From experience, I know it can work.
My fella and I knew each other for 2 years through online gaming.
He lives 30 miles away, which isn't that far, but far enough if you don't have a cat.
We waited until we met before making any decisions about relationship.

However, once we started talking about meeting, that's when he disclosed some serious information.

He has a very serious criminal conviction, from ten years ago, but he was still on licence. And still is.
If anyone had suggested to me he was capable of what he did, I would have laughed at them.

That was a year ago, we are still together now, still living apart but we see each other each week.

Your situation differs that once he is with you, he won't simply be able to return home if it doesn't work out.

You might be forced into a living arrangement before you even really know him.
I have been physically seeing my partner for a year we still only see each other 2 days a week.

Also he wouldn't be massively improving his living standards by moving in with me.

That one way ticket comment, would really be setting my awareness from green to Amber. It might have seemed like a romantic gesture to you, to me it sounded opportunistic, and premeditated.

Ask him how he would feel about you going there instead. Never mind how unlikely, really try and sell the idea to him. Do some research tell him why you'd love to go there, see what he says.

It's a horrible thing when the place you live Mrs it hard to tell what stone wants from you.

The cynic in me wants you to be very careful.
But I also wish you all the best.