Age gap as a red flag.

[Abe1004]

I was just lurking through the forums and I came across people mentioning more than once, that a big age difference may be a red flag to a VO. My question is,however, how big of a red flag?

In my case, my wife is 20+ years older than me.I understand in a lot of ways society frowns upon young man with older woman, but seems to never do that when woman is way younger. But i guess love knows no age right? We have been together for well over 2 years, actually heading to our 3rd year already. We share lease,credit cards, I met her family(attended family reunions,gatherings;even her grandmas funerals etc), her and my friends know we are a couple.

Question stands, will someone get refused or denied entry to Canada just based on age difference? I am just curious, because I feel like amount of proof I have will be sufficient to cover that this relationship is clearly genuine.

Opinions? Anyone else went through anything similar?

 

[marsiangal]

On the contrary, I think gender does not matter. The CIC is just well aware that relationships that are not genuine most likely will happen with couples that are very far afar from age. (And all other red flags. that is why they are there.) BUT I don't think they dwell on it, they look at everything else. It's just a matter of putting enough proof of genuine relationship with the application. Unlike routine applications with normal circumstances, if you think you somewhat have a red flag just make sure you show enough proof that it is real and be willing to undergo an interview. (worse case scenario.) If the proof you have sent doesn't satisfy the immigration officer. As they say they give you the benefit of the doubt.

I'm sure you will be fine.

Goodluck!

 

[MilesAway]

It also depends on the culture. In "western" cultures, age difference isn't that big of a deal. For some muslim countries, even a fairly small difference is highly unusual. For those cultures, it's important to explain and show that the difference is not a factor for you, and how you overcome it.

 

[Abe1004]

It also depends on the culture. In "western" cultures, age difference isn't that big of a deal. For some muslim countries, even a fairly small difference is highly unusual. For those cultures, it's important to explain and show that the difference is not a factor for you, and how you overcome it.

Well i am not muslim. Catholic. So is my spouse, so I guess I got that covered lol.

 

[Eowyn]

My husband is twenty years older than me and our application was approved very quickly. Just include lots of proof and you should be fine. Good luck!

 

[scylla]

My husband is twenty years older than me and our application was approved very quickly. Just include lots of proof and you should be fine. Good luck!

There's a 16 year age gap between my husband and I - and we were approved very quickly as well. Frankly, I think gender does play a big role in how CIC looks at the relationship. I think it's viewed as far more acceptable/normal if the male is older than the female. I think it's also important if age is the only area where there is a big different or if there are also differences in other areas (e.g. religion, education level, language, culture, financials, etc.).

 

[Abe1004]

There's a 16 year age gap between my husband and I - and we were approved very quickly as well. Frankly, I think gender does play a big role in how CIC looks at the relationship. I think it's viewed as far more acceptable/normal if the male is older than the female. I think it's also important if age is the only area where there is a big different or if there are also differences in other areas (e.g. religion, education level, language, culture, financials, etc.).

well we definetly match:

Religion-catholic
Education level-both finished high school.
Language-both fluently speak english (and some french)
Culture-both european
Financials-both bring to the table,when I am in Canada anyway...

would you consider it being enough of a proof if you were VO? ???

 

[Optymystyc]

well we definetly match:

Religion-catholic
Education level-both finished high school.
Language-both fluently speak english (and some french)
Culture-both european
Financials-both bring to the table,when I am in Canada anyway...

would you consider it being enough of a proof if you were VO? ???

I would say, consult an attorney but from the look of things, you may be just fine.

 

[Abe1004]

I would say, consult an attorney but from the look of things, you may be just fine.

well we have an immigration attorney who filled out paperwork for us and etc...says its a drop in a bucket case. But you know how some attorneys are especially when they are paid, so its always good to get 2nd opinion haha

 

[Optymystyc]

well we have an immigration attorney who filled out paperwork for us and etc...says its a drop in a bucket case. But you know how some attorneys are especially when they are paid, so its always good to get 2nd opinion haha

I totally agree. Get a second opinion.

 

[Amanda F]

I think that red flagging solely based on age difference should fall under the category of age discrimination. I am 46. I just received my divorce papers (separated for two years) after 20 years of marriage. He is 12 years older then me. No one would think twice about him with me and this age gap, although we didn't have to go through immigration because we are both Canadian.

After two years of living alone and staying clear away from any type of relationship but also in the last year hoping to meet someone who I can relate to, and share much in common, have mutual respect, spiritual connection, have the same vision for the future, both have the same education level, financial status, religion, (everything I didn't have with my first marriage) I finally found that man, but there is an age difference. I am older by 18 years and he lives in a foreign country. After Skyping daily for 5 months decided we would truly like to marry each other and spend our life together, but now to have him here (because I have children and do not want to leave Canada right now so he agreed to leave his job of 4 years and move here and apply for a PR) I would be made to feel like we are doing something 'wrong' with our relationship because I am older. (even though in mind, body and spirit I am told by many people I'm not close to my age but appear much younger) Or worse, people think he is 'using me' because 'why would a younger man want an older woman', this is just wrong and very stereotypical. Love of the heart and spirit knows no age (as long as the age is legal age of course). Many successful and loving marriages have been because the woman is older and the man is younger. The woman knows how to treat a man and is also much more independent once reaching my age and many of the growing pains of maturing are gone. More happy and content and stronger because 40's are the new 20's, except better this time around

But not every case is the same and immigration can usually tell this on a case to case basis. So, I would never generalize on age difference just as others here didn't generalize that age difference means there will be problems, on the contrary, seems age was not an issue.

I wish you all great success in the future.

 

[on-hold]

CIC counts age because they are required to assess relationships, which means applying some sort of standard to them; this standard can only be conservative. Because a 'relationship' is actually an agreement between two people, this means they have to assess each person's participation, so to speak. Will a Norwegian marrying a Canadian get the same scrutiny as a Thai marrying a Canadian? Probably not, for the same reasons that a Norwegian student will probably have an easier time getting a student visa. Will a Canadian and a Nigerian who are of the same age, lived together in Nigeria or England for several years, and have a kid, get the same scrutiny as a Nigerian and a Canadian who met over Skype, where the woman is 18 years older and the marriage is more of an agreement and less of a shared past? Probably not -- the latter relationship has to be evaluated in some way, and the way can only be conservative. Relationships where the woman is older are unusual in most cultures, and the distance and the financial incentive for the partner from the developing world put a strain on the VO's suspension of disbelief. The couple here will need other artifacts that can relieve this strain, and they should be concrete . . . Don't put too much faith in 'older women know better', if it were true your husband might go for 55 or 60 rather than 40 . . .