown accustomed (as in, only the basics to make it official, but no church bells, no reception, just the obligatory witness and that's all). So to answer your question, we plan for her to come here on a K1 and then marry here.

Ok. and you said she is your fiancee. when did both of you get officially engaged? It must have been in china.
Also, will you be getting married in china or in US ?
I mean do you want to bring her to US on a fiancee visa (K1) and then get married in US?

[peace999]

whatever your views are about social ceremonies , it is all fine
but you will have to follow some guidelines for the purpose of immigration.

For a K1 the official requirement is that you must have actually met in the last 2 years.
And at the interview they will require evidence that you were actually engaged;
so hold a small engagement ceremony even if with only family and get some pictures.

Do read the US state dept page on K1 visa it explains a lot of things.
travel.state.gov is the website .