Almost Ready to Apply Outland... right track?

[canadianwoman]

So, how would CIC weight each of these factors:
-more time spent apart
-more time spent together before marriage
-more time spent together after marriage but before PR application

Is it easier for someone coming to Canada from a visa exempt country to be visiting their fiancee or their husband? How likely would they be to be refused entry?

More time spent together is always good. Time spent apart is bad, but of course can easily be explained (work, school, etc.). Time spent together after marriage but before the PR application can be an issue. Normally CIC would expect newlyweds to want to be together as soon as possible, and will question why you did not submit the application earlier. Some leeway is given for the time it takes to prepare the application. Now, if the two of you are living together in Japan or some third country, then there is no problem. CIC will expect you to apply once you want to move back to Canada. But you two living together in Canada without applying might raise some questions, such as the visa officer thinking maybe you are just delaying the application to get more proof (which does not look good).
She can come visit you without a visa, both before and after marriage. She should bring proof of ties to Japan, such as proof of a job, a return ticket, proof of a bank account, a lease, etc. If the return ticket has a date, the border agent may give her only until that date, or he may just give the usual six months. In either case you can apply for an extension. She is not likely to be refused entry, as long as she is clear that she is just here for a visit.

 

[Ivancica]

More time spent together is always good. Time spent apart is bad, but of course can easily be explained (work, school, etc.). Time spent together after marriage but before the PR application can be an issue. Normally CIC would expect newlyweds to want to be together as soon as possible, and will question why you did not submit the application earlier. Some leeway is given for the time it takes to prepare the application. Now, if the two of you are living together in Japan or some third country, then there is no problem. CIC will expect you to apply once you want to move back to Canada. But you two living together in Canada without applying might raise some questions, such as the visa officer thinking maybe you are just delaying the application to get more proof (which does not look good).

This is what I am afraid of. My husband and I have been married for 2 years, it'll be 3 on January 29th. We didn't start his application, eventhough he lived with me because financially we couldn't do it - I am the only one that works, I was pregnant and on bed rest for more than half a year and just poor planning NOT because I had second thoughts or because we were gathering evidence. Try and explain that to CIC.. Blech!

 

[canadianwoman]

If you have already waited a while, then just do your best to explain. It is not ideal, but your situation sounds difficult.
The pros are that you are living together, so at least that helps show the relationship is real. You can just explain that because you were pregnant and ill, and then with the baby, it was difficult for you to get everything organized for the application. You can also explain that it was difficult financially to organize everything. It should be OK.

 

[Kayaker]

Thanks canadianwoman, this helps.

We have decided to go ahead with our initial plan to get married in Japan in December and submit in January. There are drawbacks, but we feel postponing just to accumulate more time together is not ideal. Although an interview might be undesirable, delaying is less desirable still. We feel we have strong evidence to support the strength of our relationship and its development, as well as our planning for the future (as documented by selections from our chat logs etc.) And if necessary we feel she can certainly convince them in an interview. By the time of any interview we will have more time together, more evidence still.

Are most people in agreement with the OP that quantity of chat logs etc is not necessary, but rather quality (to support detailing of relationship)? We could print thousands of pages but currently are just combing through for highlights.

We are now planning to have a traditional photo wedding at a shrine (in addition to the underwhelming civil procedure). Neither of us is religious and a large wedding is not possible. We even debated paying to fly a relative or two of mine over for the wedding but that is unreasonable. We hope an explanation of why we don't have evidence of a large wedding will help, but we know red flags may still go off.

Thanks again. I hope one day to be one of those posters rejoicing at their spouse's landing. This forum is a blessing.

 

[JRPW]

Kayaker,

Maybe I can help a little. I'm a Canadian living in Japan. I got married to my Japanese girlfriend 3.5 years ago. We didn't have a big ceremony. In fact, we had no ceremony. We just went to the local city ward office and submitted our marriage papers. We explained in my Wife's application that we didn't have a ceremony because 1. We didn't want to "waste" money (Japanese weddings can be expensive); 2. I was born and raised a Catholic, but became disenfranchised with the Church; 3. My Mother was not well to travel (undergoing cancer treatment). We included in our essay that we plan on having a small ceremony in Banff when we move to Canada. I should say that my Wife and I dated for two years before we got married. However, even after we got married, we lived in separate cities for about a year as I could not get a transfer to where my Wife was living and working.

As mentioned by others here, I think the VO might take a closer look into your relationship. Just be honest and include everything that shows your relationship is genuine.

We applied for my Wife's application in October 2012, and have heard from Manilla twice - once for my Wife to redo her x-ray and once asking for passport photos of my Wife and additional proof that I will move back to Canada when my Wife receives her PR.

If you need any help with your application, mail me and ask. I will be more than willing to answer your questions as I have already done what you plan on doing!

J

 

[canadianwoman]

Are most people in agreement with the OP that quantity of chat logs etc is not necessary, but rather quality (to support detailing of relationship)? We could print thousands of pages but currently are just combing through for highlights.

We are now planning to have a traditional photo wedding at a shrine (in addition to the underwhelming civil procedure). Neither of us is religious and a large wedding is not possible. We even debated paying to fly a relative or two of mine over for the wedding but that is unreasonable. We hope an explanation of why we don't have evidence of a large wedding will help, but we know red flags may still go off.

Your plan sounds fine. The traditional ceremony at the shrine sounds good. Your explanations of why you do not want a large wedding are fine.
For chat logs, select a few. Some do one a week or month for the duration of the relationship, others choose especially important chats to show how the relationship developed. You should not send in all of them, but do add a note telling the visa officer that you have sent only a selection, that you have thousands of pages more, and that he or she can see them if needed.