different religious backgrounds

[mr70]

Does anyone know if religious backgrounds have any effect on the spousal PR process? It seems to be able to marry in certain churches either one or both have to be baptised,how would immigration look at one person getting baptised to get married in a certain church? Are baptismal certificates even ask for as documentation?

 

[waitingintz]

in my non-expert understanding - there are only two considerations here:

1. is it a legal marraige in the country in which the marraige occurs (some countries have restrictions on people from different religions getting legally married but as long as you have a legal marraige certificate it doesn't make any difference whether you're baptized or where you were married, etc)

2. proof of genuine relationship (sometimes they get fussy about people having different backgrounds but this shouldn't be a big deal if you have lots of proof of the relationship developing, etc)

 

[missmini]

hi i see u didn't get any reply yet from more experienced users so i'll give it a shot

yeah different religious backgrounds can raise a flag but i'm sure any relationship could have some flags here and there, nothing is perfect, it's all up to u how u explain ur situation and how u gather the rest of the evidence to make it look genuine; now depends also where u'll be applying; to which visa office? or is it inland?

it looks complicated for one or both of u to get baptized and then marry in the church; why not get the civil marriage first? and then u will see... i would do the religious marriage in a place familiar at least for one of us, closer to our soul...but i'm just a dreamer

baptismal certificates could be ask as proof of ID for certain regions (ME for example) but many people don't have it, they never took it from the church so it's not an important requirement; other proofs of ID could be shown; but they r not asked as proof of marriage with someone from different religion; for that, they ask ur marriage certificate

maybe if u explain more ur situation, other users could jump in with some advice; good luck!

 

[missmini]

ooops u got a reply sorry, i was typing slow, but yeah waitingintz has a very good point; a marriage could be very well recognized in Canada if u r doing it in Canada but if u do it somewhere where that country does not recognize it as legal, then Canada would not recognize it as well...so first check that

 

[HoneyBird2]

i am hindu and my hubby belongs to no faith. we put on the paperwork, hindu and agnostic. we did not explain. we had a civil ceremony and then a hindu wedding full works. none of his family attended except his sister. i am from a 3rd world country.and no questions were asked. no interview and i got approval 6 months after. so no i dont think it matters a whole big deal.

 

[mayasita]

I think the degree to which it matters probably comes from the norms of the visa office and the cultures present (and the degree to which religion might play within them)... In some places, huge issue... In others, not so much

 

[canadianwoman]

Does anyone know if religious backgrounds have any effect on the spousal PR process?

It is a red flag for the couple to be of different religions, just like a big difference in age, different race, different educational background, etc. Still, lots of people with different religious backgrounds have been approved. Just explain in your application that either the differences in your religions don't matter to you, or that you have both adjusted to each other's religion and celebrate both.

It seems to be able to marry in certain churches either one or both have to be baptised,how would immigration look at one person getting baptised to get married in a certain church?

I think the visa officer would take it as a sign that you are really serious about marrying this person. I don't think it would be seen as a bad thing.

Are baptismal certificates even ask for as documentation?

In some Region Specific Guides they ask for baptismal certificates; if you don't have one, though, you can use some other document to prove your age.

 

[mr70]

We are following the rules for marriage of the country we are planning to marry in,and it sounds like it is only a church rule that both need baptism. I should mention that it is in The Phillippines we plan to marry in August,the visa office that will be doing the processing will be Tokyo.Thank you to those who have responded,much appreciated.

 

[mr70]

Can anyone share thier experience about marriage in the Phillippines? What challenges they faced,and any advice? Also in general more thoughts about religious differences in the eyes of immigration,how many people had problems due to their religions? I can only hope that immigration can understand that two people can have diffeences between them,no one is 100% compatible.I can't remember who posted something saying that an IO has to be able to see a broad range or something like that.Sorry I don't remember,but it was well said.

 

[missmini]

there r a lot of people from Philippines on this forum but maybe they won't read ur thread and question; ask again on the Manila VO thread, most of them r posting there

 

[Bangkokcanuck]

It is a red flag for the couple to be of different religions, just like a big difference in age, different race, different educational background, etc.

Sorry for snipping your reply but this is the part I found interesting and wanted to comment on. How do "we" know the above is true? From stats or personal experiences or hearsay? I am just curious because the three things mentioned above really don't amount to a hill of beans if the people show their relationship is real. If you get my meaning, EVERYTHING and ANYTHING is a red flag if you don't address it.

If the couple has a 20 year age gap and comes from two different religions and one is white one is black and one is a Ph.D. and one never finished high school does that mean they aren't in love or don't have a real marriage? They might in fact have been married for 10 years have 3 kids and have the best marriage anyone has known...

I would hope that the VO working on these applications don't simply look at any one or two things create a profile in their minds of why the application is not real and never do their homework. Even if they see what is being called a red flag IF the people in question are legit they will be able to prove it and that really is the main thing to keep in mind. If you "KNOW" you are the real deal don't let all the little red flags so forth and so on weigh on you, just make the effort to document the reality of your life and follow the application through to the end.

 

[Patricksgirls]

We have more than 20 year difference, different religious backgrounds but have so much evidence I am not concerned really...at least today lol

 

[rjessome]

Sorry for snipping your reply but this is the part I found interesting and wanted to comment on. How do "we" know the above is true? From stats or personal experiences or hearsay? I am just curious because the three things mentioned above really don't amount to a hill of beans if the people show their relationship is real. If you get my meaning, EVERYTHING and ANYTHING is a red flag if you don't address it.

If the couple has a 20 year age gap and comes from two different religions and one is white one is black and one is a Ph.D. and one never finished high school does that mean they aren't in love or don't have a real marriage? They might in fact have been married for 10 years have 3 kids and have the best marriage anyone has known...

I would hope that the VO working on these applications don't simply look at any one or two things create a profile in their minds of why the application is not real and never do their homework. Even if they see what is being called a red flag IF the people in question are legit they will be able to prove it and that really is the main thing to keep in mind. If you "KNOW" you are the real deal don't let all the little red flags so forth and so on weigh on you, just make the effort to document the reality of your life and follow the application through to the end.

Read OP Manual 2 for the guide a Visa Officer uses to establish genuineness of a relationship. Start at Section 5.26. Keep in mind that the VO also considers "cultural norms" of the applicant and sponsor as well. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op02-eng.pdf

The example you gave WOULD raise red flags IF the couple had just married and applied for sponsorship. However, if they have already been married for 10 years with three children, they have likely already established the interdependency required as an assessment of a conjugal relationship. Each relationship is assessed on its' individual merits. They use a combination of factors so age difference might not be a reason for refusal but age difference + different religions + etc. + etc. may result in one.

If you are looking for proof, check out Canlii for refusals based on the above. http://www.canlii.org/eliisa/search.do?language=en&searchTitle=Search+all+CanLII+Databases&sortOrder=relevance&searchPage=eliisa%2FmainPageSearch.vm&text=refused+AND+%22age+difference%22+AND+immigration&id=&startDate=&endDate=&legislation=legislation&caselaw=courts&boardTribunal=tribunals

I just put in "age difference" but it could be substituted with other terms as well. While some of these appeals were allowed, keep in mind that they WERE initially refused by the visa officer. And you will see that the visa officer used other factors in combination to reach their decision.

Having "red flags" doesn't mean an application will be refused. But it typically means that an application will get more scrutiny. Red flags should be addressed at the outset of the application with the applicant & sponsor identifying potential issues and providing reasons why they are NOT issues to the couple in question. If done correctly, it will adequately answer a visa officer's potential concerns and questions at the initial assessment.

 

[clubcanada]

I would treat religion and age difference quite differently - depending on the situation. It quite depends on the individual case and the religions involved. Christianity can be quite different for example (ask an Irish...). There might be also some religions that are more compatible than others and depending on the country/region this might be of an issue or no problem at all. A jew getting married to a moslem is different within the US than in Gaza. In addition, people might be religious on paper only or on the fundamental side - it's hard to prove. Basically, I'd address this pro-actively on the application and describe how you're going to deal with it. In most cases this should be fine...

 

[Bangkokcanuck]

Having "red flags" doesn't mean an application will be refused. But it typically means that an application will get more scrutiny. Red flags should be addressed at the outset of the application with the applicant & sponsor identifying potential issues and providing reasons why they are NOT issues to the couple in question. If done correctly, it will adequately answer a visa officer's potential concerns and questions at the initial assessment.

Interesting reading thanks... confirmed what I was thinking none of those red flags matter at all as long as the rest of the relationship is obviously real and established.