Advice needed for complicated spousal application

[keesio]

100s of pictures as evidence?? Now you're making me feel inadequate, as I only sent in around 15 pictures. I just assumed VO don't want to waste time seeing too many pictures, other than a few travel and wedding pics. What do the experts say about this?

It is quality, not quantity, that counts. They rather have 5 very useful photos (like a big wedding photo with tons of family in it) than 1000 photos of just random shots of the couple eating dinner at McDonalds or just standing around in the living room.

We sent in about 50 pics but I know people who sent in 10 and had no issues.

 

[keesio]

Now I'm nervous about mine! I didn't send boatloads of pictures. I think I sent in maybe 20ish to cover the last two years (we've been married since July 2012), our travel receipts, ticket stubs from things we've done together, two letters from friends here in Canada attesting to our relationship, a copy of my daughter's Kindergarten report card from the school she went to in BC last year, Our medical / auto insurance with me on it (no SIN number so I can't be on his bank accounts) and his life insurance showing me as the beneficiary, and a letter from my ex husband supporting my Canadian husband sponsoring me and my two children from my previous marriage. I didn't think they would want emails and texts and the like so I didn't send them. Worst case scenario I think they might request an interview. There are 7 years between us, and my divorce wasn't final until two months before we got married just because it took that long to get through the courts (I'm American), but my ex husband included in his letter that we had been separated long before my husband and I started dating" in December 2010. I thought that was plenty sufficient. I think our application was about 2.5 inches thick when I sent it out with the open work permit. I made sure I had everything neatly labeled and bundled my husband's sponsorship forms and documentation together, my & the kids' stuff together, and then the OWP all in the same envelope.

Sounds like you have plenty of proof! I wouldn't worry.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Now I'm nervous about mine! I didn't send boatloads of pictures. I think I sent in maybe 20ish to cover the last two years (we've been married since July 2012), our travel receipts, ticket stubs from things we've done together, two letters from friends here in Canada attesting to our relationship, a copy of my daughter's Kindergarten report card from the school she went to in BC last year, Our medical / auto insurance with me on it (no SIN number so I can't be on his bank accounts) and his life insurance showing me as the beneficiary, and a letter from my ex husband supporting my Canadian husband sponsoring me and my two children from my previous marriage. I didn't think they would want emails and texts and the like so I didn't send them. Worst case scenario I think they might request an interview.

I doubt very much that you will be called for an interview. You have a solid app, no need to worry

 

[Becki567]

I have no idea how you are doing the quotes so if someone could tell me that would be awesome.

You have really given me a lot to think about. I guess when stage 1 inland was at 6 months and he would get the work permit it was more appealing to do inland. But I am thinking outland might be the way to go. It was just the strike that has me nervous. Since it could keep pushing timelines back. I have looked at a few of the timeline spreadsheets but I find them a bit difficult to make sense of.

I am going to trim down our photos. It was mostly photos of each of us with friends or family of the other person plus pictures of us over time showing it was overtime due to changing hair (and weight lol)

The reason I was concerned about the age difference is because I have read in multiple places when the woman is older it raises red flags. And on paper 9 years older with 2 kids from another relationship could look odd.

 

[Becki567]

I also followed the link to where it showed in the last 12 months processing time..


Am I reading that same spreadsheet wrong where it says Londons approval rating is 66% and they approved 20,541 and rejected 10,420. They seem to have one of the lowest approval rates??

Please tell me I am reading this wrong...

For those looking I would like to post a link but I must be too much of a newbie. Please look on page one for link that starts with http data etc etc

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Am I reading that same spreadsheet wrong where it says Londons approval rating is 66% and they approved 20,541 and rejected 10,420. They seem to have one of the lowest approval rates??

Please tell me I am reading this wrong...

You aren't reading it wrong, you are just interpreting it wrong . The 66% refers to ALL CLASSES of PR. For spouses and partners, approval through London is around 97%.

I have no idea how you are doing the quotes so if someone could tell me that would be awesome.

You have really given me a lot to think about. I guess when stage 1 inland was at 6 months and he would get the work permit it was more appealing to do inland. But I am thinking outland might be the way to go. It was just the strike that has me nervous. Since it could keep pushing timelines back. I have looked at a few of the timeline spreadsheets but I find them a bit difficult to make sense of.

I am going to trim down our photos. It was mostly photos of each of us with friends or family of the other person plus pictures of us over time showing it was overtime due to changing hair (and weight lol)

At the top right of each post, there is a "Quote" button.

Even with the strike, many people through London are getting quick approval. The outland London spreadsheet isn't too complicated https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvI5l_hMO7UKdHc2LUJuZ2Itcld2Vk1WR25GeVZxYVE#gid=18

The tabs at the bottom let you see all the different years. The important column is J, "Total time to Process", as this shows you how long other people's apps took from day of submission to day of decision. And on the 2013 tab, Row 40 has the average speeds so far for stage 1, stage 2 and total.

Good idea on trimming down the photos. Quality over quantity

 

[Becki567]

You aren't reading it wrong, you are just interpreting it wrong . The 66% refers to ALL CLASSES of PR. For spouses and partners, approval through London is around 97%.

At the top right of each post, there is a "Quote" button.

Even with the strike, many people through London are getting quick approval. The outland London spreadsheet isn't too complicated

The tabs at the bottom let you see all the different years. The important column is J, "Total time to Process", as this shows you how long other people's apps took from day of submission to day of decision. And on the 2013 tab, Row 40 has the average speeds so far for stage 1, stage 2 and total.

Good idea on trimming down the photos. Quality over quantity

Look I have done a quote! I really appreciate your help and advice. Thank you

 

[Becki567]

One more question if you don't mind.

If London did require an interview what is the process? Do they send you an email and you have only a few days to get there? Can you select the best time for you to go at all even a general idea?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

One more question if you don't mind.

If London did require an interview what is the process? Do they send you an email and you have only a few days to get there? Can you select the best time for you to go at all even a general idea?

I'm not entirely familiar with the interview process but can tell you what I've read in other posts. Sometimes they send a letter and sometimes just an email. They pick the date, it's usually at least a few weeks from ahead. If you can't make that, you can contact them to change the date.

 

[Becki567]

I'm not entirely familiar with the interview process but can tell you what I've read in other posts. Sometimes they send a letter and sometimes just an email. They pick the date, it's usually at least a few weeks from ahead. If you can't make that, you can contact them to change the date.

Thank you! My fear is they will pick a day during finals at University lol

 

[frege]

One more question if you don't mind.

If London did require an interview what is the process? Do they send you an email and you have only a few days to get there? Can you select the best time for you to go at all even a general idea?

My impression - and perhaps someone can be more definitive here - is that usually they'll give you a date for an interview one or two months ahead of time. In most cases, the interview request will be preceded by a request for additional evidence, so you'll have an idea what they're thinking. (This is also your cue to order GCMS notes.) Usually, they just ask for the applicant (the foreign spouse) to come to the interview if it's outland. Don't expect much flexibility on the interview date. They pretty much expect you to drop what you're doing and go, unless you have a compelling reason.

I say all this based on vague recollections of discussions of interviews at other visa posts, so take the information with that in mind.

 

[frege]

Thank you! My fear is they will pick a day during finals at University lol

Only he is likely to be summoned, and in any case final exams sound like the kind of thing that would be an acceptable reason to request a change.

 

[Becki567]

My impression - and perhaps someone can be more definitive here - is that usually they'll give you a date for an interview one or two months ahead of time. In most cases, the interview request will be preceded by a request for additional evidence, so you'll have an idea what they're thinking. (This is also your cue to order GCMS notes.) Usually, they just ask for the applicant (the foreign spouse) to come to the interview if it's outland. Don't expect much flexibility on the interview date. They pretty much expect you to drop what you're doing and go, unless you have a compelling reason.

I say all this based on vague recollections of discussions of interviews at other visa posts, so take the information with that in mind.

Thank you! I didn't imagine they would be very flexible so I was hoping enough notice might help. Fingers crossed no interview is needed.

 

[charliem]

Hi Becki,

I'm currently in Canada and will be sponsored by my wife. Your case has a lot of useful evidence already.

You need your partner to arrange police certificates for all the countries where he's lived post-18 years for at least 6 months. It can take time for these to come through.

Get Skype records as well (if you have used Skype during the distance part of your relationship).
Follow this link for software to download Skype history
Look for SkypeLogView v1.42 - Skype Log Viewer in Google Search
(if you get stuck, ask for help)

You will need to show that your younger partner is not trying to take advantage of you (for any reason, whatsoever). I guess you have not sponsored anyone before.

For air tickets, get hold of boarding passes as well.

That's all I can think of right now.

 

[Becki567]

Hi Becki,

I'm currently in Canada and will be sponsored by my wife. Your case has a lot of useful evidence already.

You need your partner to arrange police certificates for all the countries where he's lived post-18 years for at least 6 months. It can take time for these to come through.

Get Skype records as well (if you have used Skype during the distance part of your relationship).
Follow this link for software to download Skype history
Look for SkypeLogView v1.42 - Skype Log Viewer in Google Search
(if you get stuck, ask for help)

You will need to show that your younger partner is not trying to take advantage of you (for any reason, whatsoever). I guess you have not sponsored anyone before.

For air tickets, get hold of boarding passes as well.

That's all I can think of right now.

We have the police certificates but I never thought to keep boarding passes! I don't suppose there is a way to get them afterwards. We never lived our relationship thinking we would later have to prove it. And I hate clutter and throw out so much it is hurting us now