Never met spouses family - red flag for immigration?

[MrBrad]

hey everyone

I’m thinking of sponsoring my common law partner who is from the USA. I’m a citizen of Canada. We’ve been dating long distance for 3 years and common law now for a year. She is here on a work permit. Her parents do not know of me other than she has a boyfriend. If we proceed with spousal sponsorship will this cause issues/decline us? She’s met my family a few times.

 

[starnaenae]

it might raise a flag or two considering you guys are able to travel to each country freely -- be prepared to provide a very strong explanation as to why you havent met her family and why they know nothing of you

 

[Oldmacwright]

Good question. My wife came over from Australia, we got married in Canada, all my family and friends were there but none of her family were present as financially couldnt afford to come, shes only close to her immediate family anyway and they couldnt afford to come over...we have also not been able to make it back to Australia yet to visit her family. I also wonder if this will raise any red flags with immigration. She has met all my family and has a close relationship with my immediate family, lots of pics at key family events.

 

[CanadianZenGirl]

My American husband and I dated for two and a half years before getting married and continued to live apart in our own countries for two and a half years before he filed for residency. I have met with his parents only once in all that time, when I went to the States to get married. Our reason for this is that I don't drive, so he was always the one who travelled for visits. It was simply quicker and cheaper that way. Immigration didn't have a problem with it. I think with long-distance relationships spanning different countries, it is probably the norm for a couple to spend more time with one set of family members, and it is most likely a situation that immigration is quite familiar with.

 

[MrBrad]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone! She is going to enter the express entry pool which we are pretty confident will work out but it's always good to have a back up plan. I couldn't image living with her for few years and then her having to return to her country.

 

[angel4life08]

If this can give you some relief, I personally had an online relationship with my husband for 3 years, never met in person, both our families didnt know about it till about 2-3 months before we were about to meet. We both had told our families that we wanted to get married and all once we meet. When I went to meet my husband (bf at that time) in India, I was alone. And only after 2 weeks we got married. None of my family (no uncles, aunties, cousins, it was only me) were present. It wasn't a big marriage but we had enough pictures and we also had few ceremonies.... My husband and his family met my mother and sister only after one year.
I was also very worried when I applied, thinking it may raise a big flag. On top of that, I am 6 years a older than him...Just to say that we did have so many red flags and in India these things are not very common.
But once I looked at my GCMS notes, i was relieved to see the officers notes stating that they were satisfied with all proofs provided and that our relationship seemed genuine.

Officers looked at different things as per me. I had provided a lot of proofs, written story of 5-6 pages each from me and my husband about how we met and all...

And on Sept 30th, we had a DM...so...Provide whatever proofs you have showing that YOU and YOUR WIFE have a genuine relationship, that is the main thing.

Good luck!!

 

[MrBrad]

If this can give you some relief, I personally had an online relationship with my husband for 3 years, never met in person, both our families didnt know about it till about 2-3 months before we were about to meet. We both had told our families that we wanted to get married and all once we meet. When I went to meet my husband (bf at that time) in India, I was alone. And only after 2 weeks we got married. None of my family (no uncles, aunties, cousins, it was only me) were present. It wasn't a big marriage but we had enough pictures and we also had few ceremonies.... My husband and his family met my mother and sister only after one year.
I was also very worried when I applied, thinking it may raise a big flag. On top of that, I am 6 years a older than him...Just to say that we did have so many red flags and in India these things are not very common.
But once I looked at my GCMS notes, i was relieved to see the officers notes stating that they were satisfied with all proofs provided and that our relationship seemed genuine.

Officers looked at different things as per me. I had provided a lot of proofs, written story of 5-6 pages each from me and my husband about how we met and all...

And on Sept 30th, we had a DM...so...Provide whatever proofs you have showing that YOU and YOUR WIFE have a genuine relationship, that is the main thing.

Good luck!!

thanks for the info!!
Did either of you have to go in for an interview? I've been reading more about the process and I have read that some couples do not even get called for an interview. They say they just get approved based on what they submitted. Is that true?

 

[spousalsponsee]

thanks for the info!!
Did either of you have to go in for an interview? I've been reading more about the process and I have read that some couples do not even get called for an interview. They say they just get approved based on what they submitted. Is that true?

Most western couples don't get called for interview. That only happens if there's a doubt about the genuineness of the relationship.

Americans, Brits, Germans, Australians, etc have very little to gain by faking a relationship to move to Canada, as they already live in countries with developed economies & civil and political rights (much as America & Britain are currently engaged in a competition to see who can shoot themselves more), so the starting assumption is that they probably aren't doing that. This isn't the same for, eg, people from Somalia, Central African Republic, North Korea, who have a great deal to gain, so have a higher standard to prove it's actually just for love.

 

[MrBrad]

Most western couples don't get called for interview. That only happens if there's a doubt about the genuineness of the relationship.

Americans, Brits, Germans, Australians, etc have very little to gain by faking a relationship to move to Canada, as they already live in countries with developed economies & civil and political rights (much as America & Britain are currently engaged in a competition to see who can shoot themselves more), so the starting assumption is that they probably aren't doing that. This isn't the same for, eg, people from Somalia, Central African Republic, North Korea, who have a great deal to gain, so have a higher standard to prove it's actually just for love.

Thanks! That is a relief to hear. We sort of felt the same way. She has a great education and high paying job that if need be she can return to in the USA. She's here on a transfer from the parent company. I'm just a worrier and have a horrible habit of thinking the worst. We are living together and will have a couple years as common law before we consider going the spousal sponsor route. I would assume that goes a long way in proving it is legit?

 

[spousalsponsee]

Thanks! That is a relief to hear. We sort of felt the same way. She has a great education and high paying job that if need be she can return to in the USA. She's here on a transfer from the parent company. I'm just a worrier and have a horrible habit of thinking the worst. We are living together and will have a couple years as common law before we consider going the spousal sponsor route. I would assume that goes a long way in proving it is legit?

We'd been living together 13 months at time of application, and send the bare minimum they asked for - but exactly what they asked for. It took four months from first mailing to approval. If you're clearly a couple, and provide exactly what they say they accept as proof, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[MrBrad]

We'd been living together 13 months at time of application, and send the bare minimum they asked for - but exactly what they asked for. It took four months from first mailing to approval. If you're clearly a couple, and provide exactly what they say they accept as proof, you have nothing to worry about.

Wow only 4 months!!!! I've been reading 12 months or longer.
I'm so glad I posted on here. Definitely puts my mind at ease if we have to go this route.
thanks a lot for the info!!

 

[CanadianZenGirl]

The process for us was just under six months from beginning to end. If you click under my name, you can see our timeline.

 

[canuck78]

Wouldn't hurt to communicate by skype at least.

 

[angel4life08]

thanks for the info!!
Did either of you have to go in for an interview? I've been reading more about the process and I have read that some couples do not even get called for an interview. They say they just get approved based on what they submitted. Is that true?

None of us had any interview and nothing was mentioned about an interview in our notes. And yes, they do look at what you have provided, and if any doubt, they will surely contact you for an interview or request extra documents (they give you chance to prove that your relationship is genuine)