A cautious bride-to-be

I've been engaged in a long distance relationship with an Irish citizen. We have been talking about marriage recently and I just have a few questions I want answered before I commit. I know marriages "of convenience" are a big deal and I wanted to know if our marriage would be considered as such since our relationship has been mostly emails and chats. (I know that many people feel strongly about it so I just want to put it out there that we really do love each other ). If it is suspected to be a marriage of convenience what do we have to do to prove that it isn't? Are there interviews or something?

Also, since he'd be moving out of his current flat which he shares with a few other guys I will need to work to help pay for our new home. How long will it take after we are married before I can start working in Ireland?

And the really haunting question is, can I live with him right away after we're married? I've heard that sometimes a spouse has to stay in their own country for a while and I don't think I could stand being married but thousands of miles apart.

He says I need to throw caution to the wind and just marry him but I want to make sure that this will work out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Potentially abrasive question but have you actually met - surprisingly many haven't and it's a condition of the visa.

We spent a week together last November, but that's good to know about it being a condition of the visa.

I'd suggest spending more time together, at least a few months.