Chadi Y said:
Hey everyone, new to this forum. Like most of you here, I also have a sponsorship application in the works for my wife. Just thought I would share some info on the process and where I am now to give everyone some info. Its so hard to get status information on exactly where the application stage your in and what happens next.
Based on some of the questions I've seen here, I'll give you some feedback on my situation. I've know my wife for about 2 years but didnt become a couple until about a year later. I did the religious Katb lkteb (which is the religious marriage) in lebanon and had what we would call an engagement party. Used the photos from that in my application stating it was an engagement party and the plan was to have a wedding in Canada so that my friends and extended family can be a part of. Therefore its not essential that you have a wedding, but of course it does help officials to see the families involved and they know about the relationship. I had also submitted with my application pages and pages of whatsapp chats, pics/selfies together, telephone bills, money transfers, phonecard purchases (although that might prove much in their eyes), facebook msgs etc. My whatsapp chats were insane as they ended up being over 100 pages or so. Everything helps so i didnt take any chances
My application was submitted back in May of 2014 and about a month or so later, got an email (letter) saying that I have been approved as a sponsor and the application has been sent to Beirut. That's step 1, and the shortest of them all. Then the big wait comes, and from looking at the CIC processing times for Beirut, they wont answer requests unless it has surpassed the stated time (I think its 18 months now).
As of yesterday, I received an email asking for my wife's passport and 2 photo's of her. I believe that is the final step and they will be granting her a PM visa. Does anyone know if that is the final step? what happens next? Essentially, she has 30 days to submit this to them, and they will notify her after 30 days, by SMS, to go and pick them up. Will she still have to do an interview?
Congrats Chadi Y, your wife will soon be on her way to Canada!
. Once the passport is requested (except in the New Delhi visa office, for some reason they ask for the passport at the beginning of the process there) it automatically means the interview has been waived and your wife has passed all security checks and other eligibility criteria. So your wife's application for PR has been approved. You are correct that there is very little update info. available while going through the process and ECAS is very unreliable. In addition, ECAS is only updated about 4 times during the whole process and usually it is after the fact and you have already been notified by the visa office (VO).
Not sure how long it takes from the Beirut office to return passports but it seems like they are expediting everything so hopefully it will be soon. And thanks to mikey for starting this thread, so now all you folks going through this VO will finally be able to start tracking and sharing info. to help each other. +1's for all!
A few other comments for this thread. CIC does not only request interviews if they think a relationship is not genuine, sometimes they have targets to meet and they make random requests. So do not panic if an interview request is made, but definitely be thoroughly prepared. Interviews for outland applicants are only for the spouse being sponsored, the person sponsoring them is not interviewed.
Chadi Y's details about how much information he included in his application are important. An incomplete application may also be a cause for an interview. Everything in your application must make sense and be fully explained. So the more info. you include is usually better. In my own case, my husband and I were together long distance for over 6 years before we married and sent our application in. So rather than send thousand of pages (it needs to be balanced as you do not want it to take the immigration officer a year just to be able to read your file ;D) I selected SKYPE convos and e-mails from every single month over the 6 years and copied and pasted them into a word document that still ended up being almost 70 pages. And then I did a cover paragraph explaining why I did this and if they wanted more info. I would happily send it upon request. Thankfully they did not think it was necessary so I must have done a good enough job.
Now in response to some of madman's questions (and sweetstrawberry's comments about weddings and photos etc.) you simply need to detail the reasons for not including wedding photos and/or reasons for not having a wedding, reception and/or honeymoon. Even if it is "typical" of your culture to do those things, as long as you explain your own personal reasons, CIC can understand. Religious issues can also have an impact if the couple are not practicing their faith or if it is an interfaith marriage, again, as long as it is all explained. Your application is the time to "overshare" what we might all generally think is none of anyone else's $#%! business.
CIC reviews many, many different application scenarios as to why couples may not decide to hold a "traditional" wedding or reception. International love is expensive!!
Travelling to see your significant other generally eats up individual budgets and many friends and family cannot attend for financial reasons as well, or other family obligations (i.e. jobs, childcare, illness, eldercare etc.). So there are many practical and logistical reasons that make sense. Just explain, explain, explain.......
With regard to supporting your spouse (madman) if you have not sent your application yet - do all of the things you mentioned. If you are staying with family or friends (and this will continue when your wife joins you) then have them write letters about how they will help you and/or contribute to supporting the marriage. Many post-secondary and post grad. students are in situations like this when a spouse lands so CIC takes this information into account as well. If you have signed a lease, include a copy and any other financial or legal info. (yes a letter from the bank showing savings if you have) that shows you are paying for things.
Last but not least, best wishes and blessings for all of you to get to the end of the immigration journey and be together with your loved ones.
