holding a wedding reception at a later date?

[jesmithers]

Alright..this is probably my millionth post but oh well. My question is that I keep reading that CIC doesn't like when you put in your applications that you've married and will plan a bigger reception afterwards.

Here's my background: I met my husband when I was 15 years old (currently 25). We've been together since we have been 17. We got engaged in November 2014 and married in December as we were planning on applying for conjugal but realized that it would be rejected. I guess in an officer's eyes this is sketchy? My side of the family attended the wedding and his didn't as we were planning on having a bigger ceremony because we are planning to save up money for a house when he gets PR.

My concern is that we're going to get rejected because of this. We included photos of us being together with family (you can tell we were teenagers in some of them) and then progressively getting older. Then Skype logs, etc. Would they reject without even giving us an interview to see us together? I'm really worried. I honestly never though waiting on a bigger ceremony would cause so many red flags. It just flew over our heads.

Some insight would be great.

 

[Ravcat]

I had a similar wedding scenario. Long distance relationship though.

Got married, my family's side was the only one present (My Mom, Dad, Brother, and 1 family friend taking pictures) thats it. Because it would be so ridiculous to have his family fly in at $1,000-$2,000 a pop for a plane ticket, not counting hotel, food, etc...for a 10minute ceremony.

We got married at a justice of the peace, even then it was expensive! My flowers alone were $250, his lapel flower, suit, my dress, parents/brothers outfits... etc...I cant imagine having a big to do wedding...and my Mom was totally against a big wedding because of the expenses...etc.

We got approved today. And you have way more long term evidence! Dont sweat it.

We also said we were going to do a reception for his side of the family, here it is almost 2 years later though LOL...will we do it? Maybe, but I dont like big things...it would be mostly for HIS mother and stuff to see something about the wedding/us getting married...I dont know. It is kinda awkward...

Just whatever your story is, so long as its the truth and you stick with it on all the papers you will be fine!

A big elaborate wedding/reception is not needed...

We did go to Cancun for honeymoon though, that was the pay off of having a small small wedding, the $$$ went to the honeymoon...

So saying you are saving your money for a house is reasonable! Tell them that!

 

[jesmithers]

I had a similar wedding scenario. Long distance relationship though.

Got married, my family's side was the only one present (My Mom, Dad, Brother, and 1 family friend taking pictures) thats it. Because it would be so ridiculous to have his family fly in at $1,000-$2,000 a pop for a plane ticket, not counting hotel, food, etc...for a 10minute ceremony.

We got married at a justice of the peace, even then it was expensive! My flowers alone were $250, his lapel flower, suit, my dress, parents/brothers outfits... etc...I cant imagine having a big to do wedding...and my Mom was totally against a big wedding because of the expenses...etc.

We got approved today. And you have way more long term evidence! Dont sweat it.

We also said we were going to do a reception for his side of the family, here it is almost 2 years later though LOL...will we do it? Maybe, but I dont like big things...it would be mostly for HIS mother and stuff to see something about the wedding/us getting married...I dont know. It is kinda awkward...

Just whatever your story is, so long as its the truth and you stick with it on all the papers you will be fine!

A big elaborate wedding/reception is not needed...

We did go to Cancun for honeymoon though, that was the pay off of having a small small wedding, the $$$ went to the honeymoon...

So saying you are saving your money for a house is reasonable! Tell them that!

Yes! We got married in the same building our apps are being processed in hahaha. We also went on our honeymoon (after our app was filed) so I'm thinking of sending in more photos for evidence but we sent in a copy of our iterinary. His parents paid for that as our wedding gift. I just keep reading a lot of things on rejections and red flags for little things and it's so scary.

Thank you for your reply!! We've been long distance for so long and I'm getting older and wanting to start a family soon ahhhh so strrssful . Congrats on your DM!!

 

[taffy7]

Stop worrying . Really its very common to do what you have done. A friend of my sons got married by the justice of the peace ,no reception,no honey moon just mum and bother there . Only new each other a year and very young and they got approved .

A reception is needed when that's the culture of the country , may be that's what your reading. That's what CIC is looking for .

 

[jesmithers]

Stop worrying . Really its very common to do what you have done. A friend of my sons got married by the justice of the peace ,no reception,no honey moon just mum and bother there . Only new each other a year and very young and they got approved .

A reception is needed when that's the culture of the country , may be that's what your reading. That's what CIC is looking for .

I hope so! Thank you taffy7.

 

[keesio]

A reception is needed when that's the culture of the country , may be that's what your reading. That's what CIC is looking for .

Yup, this. In some cultures, the wedding ceremony/reception is A BIG DEAL and it is really abnormal not to have as big a one that you can afford.

But in many western worlds where many people get married in smaller ceremonies or city hall or vegas or elope... not a big deal. This applies to the USA.

There was one US/CDN couple who got married in their friends living room and just had some cousins and one or two friends there. They took about 8 photos. Their sponsorship went smooth. The more important thing was that the couple was together for many years before getting married and they had strong evidence of this.

 

[canadianwoman]

I also don't think you have anything to worry about. You have a long relationship with lots of proof. Your reason for having a small ceremony is understandable, and wanting to have a bigger reception later is fine. The people who get refused because they didn't have a huge wedding ceremony and reception are people from India (especially) and other countries where such ceremonies are the norm.

 

[deweysmith]

It's kinda horrible to think, but since US citizens have so little in the "stands to gain" column in CIC's mind, it's not hard to prove that you're not in a marriage of convenience. It also has a lot to do with the culture not necessarily pushing a big wedding in the US as others have mentioned, but this is also a big factor.

 

[keesio]

It's kinda horrible to think, but since US citizens have so little in the "stands to gain" column in CIC's mind, it's not hard to prove that you're not in a marriage of convenience.

I don't think CIC feels there is "little to gain" for US citizens. It's just that it (MoC) is really uncommon and also when a CDN/US couple do marry, the ratio of who moves where is usually the Canadian going to live in the US (Canadian sponsored for a US Green Card). So all CIC does is go my the stats. The US is not a region they have had much issues with in the past.

CIC has rejected US citizen applicants when it hinted of MoC (like when an american soldier fled to Canada to avoid a second tour and his refugee (or something like that) claim was denied, he quickly married a Canadian supporter, and CIC obviously saw that as a MoC). But yeah, you need to have a really weak relationship history to have any issues.

 

[deweysmith]

But yeah, you need to have a really weak relationship history to have any issues.

REALLY weak. I sent maybe 200 photos and used no extra space on the forms for how we met and everything, and our application is going like gangbusters. Just need the CSQ and we are set.

 

[Ravcat]

I also don't think you have anything to worry about. You have a long relationship with lots of proof. Your reason for having a small ceremony is understandable, and wanting to have a bigger reception later is fine. The people who get refused because they didn't have a huge wedding ceremony and reception are people from India (especially) and other countries where such ceremonies are the norm.

Totally agree, they are good to go

 

[jesmithers]

REALLY weak. I sent maybe 200 photos and used no extra space on the forms for how we met and everything, and our application is going like gangbusters. Just need the CSQ and we are set.

Oh my goodness! That's a lot of photos! We didn't send that many ... maybe no more than 20? Is that classified as weak!? We've only seen each other a short amount of time (we listed all dates and associated pictures to why I was there or why he was here) .. we didn't see each other that much over 2007-2013 because of school and being so young and not having money ...we seen each other more frequent now (sort of .. I got a full-time job as of March and only have a certain amount of vacation days) and we have photos but not 200 photos! >_<

I always wonder if officer's understand things like this or go super indept and question everything. From everyone's posts it seems that they may not (sadly) question too much on an American sponsee. I guess I'm overlooking/overthinking everything. It's so stressful .. I would hate to have a rejection and have to wait years for an appeal.

Thank you all for posting and contributing to this thread! It's really helped me.

 

[keesio]

Oh my goodness! That's a lot of photos! We didn't send that many ... maybe no more than 20? Is that classified as weak!? We've only seen each other a short amount of time (we listed all dates and associated pictures to why I was there or why he was here) .. we didn't see each other that much over 2007-2013 because of school and being so young and not having money ...we seen each other more frequent now (sort of .. I got a full-time job as of March and only have a certain amount of vacation days) and we have photos but not 200 photos! >_<

I always wonder if officer's understand things like this or go super indept and question everything. From everyone's posts it seems that they may not (sadly) question too much on an American sponsee. I guess I'm overlooking/overthinking everything. It's so stressful .. I would hate to have a rejection and have to wait years for an appeal.

Thank you all for posting and contributing to this thread! It's really helped me.

Don't worry, 200 is indeed a lot of photos, by any metric. My wife and I sent ~50. As long as your 20 photos are quality (like wedding/honeymoon, vacations together, family photos with inlaws, etc), then that is fine. People have been approved with less.

 

[Sa3Sa3]

Loooooooooolz

I sent them 3 pictures only


I also had no wedding reception and I told them that we are waiting for the Canadian visa to plan for our honeymoon and for the big reception.


What should I expect now

 

[deweysmith]

I say that like it's not a lot because people on here talk about sending boxes (yes, boxes) of photos, Skype transcripts, phone bills, etc, and here I am with 3 paragraphs and a couple hundred wedding photos.

Nothing wrong with it, just... Interesting, I guess.