Misrepresentation! Please help

[superrqr123]

Here is my case: I applied CEC with my wife as Common-law Spouse, we submitted application on Aug,2020 but we were married in China in Jan, 2020. We left our marriage certificate in China and we had difficulty to do the notary thing for the marriage certificate. So it turns out we decided to apply CEC as common-law spouse (we have all the materials/proof). We DID NOT have Canadian marriage certificate. I'm wondering is it considered as misrepresentation? we're not hiding our relationship but just use common-law instead of marriage certificate. Are those two things considered as same thing for CIC? Please advise

 

[superrqr123]

any advice would be helpful

 

[superrqr123]

 

[Bacelor]

In a broader sense you are married not in common relationship, stating common law relationship while married is surely misleading claim.

Try to register your marriage where you are now or get a copy of the Chinese one.

 

[Alexis1971]

Here is my case: I applied CEC with my wife as Common-law Spouse, we submitted application on Aug,2020 but we were married in China in Jan, 2020. We left our marriage certificate in China and we had difficulty to do the notary thing for the marriage certificate. So it turns out we decided to apply CEC as common-law spouse (we have all the materials/proof). We DID NOT have Canadian marriage certificate. I'm wondering is it considered as misrepresentation? we're not hiding our relationship but just use common-law instead of marriage certificate. Are those two things considered as same thing for CIC? Please advise

I'm not an expert but sounds like misrepresentation to me. You are married and you have a certificate to prove so. Your application could be refuse and may have to wait 5 years before applying again. You should seek legal advice at this time...Good Luck!!

 

[zac0999]

and we had difficulty to do the notary thing for the marriage certificate

You can always find an alternative way like using an original+translation of your Chinese marriage certificate with a LoE clearly explaining why it is hard to obtain a notarized one. Dishonesty about marriage is misrepresentation for sure and could still be a big deal even after one got PR or citizenship.