Foreign same-sex marriage

[rmnlk]

Hello everyone,

I am creating an EE profile and I am confused by the question about my marital status.

We are a same-sex couple. We have danish marriage certificates (tourist wedding are allowed there), but our country does not recognize same-sex marriages. Can I choose "Married" when creating an Express Entry profile?

Well, I have done some googling, and it seems that our marriage does comply with the Canadian federal laws and it is legal under the laws of the country where it took place (Denmark), but is illegal in our country of origin. What should we do?

 

[kryt0n]

If you are considered married in your country of citizenship, select married. Canada recognises same sex

 

[vensak]

Hello everyone,

I am creating an EE profile and I am confused by the question about my marital status.

We are a same-sex couple. We have danish marriage certificates (tourist wedding are allowed there), but our country does not recognize same-sex marriages. Can I choose "Married" when creating an Express Entry profile?

Well, I have done some googling, and it seems that our marriage does comply with the Canadian federal laws and it is legal under the laws of the country where it took place (Denmark), but is illegal in our country of origin. What should we do?

You can even try choose as married, but then you need to explain that your status in your country is still consideres as single and why is it so.

 

[jianxia15]

A fellow Chinese same-sex couple got their PR as common law partners.

 

[rmnlk]

Thanks for replies.

Perhaps I need to repeat:
- Our marriage took place in Denmark
- Our marriage is not recognised in our country of origin/residence

The marriage certificate was apostilled, but Canada didn't sign the apostille convention, so it doesn't matter. However, marriage certificates from many other countries do not need to be recognised by some other canadian bodies. So maybe a danish marriage certificate should be enough for them to proof marriage?

I would fo for common-law partnership, but technically it isn't true... And it will be extremely hard to prove our relationships, because we've been hiding all the evidence that we are together... So no shared bills, no shared addresses on any letters, no shared bank accounts (in my country, it is not possible even for regular couples). And it's a lot easier to just go with a marriage certificate...
Maybe they have some sort of a hotline or an email address?

 

[scylla]

Apply as married. Your marriage was legal in the country where it was performed.

 

[mgnlky]

Can I ask what country you reside in? As stated above, Canada does recognize same sex marriages. They also realize not every country allows it (the United States didn't until 2015). If you have a legal marriage certificate, I would say choose married and provide a letter explaining the situation.

 

[rmnlk]

Can I ask what country you reside in? As stated above, Canada does recognize same sex marriages. They also realize not every country allows it (the United States didn't until 2015). If you have a legal marriage certificate, I would say choose married and provide a letter explaining the situation.

I reside in Russia. But does "legal under Canadian law" mean that I need to certify or notarize my marriage certificate in the ministry of Canada? This one confuses me.

 

[mgnlky]

I reside in Russia. But does "legal under Canadian law" mean that I need to certify or notarize my marriage certificate in the ministry of Canada? This one confuses me.

Legal under Canadian law means just that: would it be legal in Canada? Since same sex marriagenis legal in Canada, you have no worries. (Again, just add a letter explaining this when submitting the PR application.)

 

[figaro2]

Hello
Is your certificate of marriage in English? I think the important thing is to send the document that justifies if you are married or not. IF ut s illegal in russia, then it justifies that you are parteners. A lot of people get married outside their country.

 

[PurpleTuzi]

Can I ask what country you reside in? As stated above, Canada does recognize same sex marriages. They also realize not every country allows it (the United States didn't until 2015). If you have a legal marriage certificate, I would say choose married and provide a letter explaining the situation.
[/quote

I agree with going this route as well. I think if you write an LOE they will understand. If you're still not sure, you may hire an immigration consultant.

 

[agnes0910]

Thanks for replies.

Perhaps I need to repeat:
- Our marriage took place in Denmark
- Our marriage is not recognised in our country of origin/residence

The marriage certificate was apostilled, but Canada didn't sign the apostille convention, so it doesn't matter. However, marriage certificates from many other countries do not need to be recognised by some other canadian bodies. So maybe a danish marriage certificate should be enough for them to proof marriage?

I would fo for common-law partnership, but technically it isn't true... And it will be extremely hard to prove our relationships, because we've been hiding all the evidence that we are together... So no shared bills, no shared addresses on any letters, no shared bank accounts (in my country, it is not possible even for regular couples). And it's a lot easier to just go with a marriage certificate...
Maybe they have some sort of a hotline or an email address?

Hi, did you just submit the danish marriage certificate without having it apostilled?