Hmm, I am resisting the urge to mutter 'green card.'
But I am a cynic, and my thought process always goes to the negative.

To your questions, it can work, but it's hard work, if you want to meet a couple of times a year.
Is that going to be enough in the long term.

If it's just online, then agree with previous posters, that doesn't constitute a relationship imho. No matter how intense it feels.

Whatever happens I wish you all the best Art. You deserve some good luck.