ImABule
Champion Member
- Mar 4, 2016
- 96
- Category........
- Visa Office......
- Singapore
- Job Offer........
- Pre-Assessed..
- App. Filed.......
- February 25, 2016
- Doc's Request.
- None
- AOR Received.
- March 24, 2016 AOR2 April 15, 2016
- File Transfer...
- SA April 5, 2016
- Med's Done....
- February 02, 2016
- Interview........
- Queue- August 29, 2016 Waived- November 15, 2016
- Passport Req..
- November 17, 2016 DM- November 18, 2016
- VISA ISSUED...
- November 29, 2016
- LANDED..........
- December 19, 2016
I met my wife online through a mutual friend in Feb 15. Visited for two weeks June 15 returned Dec 15 and married her and visited again Mar 16.momo2016 said:I'm not sure what they will think of such a short courtship then. But I do know most of your family being involved is good and same background helps. I feel like I did the right thing by staying with her for a while after our wedding and visited her again. Hope it will help my case
I am a white, born and raised Canadian who's family never followed any religion. Before meeting my wife I had quite literally never attended any religious event in my life. She is Indonesian and although she doesn't practice, she was raised in a deeply Islamic family. I converted to Islam to marry her.
Now when you read that, it probably stands out like holy sh*t that's a huge red flag, but it is all in how you address it in the application.
I actually managed to take what is seemingly a gigantic red flag and work it into our favour.
I knew what the concerns of the officer would be, and I attacked them head on.
I explained that religion is not of importance to either of us and that Indonesia does not allow interfaith marriage. I went on to say that while we considered eloping and marrying abroad, that we decided that her family approving and attending our wedding was of more importance than avoiding conversion. This shows that what her family thinks is important influenced our decision making. Furthermore, when I went to Indonesia to marry my wife, I was told by the religious affairs office that they would not accept my conversion into Islam and allow the marriage unless I also got snipped (if you know what I mean). This would be a clear deal breaker and most people I would think would have at that point revised their plan and simply married abroad. I however, had her father drive me to the clinic in the neighbouring village and I had it done. We explained that my wife did not want me to have to do that but that I again agreed because of the importance of her family's approval and attendance. This shows an unprecedented level of commitment and genuineness and level of sacrifice that not very many people no matter how genuinely in love would have gone through with. What would have seemed to have been a red flag was turned into some very strong relationship proof.
I did the same thing with several other "flags" and presented them in a way that worked to our advantage.
If you acknowledged and explained what you felt they might see an issue with, and did it well, you have nothing to worry about.