6month old relationship--how much evidence is enough?

[sundie134]

I have similar situation, our relationship was very fast i believe it is true and honest. My family relatives and friends neighbor was their on out wedding day, though my husband parents wasn't there his close friend was present on that day.
For the proof, we only have 45 emails, 1st vist, 2nd visit with husband friend, wedding reception and honey moon pictures. And also i took 4 screen shoot from computer, and screen shoot our skype call. Receipts 1st visit ( white water rafting,cinema ticket, hotel receipt and engagement ring) that's the receipt we have, all of our the receipts was lost because we didn't know that it was need for proof, 2nd visit he stayed in our house, we have few receipts (venue and the food, the entourage clothes that we rent). we submit all originals receipts plus the itineraries. We also answer every application hopefully they will be satisfied to our proofs, anyway my hubby is 27 and im 22 ..

 

[cranberries]

thank you for all the response.my fiance is also reading this and we talked upon reading your replies.I will talk to my family.His family already knew.If waiting for a year is what it takes to be together then we will be more than be willing to. However, we will still be doing our best to make it happen as soon as we can.

thanks to you all

 

[BCgirl2012]

I'm not sure where this one year/12 months notion is coming from, but I suspect it's a mix up with the requirement for common-law partners. For spouses, there is no such requirement. But I agree with people who suggest too short dating period and getting married on the first time visiting are big red flags.

As for the amount of evidence needed, I'd say you should provide as much evidence as necessary to support each and every claim you are making. CIC needs to see the relationship is genuine, continuing, and that the couple has interdependency. The interdependency could be financial, emotional, etc. And that in did not happen for the purpose of immigration (i.e. it isn't a marriage of convenience.) In other words, if the immigration wasn't an issue, would these people still get married?

For this reason, getting married to facilitate being together is not considered a valid reason, and it can also be seen as a red flag.

Make sure you address all the potential concerns through all the evidence you are providing. You can't really expect the visa officers to read through your emails and pick the important points: you need to highlight them. Remember to look at all the emails, chat logs, call logs, entry/exit stamps, boarding passes, etc, as *supporting* documents. So, remember when you're answering the questions in the forms, or when you're writing any additional info that you think might help, support it and prove it with proper back up.

Also, you can check the Canadian Legal Information Institute's database (http://www.canlii.org/en/) for cases that have similarities and had issues getting approval. This might help preparing and addressing the concerns a bit better.

Good luck.

 

[suki]

Getting married after 6 months? word of advice....don't
:

 

[cranberries]

I'm not sure where this one year/12 months notion is coming from, but I suspect it's a mix up with the requirement for common-law partners. For spouses, there is no such requirement. But I agree with people who suggest too short dating period and getting married on the first time visiting are big red flags.

As for the amount of evidence needed, I'd say you should provide as much evidence as necessary to support each and every claim you are making. CIC needs to see the relationship is genuine, continuing, and that the couple has interdependency. The interdependency could be financial, emotional, etc. And that in did not happen for the purpose of immigration (i.e. it isn't a marriage of convenience.) In other words, if the immigration wasn't an issue, would these people still get married?

For this reason, getting married to facilitate being together is not considered a valid reason, and it can also be seen as a red flag.

Make sure you address all the potential concerns through all the evidence you are providing. You can't really expect the visa officers to read through you emails and pick the important points: you need to highlight them. Remember to look at all the emails, chat logs, call logs, entry/exit stamps, boarding passes, etc, as *supporting* documents. So, remember when you're answering the questions in the forms, or when you're writing any additional info that you think might help, support it and prove it with proper back up.

Also, you can check the Canadian Legal Information Institute's database (http://www.canlii.org/en/) for cases that have similarities and had issues getting approval. This might help preparing and addressing the concerns a bit better.

Good luck.

thank you so much BCgirl. We have all the supporting docs we need, except for the ones when he gets here, and most of all the relationship is genuine.I guess it will just depend on how we will present our evidences to CIC. We just gotta try and do what we gotta do. As my fiance told me, "they can only keep us apart for so long".

I will let you all know what will happen to our case.

God bless you all.

 

[Fencesitter]

I don't agree. If you get denied the first time, it will be a red flag for the second attempt. Not only that, but consider the time it will take to go through the process. It's not like it will be a few weeks and you'll have the visa. It takes months!

If I were you, I would definitely wait. You should focus on eliminating red flags. I also think it's a bit naive to think that CIC can't keep you apart forever. You have to remember that immigrating to Canada is not a right. There are no guarantees. Considering what you've posted about your case, I'd say you are taking too big of a risk. I totally understand that you want to go for it now, but if you want to be successful, I strongly recommend waiting until you've been married for at least a year or two.

FS

 

[BCgirl2012]

thank you so much BCgirl. We have all the supporting docs we need, except for the ones when he gets here, and most of all the relationship is genuine.I guess it will just depend on how we will present our evidences to CIC. We just gotta try and do what we gotta do. As my fiance told me, "they can only keep us apart for so long".

I will let you all know what will happen to our case.

God bless you all.

I wish you best of luck, but I'd suggest to make sure you have the most comprehensive package you can provide to CIC in support of your application. Only you know exactly what sort of evidence you are providing, but I can tell you that weak evidence even after a couple of years is still gonna be insufficient. It's quite difficult to maintain a long distance marriage, especially if your partner isn't visa exempt.

Of course some people choose to marry after 6 months of dating, some people don't. This is a highly personal matter. However, in applying for a PR for your partner, your relationship will be examined by a certain magnifying glass, which happens to be very skeptical. This is due to marriage and relationship fraud. So be prepared to be scrutinized. The more the region you are applying from is known for marriage fraud, the more you have to make sure there is no weak points in your application.

From what I've seen on this forum, and what I've read on CANLii, I can definitely say that immigration appeals are lengthy, expensive, nerve wrecking, and utterly unpleasant. So, before you submit your case, make sure the case is strong enough from the visa officer's perspective.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I wish you best of luck, but I'd suggest to make sure you have the most comprehensive package you can provide to CIC in support of your application. Only you know exactly what sort of evidence you are providing, but I can tell you that weak evidence even after a couple of years is still gonna be insufficient. It's quite difficult to maintain a long distance marriage, especially if your partner isn't visa exempt.

Of course some people choose to marry after 6 months of dating, some people don't. This is a highly personal matter. However, in applying for a PR for your partner, your relationship will be examined by a certain magnifying glass, which happens to be very skeptical. This is due to marriage and relationship fraud. So be prepared to be scrutinized. The more the region you are applying from is known for marriage fraud, the more you have to make sure there is no weak points in your application.

From what I've seen on this forum, and what I've read on CANLii, I can definitely say that immigration appeals are lengthy, expensive, nerve wrecking, and utterly unpleasant. So, before you submit your case, make sure the case is strong enough from the visa officer's perspective.

Have to reiterate what others have said. They haven't been dating for 6 months, they haven't met each other yet in person, but are going to marry on the initial meeting. This has refusal written all over it.

 

[AnaMaria]

I don't agree. If you get denied the first time, it will be a red flag for the second attempt. Not only that, but consider the time it will take to go through the process. It's not like it will be a few weeks and you'll have the visa. It takes months!

If I were you, I would definitely wait. You should focus on eliminating red flags. I also think it's a bit naive to think that CIC can't keep you apart forever. You have to remember that immigrating to Canada is not a right. There are no guarantees. Considering what you've posted about your case, I'd say you are taking too big of a risk. I totally understand that you want to go for it now, but if you want to be successful, I strongly recommend waiting until you've been married for at least a year or two.

FS

I agree with FS. Not just the length of your relationship, you would need quality of evidence to make your case stronger. Try to meet your fiance in person before marriage. Get your family and friends involved. Getting married and immigrating to another country but family is not involved? It is very hard for anyone else to believe it is a genuine relationship. I'm not saying it is not but you have to think how it is viewed by a complete stranger, who may not share the same cultural background.

And keep in mind BCGirl's comment,

that immigration appeals are lengthy, expensive, nerve wrecking, and utterly unpleasant. So, before you submit your case, make sure the case is strong enough from the visa officer's perspective.

It is very true. You want to do the first time very right.

 

[Hello121]

For those saying 'this has refusal written all over it'....do you mean that they might get refused fast(immediately) or put on a long interview list and then refused?

I only knew my wife for 8 months before marriage. Married her the 1st visit. Applied and we were put on a long waiting list(Singapore).

(I have 2 friends and co-workers that have married on their 1st visit after only knowing their wives for 6-7 months and they didnt even have to go to interview BUT this was a few years back(2004 and 2006) and do understand that times have changed.)

 

[Sunshine87]

Setting the immigration stuff aside, I would suggest you two do some travelling back and forth and get to know each other in person. I met my husband online, and then met in person 3 months later. You can spend hours a day trying to get to know someone over the internet, even face to face on Skype, but it doesn't replace getting to know each other while being in their presence.

It sounds like you two need to spend some real time together developing your relationship and not rush into marriage.. especially since you have a weak case with real potential of being denied.

If your relationship is true and genuine, your love will stand the time.

 

[CharlieD10]

For those saying 'this has refusal written all over it'....do you mean that they might get refused fast(immediately) or put on a long interview list and then refused?

I read a lot of CanLII appeal files, and I can't recall (but I haven't read them all, obviously) seeing a spousal sponsorship refused prior to an interview. This isn't a Skilled Worker or other economic class where the guidelines are more cut and dried, there is a lot of subjective information in spousal sponsorships so an interview is usually necessary for an immigration officer to be able to say he was as fair as he could be in keeping with procedures by giving the applicant a chance to allay his concerns over the bona fides of the relationship.

Not everyone who is interviewed is then refused, remember. Many persons are successful in "correcting" or overcoming any shortcomings in their applications as perceived by the Immigration officer. Some may have to appeal in order to be successful, as the perspective of the Immigration Officer and the appeal judge may be different as to the ability of the witnesses to allay their concerns.

 

[missmini]

yeah what everyone else said it's true; marrying so fast from the first time meeting in person will not look good at all and unfortunately once u have taken this step u cannot go back - yes u can have other ceremonies and all maybe but it's better to do it right from the first time; doing right means (my own point of view and what i saw around)
- get engaged
- celebrate the engagement (not something big but something which shows how imp it is for both)
- announce it!!!!! emails, online, facebook whatever u want - make ur friends and family part of it
- plan the wedding for some time ahead (it is the most imp day for u as a couple); it does not have to b big and fancy just something which suits u both and is meaningfull for both
- planning will include wedding invitations sent to ppl, reservations (restaurant, hotel), the wedding dress, etc etc - all this would b good proof later
- have bachelor / bachelorette party (only if it fits culturally)
- the wedding!! (which should match ur cultural norms, they do look at that carefully)
- the honeymoon!!!!!!!!!

u don't need to do all this; but this is at what they will look at - u really need serious reasons into why u didn't (why the family didn't attend, why no honeymoon, etc); for things like why the reception was small - that depends on the culture, financial situation, etc - in India they have lots and lots of guests, in Western countries not so much;

but the most imp get married when u feel it's the right time to get married for urselves not for immigration; there could b other ways to b together until u decide to take the sponsorship route: moving to each other's countries, spend some close time together, make work / study in ca, or just go together in a 3rd country and stay there for a while

 

[Hello121]

Thanks CharlieD.