This is just a post for all of you out there who are in need of a positive story. Today, my boyfriend got an email from Buffalo requesting his passport. Here is our timeline:
We met online in May 2009, we are a heterosexual couple. I am Canadian born and my boyfriend is American, no barrier to immigration, and no plans to get married.
Submitted our application September 2010.
Buffalo began processing our application November 2010.
Sent additional documents (voluntarily): January 2011.
Passport Request: Friday May 13, 2011.... not bad for what's known to be a day of bad luck!
No update on ecas about decision made.
The only communication we received from Buffalo was the AOR.
I'll admit, I was extremely anxious about our application and was expecting a refusal. The only barrier to immigration that we had was the hassle of crossing the border each time, and one Visitor Record being issued because he did not have significant ties to the US. I was also nervous about the application because we applied 16 months after meeting. I thought that if we were refused, it would be that they believe we were a genuine couple, but that we were not in a "marriage like" relationship for an entire year. We provided as much evidence as possible to refute that, including life insurance policies, last will & testament, pension plan beneficiary designations, joint credit card statements, skype chat logs, conversations via email about apartments with 6 month leases in Toronto, emails about buying furniture and applicances, pictures, flight itineraries, pictures (including ones with my entire extended family in Mexico for a wedding), letters of support from friends, family, and work colleagues.... just to name a few.
The one regret we had: paying $1500 for an immigration consultant to proofread our application and send it off. We did all the work.
My boyfriend is in the US right now, but is expecting to drive to Buffalo to "land" in the next 2 weeks. We are absolutely thrilled and will be celebrating with our families tonight (sadly... not together yet)
So, if any of you are out there I hope this gives you some encouragement. I know reading Allison & Kerrianne's successful stories made me feel so much better. Conjugal Sponsorship is not a guaranteed refusal. If you are genuine, have the evidence, and you go by the OP 2 manual when putting together your application, you can create a very strong case.
Good luck to all of you!
We met online in May 2009, we are a heterosexual couple. I am Canadian born and my boyfriend is American, no barrier to immigration, and no plans to get married.
Submitted our application September 2010.
Buffalo began processing our application November 2010.
Sent additional documents (voluntarily): January 2011.
Passport Request: Friday May 13, 2011.... not bad for what's known to be a day of bad luck!
No update on ecas about decision made.
The only communication we received from Buffalo was the AOR.
I'll admit, I was extremely anxious about our application and was expecting a refusal. The only barrier to immigration that we had was the hassle of crossing the border each time, and one Visitor Record being issued because he did not have significant ties to the US. I was also nervous about the application because we applied 16 months after meeting. I thought that if we were refused, it would be that they believe we were a genuine couple, but that we were not in a "marriage like" relationship for an entire year. We provided as much evidence as possible to refute that, including life insurance policies, last will & testament, pension plan beneficiary designations, joint credit card statements, skype chat logs, conversations via email about apartments with 6 month leases in Toronto, emails about buying furniture and applicances, pictures, flight itineraries, pictures (including ones with my entire extended family in Mexico for a wedding), letters of support from friends, family, and work colleagues.... just to name a few.
The one regret we had: paying $1500 for an immigration consultant to proofread our application and send it off. We did all the work.
My boyfriend is in the US right now, but is expecting to drive to Buffalo to "land" in the next 2 weeks. We are absolutely thrilled and will be celebrating with our families tonight (sadly... not together yet)
So, if any of you are out there I hope this gives you some encouragement. I know reading Allison & Kerrianne's successful stories made me feel so much better. Conjugal Sponsorship is not a guaranteed refusal. If you are genuine, have the evidence, and you go by the OP 2 manual when putting together your application, you can create a very strong case.
Good luck to all of you!
