Enough proof for our relationship?

[MilesAway]

Hi guys!
I've been on this forum for just over 2 years now, and we're finally putting our application in. I'd just like to get some feedback, if that's okay.

Sponsor documents:
-IMM1344
-IMM5481
-IMM-5540
-payment receipts (I'll be paying online in 2 installments, before sending it in. My credit card limit is 1000$)
-Passport
-Birth certificate
-Letter from my employer showing my period of employment, and a document showing how much I made in the past 12 months.
-No option C, as I've been outside of Canada for 4 of the past 5 years, with no Canadian income.

Principal applicant:
-IMM0008
-IMM5669
-IMM5490
-IMM5406
-both checklists
-marriage certificate (probably notarized copy)
-translated and notarized divorce certificate
-birth certificate (translated and notarized)
-passport
-police check (translated and notarized)
-medical
-8 photos (with name, DOB, and date taken on back)
-labour book (translated and notarized)
-record of studies (translated and notarized)

Relationship proof:
-about 35 photos
-screenshots of my e-mail account, showing 972 e-mails
-a few sample shots of her phone records, if we can get them. Not sure how far back they go though.
-passport stamps
-boarding passes of my trip to visit her, and trips together
-my lease (translated and notarized)
-5 letters: parents, 3 aunts, and a friend/colleague
-We have some Skype records, over 300 pages in Word.
(edit): we can also include some of the cards we got for our wedding from those who could not attend.

We met in 2009 when I was studying abroad. We met playing hockey. I returned to Canada for 2010-2011, then returned in summer 2011 when I found a job. We got engaged in 2012 and got married in February 2014. We've lived together since July 2012.

The possible problems:
-6 year age gap (she's older)
-Previous marriage (to a man, and now in a same-sex marriage). She was married when I met her.
-4 TRV refusals (all of them after meeting me, after I returned to Canada, the most recent was last year)
-her family is not aware of our relationship. We are in a country where same-sex relationships, while not illegal, are shunned to say the least. Her mother has stated that she despises all gays and that they should be locked up in asylums, because they aren't people. So, I can't see how that would go over well with her.
-Only 5 people attended our wedding. Her side did not attend, for the reasons mentioned above. We got married in Iceland, which made it too expensive for a lot of people.
-No photos of the actual wedding ceremony. It was outdoors, and the wind was blowing at over 80 km/h. We have tons of pictures of us with the family right after. It was a short civil ceremony, maybe 5 minutes max.
-I'm a Canadian citizen living abroad. I've got a letter from my parents offering us a place to stay, as well as showing that my contract is up at the end of May 2015.
(edited again): Proving that we live together is also difficult. The lease indicates both our names, but that she signed the lease, while I am the resident. We have actually avoided having any proof, due to the potential of me losing my job, being put in jail for 2 weeks, fined, and deported. For the same reason, I am not on her bank accounts, etc.

Since Russians are now processed through Warsaw, that will be our VO.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.

 

[MilesAway]

I'm mostly worried about proving my intent to return. Moscow is notorious. I even saw a couple where the husband had bought a house and found a job in Canada, and the VO sent the refusal letter to him in Canada, stating that they didn't believe he would reside in Canada once his wife got PR.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I'm mostly worried about proving my intent to return. Moscow is notorious. I even saw a couple where the husband had bought a house and found a job in Canada, and the VO sent the refusal letter to him in Canada, stating that they didn't believe he would reside in Canada once his wife got PR.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

there's definitely got to be more to that story. i don't believe that was the only issue that caused the rejection, as it wasn't even an issue and can b proven on appeal. remember, people only tell what they want others to know about. there is always information people will not admit or share with others.

 

[MilesAway]

I'm sure there must be as well, because otherwise that's an entirely new level of stupid, even for Moscow. He was a Canadian that had been living abroad for several years with his wife, so maybe they doubted that he would stay in Canada?

I have almost no proof, other than my contract finishing in May 2015, and a letter from my parents. As well as the current legal situation in Russia for same-sex couples. Warsaw is our VO now, so maybe they will be slightly less dense than Moscow. It's still CIC, so who knows.

 

[Chevy23]

The possible problems:
-6 year age gap (she's older)
-Previous marriage (to a man, and now in a same-sex marriage). She was married when I met her.
-4 TRV refusals (all of them after meeting me, after I returned to Canada, the most recent was last year)
-her family is not aware of our relationship. We are in a country where same-sex relationships, while not illegal, are shunned to say the least. Her mother has stated that she despises all gays and that they should be locked up in asylums, because they aren't people. So, I can't see how that would go over well with her.
-Only 5 people attended our wedding. Her side did not attend, for the reasons mentioned above. We got married in Iceland, which made it too expensive for a lot of people.
-No photos of the actual wedding ceremony. It was outdoors, and the wind was blowing at over 80 km/h. We have tons of pictures of us with the family right after. It was a short civil ceremony, maybe 5 minutes max.
-I'm a Canadian citizen living abroad. I've got a letter from my parents offering us a place to stay, as well as showing that my contract is up at the end of May 2015.
(edited again): Proving that we live together is also difficult. The lease indicates both our names, but that she signed the lease, while I am the resident. We have actually avoided having any proof, due to the potential of me losing my job, being put in jail for 2 weeks, fined, and deported. For the same reason, I am not on her bank accounts, etc.

Since Russians are now processed through Warsaw, that will be our VO.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.

I don't think you need to worry about the age gap or the TRV refusals as surely this is a sign that your wife is trying to come and visit you and keep the relationship going

5 people at the wedding is ok, there was only 4 people total at ours and we only submitted 2 photos

Just make sure you provide a good explanation for all potential problems

Since you are married you don't need to worry to much about providing proof of living together, I lived with my wife in Canada for a while but didn't provide any proof other than writing the same address for the both of us on the form - but if you have proof definitely include it

I think your biggest problems are intent to return and perhaps the previous marriage to a man but this does not mean your application will be refused it may just call for additional info or an interview - sorry I can't offer better advice on this as my wife currently lives in Canada and even though we are same sex, neither of us has been married to a man

I also don't think the legal situation in Russia will have any impact on your application as CIC clearly recognises same sex marriage - a Russian VO can not possibly refuse your application because your a same sex couple surely

I think you have some good evidence, a lot more than we submitted! Good luck

 

[MilesAway]

Thanks.

It's always reassuring to have someone else chime in. I've seen some people submit 400+ photos, and well, I don't think we have that many photos of us. I was scraping just to find the 35 I have now!

I'm the one pressing to go to Canada, she's not really that enthusiastic. I'm just sick of hiding all the time, the fear of being deported or arrested, or worse. It doesn't make for a very relaxing life. Somehow, we're happy together here.

I'll see if we have any other evidence to add, but I think that's pretty much all we have. My parents talk to her on Skype from time to time, and I've got some messages from friends talking about her, as well as e-mails from my side of the family welcoming her to the family.

Hopefully we can sail through and be in Canada next summer. I have no idea how it's going to work with her passport going to Warsaw to get the visa, but I guess we'll see, right?

 

[Chevy23]

Thanks.

It's always reassuring to have someone else chime in. I've seen some people submit 400+ photos, and well, I don't think we have that many photos of us. I was scraping just to find the 35 I have now!

I'm the one pressing to go to Canada, she's not really that enthusiastic. I'm just sick of hiding all the time, the fear of being deported or arrested, or worse. It doesn't make for a very relaxing life. Somehow, we're happy together here.

I'll see if we have any other evidence to add, but I think that's pretty much all we have. My parents talk to her on Skype from time to time, and I've got some messages from friends talking about her, as well as e-mails from my side of the family welcoming her to the family.

Hopefully we can sail through and be in Canada next summer. I have no idea how it's going to work with her passport going to Warsaw to get the visa, but I guess we'll see, right?

Well I think its amazing how your getting by and remaining happy living in a place where you are forced to hide... not sure we would survive!!

If you can overcome this challenge, the immigration process will be a breeze for you

My advice just send all the photos and family messages you have - CIC likes it when family is involved
You can't send anything you don't have right, so just send what you do have

I would send your application out as soon as you can to get the ball rolling as Mississauga is not at its fastest right now!

As the for the passport I'm not 100% sure, perhaps ask in the Warsaw thread someone there will probably have a better idea