Married when met sponsor, will this look bad?

[tinytortoise]

My Canadian fiancé and I (American) met at a work function while I was going through a tough time in my previous marriage. The next month my ex and I separated (I moved across the country), during that time my fiancé and I emailed and chatted (as friends, mostly about my separation but it was clear there was a mutual attraction). My fiancé visited me twice during this time. After three months my ex moved across the country and we tried to work it out (marriage counseling - after three sessions he refused to go) and three months later I filed for divorce. One month after filing I moved across the country again (back home). When I moved home my fiancé and I started dating, first casually, then nine months later exclusively, and we will be exclusive for a year when we get married. It took 17 months for the divorce to be final (ex fighting me) and there is no such thing as legal separation in the state we got divorced.

I want to show documentation of our (fiancé and my) full relationship (emails from that time I was living cross country from my ex) to show how the relationship developed - the "getting to know you" stage. Our emails, texts and skypes from when I first moved home show that we know each other and really like each other but there are no "so tell me about your family/hobbies?" type of questions. Though there is a lot more communication (calls/text/skype logs).

My ex and I have no contact and he would never sign anything (showing separation) to help me out. I do have emails and texts between us that show that we were separated. Should I include those?

Will it look bad to immigration that I was separated (not legally, but physically) from my spouse and conversing with my now fiancé?

My fiancé thinks we shouldn't even show immigration the pre-move emails and just show emails/test/skypes from when I moved home. There are lots of phone calls/texts/skype records to show we talked a lot after I moved. His reasoning is it is a touchy subject and you have no idea what the immigration official is going through in their life and they might deny based on the communication we had while I was separated. Thoughts?

 

[KJG]

My Canadian fiancé and I (American) met at a work function while I was going through a tough time in my previous marriage. The next month my ex and I separated (I moved across the country), during that time my fiancé and I emailed and chatted (as friends, mostly about my separation but it was clear there was a mutual attraction). My fiancé visited me twice during this time. After three months my ex moved across the country and we tried to work it out (marriage counseling - after three sessions he refused to go) and three months later I filed for divorce. One month after filing I moved across the country again (back home). When I moved home my fiancé and I started dating, first casually, then nine months later exclusively, and we will be exclusive for a year when we get married. It took 17 months for the divorce to be final (ex fighting me) and there is no such thing as legal separation in the state we got divorced.

I want to show documentation of our (fiancé and my) full relationship (emails from that time I was living cross country from my ex) to show how the relationship developed - the "getting to know you" stage. Our emails, texts and skypes from when I first moved home show that we know each other and really like each other but there are no "so tell me about your family/hobbies?" type of questions. Though there is a lot more communication (calls/text/skype logs).

My ex and I have no contact and he would never sign anything (showing separation) to help me out. I do have emails and texts between us that show that we were separated. Should I include those?

Will it look bad to immigration that I was separated (not legally, but physically) from my spouse and conversing with my now fiancé?

My fiancé thinks we shouldn't even show immigration the pre-move emails and just show emails/test/skypes from when I moved home. There are lots of phone calls/texts/skype records to show we talked a lot after I moved. His reasoning is it is a touchy subject and you have no idea what the immigration official is going through in their life and they might deny based on the communication we had while I was separated. Thoughts?

I was legally separated when I met my spouse and when we decided to get married I filed for divorce...my divource become effective in April of 2011 and we were married in 2012. Should have no bearing on your approval.

 

[Steph C]

My Canadian fiancé and I (American) met at a work function while I was going through a tough time in my previous marriage. The next month my ex and I separated (I moved across the country), during that time my fiancé and I emailed and chatted (as friends, mostly about my separation but it was clear there was a mutual attraction). My fiancé visited me twice during this time. After three months my ex moved across the country and we tried to work it out (marriage counseling - after three sessions he refused to go) and three months later I filed for divorce. One month after filing I moved across the country again (back home). When I moved home my fiancé and I started dating, first casually, then nine months later exclusively, and we will be exclusive for a year when we get married. It took 17 months for the divorce to be final (ex fighting me) and there is no such thing as legal separation in the state we got divorced.

I want to show documentation of our (fiancé and my) full relationship (emails from that time I was living cross country from my ex) to show how the relationship developed - the "getting to know you" stage. Our emails, texts and skypes from when I first moved home show that we know each other and really like each other but there are no "so tell me about your family/hobbies?" type of questions. Though there is a lot more communication (calls/text/skype logs).

My ex and I have no contact and he would never sign anything (showing separation) to help me out. I do have emails and texts between us that show that we were separated. Should I include those?

Will it look bad to immigration that I was separated (not legally, but physically) from my spouse and conversing with my now fiancé?

My fiancé thinks we shouldn't even show immigration the pre-move emails and just show emails/test/skypes from when I moved home. There are lots of phone calls/texts/skype records to show we talked a lot after I moved. His reasoning is it is a touchy subject and you have no idea what the immigration official is going through in their life and they might deny based on the communication we had while I was separated. Thoughts?

I think you should show the whole length of your relationship, because from what I understand in Canada there is no ''legal separation" in the sense that both parties have to sign and agree, but your separation is automatically legal the minute you stop being together. So according to Canadian law, even though your separation was not a formal agreement it would be considered legal here. I don't think an immigration official could look down on you for that. I'm not an expert, but it's just what I have always understood.. you can do a google search on it for more info.

 

[Zouk Princesse]

The short answer...yes, it will hurt your case. However, that is not to say you can't be successfully approved, as many others in your situation have. If you read through appeal cases, you will see that CIC is almost always suspicious of relationships starting soon after a failed marriage. The onus will be on you to clearly explain your circumstances and submit quality proof of the genuiness of your current relationship.

 

[canadianwoman]

To the OP: show the whole length of the relationship with your fiance, including the part where you were still married with someone else. This shows how the relationship developed. If you don't show this development, you and he will have to lie on the forms and at any interview. Not worth it - someone might slip up, ending up making the visa officer suspicious.

The only reason to hide the first part of the relationship would be if it were part of what might look like marriage fraud: for example, if the Canadian sponsor became a Canadian PR by being sponsored by a Canadian, and then after landing, immediately started corresponding with someone else, who he then goes on to sponsor. Your situation does not sound like this.

 

[alf+jlh]

My Canadian fiancé and I (American) met at a work function while I was going through a tough time in my previous marriage. The next month my ex and I separated (I moved across the country), during that time my fiancé and I emailed and chatted (as friends, mostly about my separation but it was clear there was a mutual attraction). My fiancé visited me twice during this time. After three months my ex moved across the country and we tried to work it out (marriage counseling - after three sessions he refused to go) and three months later I filed for divorce. One month after filing I moved across the country again (back home). When I moved home my fiancé and I started dating, first casually, then nine months later exclusively, and we will be exclusive for a year when we get married. It took 17 months for the divorce to be final (ex fighting me) and there is no such thing as legal separation in the state we got divorced.

I want to show documentation of our (fiancé and my) full relationship (emails from that time I was living cross country from my ex) to show how the relationship developed - the "getting to know you" stage. Our emails, texts and skypes from when I first moved home show that we know each other and really like each other but there are no "so tell me about your family/hobbies?" type of questions. Though there is a lot more communication (calls/text/skype logs).

My ex and I have no contact and he would never sign anything (showing separation) to help me out. I do have emails and texts between us that show that we were separated. Should I include those?

Will it look bad to immigration that I was separated (not legally, but physically) from my spouse and conversing with my now fiancé?

My fiancé thinks we shouldn't even show immigration the pre-move emails and just show emails/test/skypes from when I moved home. There are lots of phone calls/texts/skype records to show we talked a lot after I moved. His reasoning is it is a touchy subject and you have no idea what the immigration official is going through in their life and they might deny based on the communication we had while I was separated. Thoughts?

When I met my American husband he was still married, his relationship with his ex was also rough but none the less he was legally married. We officially started dating 9 months prior to the divorce being finalized.
4 years after we met we were married, 4 months later we applied for pr and in only 5 short months our entire application was approved. Now we just wait for the visa to come back from LA.

So....I realize all cases are different but as long as you can prove your relationship is genuine by providing enough back up, and as long as you thoroughly answer each question. You will be fine.

Clearly you were not meant to be with your first husband, nothing wrong with that. This world is so huge we all aren't expected to meet our true one and onlys in the cities we live in right. I don't see you having a problem at all

You will be fine, stay positive and all will be done and over before you know it.

 

[fhj1203]

My Canadian fiancé and I (American) met at a work function while I was going through a tough time in my previous marriage. The next month my ex and I separated (I moved across the country), during that time my fiancé and I emailed and chatted (as friends, mostly about my separation but it was clear there was a mutual attraction). My fiancé visited me twice during this time. After three months my ex moved across the country and we tried to work it out (marriage counseling - after three sessions he refused to go) and three months later I filed for divorce. One month after filing I moved across the country again (back home). When I moved home my fiancé and I started dating, first casually, then nine months later exclusively, and we will be exclusive for a year when we get married. It took 17 months for the divorce to be final (ex fighting me) and there is no such thing as legal separation in the state we got divorced.

I want to show documentation of our (fiancé and my) full relationship (emails from that time I was living cross country from my ex) to show how the relationship developed - the "getting to know you" stage. Our emails, texts and skypes from when I first moved home show that we know each other and really like each other but there are no "so tell me about your family/hobbies?" type of questions. Though there is a lot more communication (calls/text/skype logs).

My ex and I have no contact and he would never sign anything (showing separation) to help me out. I do have emails and texts between us that show that we were separated. Should I include those?

Will it look bad to immigration that I was separated (not legally, but physically) from my spouse and conversing with my now fiancé?

My fiancé thinks we shouldn't even show immigration the pre-move emails and just show emails/test/skypes from when I moved home. There are lots of phone calls/texts/skype records to show we talked a lot after I moved. His reasoning is it is a touchy subject and you have no idea what the immigration official is going through in their life and they might deny based on the communication we had while I was separated. Thoughts?

I remembered my husband filed his divorced when my daughter was already 2 years old,and got it when she's 3..and it didn't cause us any problem to the immigration processing..

as long as you can prove that all your relationship is genuine..

 

[tinytortoise]

Thank you all. I think we have a strong case of evidence to show our relationship is genuine:

- 24 visits to see each other in last 19 months (airfare from $500-$850 a trip shows the large financial investment we've made in the relationship)
- We will have letters from: my parents, his parents, my brother, his sister and her husband, 2 of my friends and 2 of his friends
- Photos of our trips, including traveling across the US to meet my friends and attend a wedding for one of them
- thousands upon thousands of texts/skype logs/ emails

In my application I will explain how we met, including that my ex and I were separated a month after fiance and I met; that I filed for divorce six month later and the divorce took 17 months before I received the decree. I'm not withholding any information then. I'll include some emails from the friend stage but only a few.

Thank you again.

 

[Steph C]

I'm glad you decided that, I think you have a strong case too.
If you look at some of the other cases on this forum sometimes you can feel better about yours