Geting married X time before sending the aplication

[Mike.L]

Hi all, i'm Canadian but i live in Portugal since i was 9, i'm 23 right now.

I have a girlfriend (She is Portuguese) for 2 years and i want to move with her to Canada to have a better life.

My question is, is it a problem if a marry her some weeks before a send the application to sponsor her as my spouse?
Will they deny it thinking its a fraud?

 

[zardoz]

If you can prove that the relationship is well established, with things like photos taken over the years, emails, telephone records etc. it would not be a problem. Your application will be thoroughly checked and if they are not sure, they will either ask for more information or request an interview. Don't forget that you will also be in the position of "conditional PR", where your gf/wife will have to stay living with you for two years after entering Canada, or her PR could be revoked. For this reason, you should be sure that the relationship is stable and is likely to endure.

 

[Mike.L]

Thx for the quick response

We don't have a lot of photos and we use cell phones to talk to each other and sms, and we never use email's.
Is there another way to prove the relationship?

 

[zardoz]

Ask yourself, "If I was the visa officer, what would convince ME?" and then go with that.

Maybe ask friends and family to write letters stating that they know about the relationship and give supporting information on how long it's been going on.. If you get married, make sure that lots of people from both sides of your family are there at the marriage ceremony. Go on a honeymoon... stuff like that.

DO NOT attempt to manufacture "convincing evidence" as the visa officers are trained to detect this and it will reflect badly on the application. Just be natural and if you are not yet quite ready to apply, delay for a bit and find out how the relationship develops while you gather more evidence.

 

[Mike.L]

Will they always ask for these type of proof?

I can get basic stuff like photos, letter from both our parents (in English right?) and recent phone records.

We'll get married without a ceremony, just civil marriage registration. Because it's a lot cheaper...

 

[zardoz]

What they are looking for is a "marriage of convenience".

The responsibility is yours to show that this is not the case, so they will be looking for as much proof as you can give them. Are you actually living together? if not, how often do you see each other and for how long? Have you been away on holiday together anywhere?

 

[Mike.L]

We don't live together, i live with my parents and she lives with her parents, she lives 10 minutes from me by car.
We see each other 4 to 5 days a week. We have been dating for 2 years and 7 months now.

We have been on a holiday for 3 days in a hotel.

 

[zardoz]

OK, you are going to find it a challenge to provide evidence, unless you have mobile phone call records. Do you have the hotel receipts etc?

You might want to consider getting married and living where you are for a year, then applying for immigration.

It think it's only fair to warn you that the immigration application process is slow, expensive and stressful. It has caused many relationships to fall apart, so you really should know what you are getting into as a newly married couple.

I am, hopefully, nearing the end of our application and I know first hand just how much stress it causes.
We have been married for over eight years and we found it hard...

 

[Mike.L]

Not sure if i still got the hotel receipts, i will look into that.

I would love to live with her but the housing cost in Portugal right now is high and job salary is low...we have been having up money to move to Canada.

I understand it to be very stressful...im also stressing out every time i think i can't sponsor her because of lack of proof.

I hope all the best to you

 

[zardoz]

Good luck to you both. I'm sure others on the forum will have ideas for you as well. Keep asking around.

 

[mikeymyke]

We'll get married without a ceremony, just civil marriage registration. Because it's a lot cheaper...

That's usually a bad idea. Visa officers will not look favorably to quick, simple marriages. They want to see a larger ceremony with BOTH your parents and her parents attending. It's not the end of the world if you don't meet these criteria, but you can be sure to expect an interview if you have a smaller ceremony.

 

[godisFin]

That's usually a bad idea. Visa officers will not look favorably to quick, simple marriages. They want to see a larger ceremony with BOTH your parents and her parents attending. It's not the end of the world if you don't meet these criteria, but you can be sure to expect an interview if you have a smaller ceremony.

I don't think the ceremony has to be large. We had civil ceremony with both of our parents and siblings present. We wanted to make it fair for both of us (same number of guests present from each side), we didn't want to ask our friends and rest of the family to travel to another country for this wedding. And we also didn't want just one of us family and friends present. This was the only way to go for us. Only my parents and sister flew to Canada to this wedding. I explained this on my application and I'm sure VO can't say anything negative about it.

Also few weeks ago we had a party for all the Canadian relatives and friends so they wouldn't feel left out. We have to repeat this in Finland too next year. So many parties!! But it's easier for everyone I think.

 

[Mevakesh]

I don't think the ceremony has to be large. We had civil ceremony with both of our parents and siblings present. We wanted to make it fair for both of us (same number of guests present from each side), we didn't want to ask our friends and rest of the family to travel to another country for this wedding. And we also didn't want just one of us family and friends present. This was the only way to go for us. Only my parents and sister flew to Canada to this wedding. I explained this on my application and I'm sure VO can't say anything negative about it.

Also few weeks ago we had a party for all the Canadian relatives and friends so they wouldn't feel left out. We have to repeat this in Finland too next year. So many parties!! But it's easier for everyone I think.

You probably had a good balance of other proof though to convince the VISA officer about your relationship. OP lacks enough evidence imo to satisfy a visa officer. Like a poster above suggested, Maybe get married, live together for a year or so, gather more proof and apply with peace of mind.

 

[goldenkagi]

Hi! My husband and I sent in our application about four months after our wedding. We were in a relationship for six years prior to that, though. We chose a bunch of photos from each year, which probably showed our "evolution", if you may. I think my husband chose photos pretty well. There were ones with us on dates, on lunches with family, on trips and vacations. He even included our graduation photos together. I can try to give you some tips if you want to have more "photographic" proof for your app. Here goes...

I suggest gathering photos of you two with different groups of people: your families, friends, in different events and such. I don't think it has to be a lot, I recall a member sent in their app with something like a handful or so of photos (I cannot remember who this was, when it was, or which VO they sent it to so please be a bit wary of this!) If you have dinner with friends or family, try to take a photo. You two are out on a date or a day trip somewhere? Snap some pictures. Before you know it you have a lot of photos to choose from.

I agree with mikeymyke, the ceremony doesn't have to be huge. Have family, maybe good friends, and have a simple party afterwards. Also, zardoz has a great point. Living together, I think , would be another point in your favor. You will also have a lease, joint bank accounts and bills and such that I think you can also submit.

Okay I think my reply has gotten out of hand. Don't stress about it too much! Have fun with your girlfriend, live life, and love each other. Your application time (and the stress that comes with it, lol) will come. I wish you and your girl the best of luck, and happiness together

 

[canuck_in_uk]

That's usually a bad idea. Visa officers will not look favorably to quick, simple marriages. They want to see a larger ceremony with BOTH your parents and her parents attending. It's not the end of the world if you don't meet these criteria, but you can be sure to expect an interview if you have a smaller ceremony.

They only look on simple marriages unfavorably when the relationship itself has been quick or there are other red flags. This couple has been together for 2 years and she is visa-exempt, so if they had a decent amount of proof of their relationship, there is almost zero chance of an interview, even with a small ceremony. They could just explain that they and their families don't have a lot of money, they are saving up in preparation for moving to Canada and can't afford a large wedding ceremony.

To the OP, if you had more evidence of your relationship, you could apply right after being married. However, as said by the others above, you would be better off getting married, living together for awhile and then applying. Have at least have both sets of parents at the civil ceremony, if not a few more family and friends. Sit down with both sets of parents and arrange for both of you to live together in one of the parents' houses after the marriage. Even though you are in the parents' house, this is still considered as you guys living together. Live together for around 6 months and then apply and you should be fine.