Curious about an interview question we got...

[Cdagal]

So the reason my husband was flagged for an interview was because the date that he landed in Brazil (not his home country) is only 40 days before our first date of contact online. He arrived in August and we started talking in October, then continuted talking online for more than 9 months before ever meeting in person. Why would that matter to an IO? I am curious...maybe someone can shed some light on that for me??

 

[confusednscared]

Maybe for security reasons ... they probably want to check with him to see why he left his homeland for Brazil. Is he living in Brazil legally? Or why is he living in Brazil under certain circumstance/s. There could be a million and one things out there why they flagged him but he has to know if he is hiding anything from the Cdn Gov't that flagged his application for an interview.

Just my little thought. Don't worry too much

 

[Calvados]

Just curious - did you find that reason from CAIPS notes?
I cannot know the mind of IO, so just a speculation. Your husband showed the willingness to immigrate, in the search of better life (where is he from, originally?) and they have a suspicion that he wants to get into the country that is allegedly even better.

 

[Cdagal]

Yes it was listed in the CAIPS notes..he is originally from Nigeria, but has been in Brazil for 3 years (legally). I guess I was surprised - of all the reasons I thought they WOULD want an interview, this was not on the list. We are different race, religion, etc..I have 2 kids he has never met..we met online...those things were only touched on a little in the interview, and yet the date thing was an issue..

 

[confusednscared]

I think I am missing a point here. If he is a citizen of Nigeria and just living in Brazil legally how is it that he was able to get his sponsorship application processed in Brazil? I thought the rule of thumb for CIC is your application must be processed at the VO closest to your country of nationality.

In either way, good for your hubby because he got to beat slow processing from the Nigeria office.

My interview was set primarily because my IO wanted to question my reasons for living in Canada filing under the refugee system and soon as all my options failed I got married to my partner the day before I was supposed to be deported from Canada. He was not too interested in the rship part of the sponsorship even though he questioned me on our rship and as he became more confident in my answers he was convinced that our marriage is real.

From my perspective I think they are questioning the genuine basis of the rship and using your hubby's migration pattern to Brazil as a way to see if he married you only to gain legal entrance to Canada.

 

[MexiCana]

I think I am missing a point here. If he is a citizen of Nigeria and just living in Brazil legally how is it that he was able to get his sponsorship application processed in Brazil? I thought the rule of thumb for CIC is your application must be processed at the VO closest to your country of nationality.

No, you can apply to the visa office of the country in which you are resident as well. So in our case, my husband is legally resident in Canada so we applied through Buffalo instead of the country of his nationality. It makes going to an interview much easier if you don't have to fly half-way around the world to get there! ;D

 

[Cdagal]

If you have been legally admitted to a country for a year or longer, you have the option of applying through that country OR your country of nationality. I was suprised then that the IO did not question him very much at all about our relationship. His father is also a long-time citizen of the UK, and so if immigration to somewhere other than Nigeria was his goal he could have gone there anytime.

 

[beauhoe]

I think I am missing a point here. If he is a citizen of Nigeria and just living in Brazil legally how is it that he was able to get his sponsorship application processed in Brazil? I thought the rule of thumb for CIC is your application must be processed at the VO closest to your country of nationality.

You are not missing anything my friend, you can also apply from other country if you are living legally and have been accepted for a period of one year. You have to submit a copy of your first visa showing admission for at least one year.

 

[beauhoe]

So the reason my husband was flagged for an interview was because the date that he landed in Brazil (not his home country) is only 40 days before our first date of contact online. He arrived in August and we started talking in October, then continuted talking online for more than 9 months before ever meeting in person. Why would that matter to an IO? I am curious...maybe someone can shed some light on that for me??

What happen during that interview is not important, I am glad that you got your PPR. Congratulations!

 

[leroadrunner]

Cdagal, did you get your PR? Just curious, as I have been following you and cheering for you!

 

[prof456]

Yes it was listed in the CAIPS notes..he is originally from Nigeria, but has been in Brazil for 3 years (legally). I guess I was surprised - of all the reasons I thought they WOULD want an interview, this was not on the list. We are different race, religion, etc..I have 2 kids he has never met..we met online...those things were only touched on a little in the interview, and yet the date thing was an issue..

It's a valid concern on the part of the IO. I'm sure you know the geographical locations of Nigeria and Brazil. Why would someone leave Nigeria for Brazil and then 40days afterwards initiate contact for a potential relationship with a Canadian? That's a valid question and if your husband is able to satisfy the IO with his answers, no qualms. To you, it's no big deal since it's a one time thing; to the IO, there are some very valid concerns IMHO as he/she has probably seen such "scenerios" before.

 

[prof456]

If you have been legally admitted to a country for a year or longer, you have the option of applying through that country OR your country of nationality. I was suprised then that the IO did not question him very much at all about our relationship. His father is also a long-time citizen of the UK, and so if immigration to somewhere other than Nigeria was his goal he could have gone there anytime.

Not really; His father is a long-time citizen of the UK...but is he (the applicant) a UK citizen? Probably not; I'm sure if he had the option of going to the UK, he would have been there, rather than Brazil; Also, if he was a UK citizen, he would be in Canada now since UK citizens do not need TRVs to Canada. Remember he is no longer a dependant and he cannot use his father's status to just go "somewhere other than Nigeria".
Although his father's status is somewhat irrelevant in this case, did you verify it or was it something he just told you?

 

[Cdagal]

I know my father-in-law personally thanks. Because he is Nigerian, my husband's word would need verification - is that the point you are trying to make? Save it. I would not have married him, Nigerian or not, if I did not know well and trust the man with my life. My husband was educated in the UK and could have applied in many ways, including as a skilled worker in Canada if he had chosen to.

 

[coldgirl]

Not really; His father is a long-time citizen of the UK...but is he (the applicant) a UK citizen? Probably not; I'm sure if he had the option of going to the UK, he would have been there, rather than Brazil; Also, if he was a UK citizen, he would be in Canada now since UK citizens do not need TRVs to Canada. Remember he is no longer a dependant and he cannot use his father's status to just go "somewhere other than Nigeria".
Although his father's status is somewhat irrelevant in this case, did you verify it or was it something he just told you?

I know a few Nigerian guys who have asked me to find girls here so they can move here. Also I heard from other people that they are big on scamming people for money and gaining status. Not say every single one of them is like that but it does happen a lot. They meet girls on the internet and use their 'charm' and marry them. This is just from my experience.

 

[canindian]

I noticed that the last 2 posts were getting somewhat hurtful and were really not on topic. Cdagal was asking a question to try to understand the VO concern, not have her husbands personality and motives attacked. There are sham marriages from every country, rich or poor. But we must be careful not to generalize and paint everyone with the same brush. Imagine how you would feel if people in you husband/wifes circle thought that YOU were entering into the relationship with false purpose. Just saying that this situation is hard enough without people saying things that could be taken as nasty.