Exclusive relationship duration

[canadian416]

Happy New Year folks!
Cheers to 2023

As you may aware, suggested duration of your relationship with your spouse is not mentioned in any of the application forms.

However, I heard that IRCC expects at least one year of exclusive relationship which excludes online relationships that have been kept strictly online: no meeting in person, no travel history together, etc..

However, IRCC does not say much about this expected "one year exclusive relationship" needs to happen before you get married or by the time you file your spousal application.

For instance: Couples met in May 2021 and after dating in person, they got married in May 2022. There is one year exclusive relationship. They filed their application in June 2022.

Or
Couples met in
May 2021 and after dating in person, they got married in March 2022. They will file spousal application in July 2023 while they are married. So, basically less than a year exclusive relationship before they get married but they will file the application at a later date while they are in an exclusive relationship that is longer than 1 year.


Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Person001]

Hello

From what I understand, the length of relationship does not matter. What matters is your ability to demonstrate the genuineness of the relationship.
If the officer is satisfied that your relationship is genuine, and long lasting, the application is approved. That said, a shorter length relationship will require a lot of proof, but they will not refuse an application on the premise that it is too short, but rather that you have not provided enough evidence to prove to the officer that the relationship is genuine and long lasting.

 

[canadian416]

Hello

From what I understand, the length of relationship does not matter. What matters is your ability to demonstrate the genuineness of the relationship.
If the officer is satisfied that your relationship is genuine, and long lasting, the application is approved. That said, a shorter length relationship will require a lot of proof, but they will not refuse an application on the premise that it is too short, but rather that you have not provided enough evidence to prove to the officer that the relationship is genuine and long lasting.

Thank you for your input, @Person001 . Correct, they would not just reject the application because the length of the relationship is short.

However, you would need to provide a lot of proof regardless the duration of exclusive relationship is short (perhaps 8 - 9 months before getting married; one month is most likely a red flag or getting married the day after meeting) or long to demonstrate the relationship is real and long lasting.


I am still not sure what "exclusive relationship duration" consists of and what they mean by at least 12 months, if possible ( They understand cultural, religious or immigration hurdles may cause not meeting the so-called/hidden requirement that is not explain in any of the application forms).


Let's the what others think.

Thanks again.

 

[armoured]

However, I heard that IRCC expects at least one year of exclusive relationship which excludes online relationships that have been kept strictly online: no meeting in person, no travel history together, etc..

However, IRCC does not say much about this expected "one year exclusive relationship" needs to happen before you get married or by the time you file your spousal application.

I am still not sure what "exclusive relationship duration" consists of and what they mean by at least 12 months, if possible ( They understand cultural, religious or immigration hurdles may cause not meeting the so-called/hidden requirement that is not explain in any of the application forms).

You are not sure what it means because it is bullshit made up on the internet and doesn't exist anywhere. IRCC does not just "not say much about it", it doesn't say anything about it at all.

Yes, length of relationship (before and after marriage) will influence their assessment of genuine relationship. And yes, if they think it's not 'exclusive' (or had reason to believe so), they may assess it is not a genuine marriage. Other factors as they outline will also influence their assessment. It's not complicated. Most of them are common sense, and yes, they are aware of cultural factors such as arranged marriages and/or inability to live together before marriage in some cultures.

 

[canadian416]

@armoured, thank you for your feedback. I am not entirely sure if it is a made up bs.

IRCC are known to be a very nontransparent organization and never admit their faults.

I am sure there are many contributing factors that they look at and the exclusive relationship duration (before and after of the marriage) is one of them. Perhaps, it could even be one of the key factors.

 

[MJSPARV]

@armoured, thank you for your feedback. I am not entirely sure if it is a made up bs.

IRCC are known to be a very nontransparent organization and never admit their faults.

I am sure there are many contributing factors that they look at and the exclusive relationship duration (before and after of the marriage) is one of them. Perhaps, it could even be one of the key factors.

Eh, if you read here long enough it becomes pretty clear IMO that while longer relationships TYPICALLY get less scrutiny that there are plenty of people with whirlwind relationships but solid evidence who get PR fast and plenty of people who have been in relationships for years but have poor evidence who struggle. As far as I remember "exclusive relationship duration" is never mentioned by IRCC and there's definitely nowhere it says you have to have been in the relationship for a certain amount of time to apply (other than the legal test of cohabitation for common law).