How many people have interviews? (Spousal sponsorship)

[ufa]

Can I just get a tally started - have you had an interview - inland / outland, and what visa office? Also - anything in your application that you think led to the request for an interview?

We haven't sent the application in, and since an interview will probably involve a minimum $1500 in travel expenses, i just want to try to see what the chances of having one is so i can try to budget this whole impending experience...

 

[boasorte]

I haven't been called for an interview yet, but I am expecting it...

I think the best way to find out if your application is a straightforward one or not is putting yourself on the IO's shoes, I mean, take a look at my case, my partner and I have an age difference, I come from a developing country, my mom doesn't quite accept my relationship ...
I am honest to say that my application is not a straightforward one due to the concerns I have mentioned, and I am pretty sure the IO will look at my file differently.

CIC most of the time call for an interview when they are concern about the genuineness of the relationship, when they are concerned about one's identity, or when it has some criminal past involved... (?)
good luck !

 

[eyeoftheocean]

I had an interview , I am an English Citizen , never lived anywhere else , still the IO wanted to interview myself and my hubby who is a Canadian citizen .

 

[Cdagal]

My husband and I are different race, religion, and I have children from a previous relationship. He is Nigerian and not living or being processed in his home country (we are processing in Sao Paulo, Brazil). He got called for an interview, but that part was painless. They were very receptive and nice to him...the questions were logical (no tricky ones...lol) and respectful and he passed the interview part easily The reason he was called had nothing to do with our relationship really, mostly just about his previous travel history. Make sure you have NO gaps in time when you are putting your history on paper, provide alot of relationship proof.

 

[jdwhite21]

We had an interview, inland through Edmonton office.

Boasorte: How much of an age difference do you have?

 

[scylla]

No interview for my husband (American). We applied outland through Buffalo and have a 16 year age gap (I'm the younger one). When we submitted the PR application we had been together for almost 5 years, were married six months previously in a formal ceremony with reception attended by family and friends from both sides, and had gone on 25+ vacations together involving flights. We have similar religious backgrounds, similar levels of education and similar professions. I had never been married before - my husband was divorced but with no children (married for a few years when he was much much younger).

 

[Black-Berry]

Inland here.
File transferred on October 20th. Were called immediately our local office recieved it. Interview tomorrow Nov 29th. nervous as hell!..

Things that could have flagged our file honestly still are not clear to me.
DH and i married for 8 years. Lived together for 10 years

we are 16 year age difference. DH being older. im from a developing country as well but left that country 10 years ago. have three not so young kids. 6,7 and 17

I consider myself VERY EXTREMELY LUCKY! right now because my interview was scheduled immediately upon recipt of my file by my local office. many people here are still waiting and it is almost 3 years!.

Also, just the fact that ive beenm married or a long time i guess doesnt count with CIC. so long as you have enough documentation to prove that you are a couple and not only kids. we have a home together several cars together. all our credit cards are jopint. Everything we have is joined includng insurance papers and both Wills.
AND WE were still transferred.
Trust me i will be interviewing teh VO tomorrow to make it clear why exactly my file was transferred and why they couldnt have just asked or sent me a additional request form with the missing documents.

My VO is quite awesome and cool though hopefully everything will go well tomorrow. wish me luck

 

[bobshynoswife]

My husband was interviewed in Accra.

It's not a good statistic to go by, as I've only ever heard of one couple in Accra who did not have to do an interview. Due to the high rates of marriage fraud in West Africa they are pretty much the standard.

We are an interracial couple, I was divorced and have children. We knew he would be interviewed.

The couple who were waived were a Nigerian-Canadian wife, met her Nigerian husband through a church website, he is a medical doctor in Nigeria. Looks like a 'better-suited' couple in the eyes of CIC, plus his profession made it less likely that he would enter into a marriage of convenience.

From Sydney, it's hard to say...any red flags in your relationship? Big age difference, or wife older than husband? Racial, cultural or religious difference? Small wedding or elopement? Any previous divorces or children?

 

[ufa]

yep, no, yep, yep and yep, so I'll be budgeting for a trip to Sydney

- confusing family history on his side where there will probably be large gaps and such
- no large age difference
- different cultures
- small wedding
- children with an ex on his side (but never married / common law)

I'll document like crazy

 

[bobshynoswife]

I think that's the reasonable thing to do. Plan for the worst and hope for the best! At least if you have the interview you will have the funds and it won't be a total shock, and if you don't have an interview you will have some savings you can use towards something else.

 

[mimie]

hello there i was just asking that do you think an interview will be requested if both partners are hiv+ and they met through a social website for positive singles?i have a friend who wants to apply and is somehow scared
my friend is 36 and the husband 40 i hope all will be well for them

 

[bobshynoswife]

hello there i was just asking that do you think an interview will be requested if both partners are hiv+ and they met through a social website for positive singles?i have a friend who wants to apply and is somehow scared
my friend is 36 and the husband 40 i hope all will be well for them

I cannot see why that would be reason enough to warrant an interview. Depends on the visa office and their particulars. She shouldn't be afraid to apply if they both want to live in Canada.

 

[waitingintz]

Hi ufa

We were also eager to avoid an interview because of the travel required. I had a consultation with a lawyer before I submitted... I'm sponsoring my common-law partner who is South African. Different education levels, different religions, not married, no joint bank account or bills. The lawyer went through all that, asked if my partner is white (he is) and said we probably wouldn't even get called for an interview if we provide enough evidence. (sorry if this sounds terrible but I do understand why economic situation and race could unfortunately be seen as red flags)

We sent in a solid application and had the interview waived. I think as long as you submit a solid application, you should be fine. (except of course if you get a grumpy IO reviewing your application which is always possible). You know your potential weaknesses, just make sure you address them in your application.

Good luck

 

[Janadian]

We were transferred Nov 4th- Waiting to hear if interview will be required.