My situation (Advice needed). My fiancnee (Philippines)

[CanadianCitizen314]

Her visitor visa was rejected for reason "officer didn't believe she would leave Canada by specified date" along with 4 different sub-reasons referencing this primary reason from finance to the fact that she has never traveled before to Canada. We did apply for a 6 month time frame which in hindsight may have been too long, but the application fee was an expensive $180 to find this out. Since the only reason she was going to come there was so we could get married (we've been seeing each other for 5 years and I've gone to see her in Philippines last two years and this is year we decided was time to get married), I figured I'd might as well just come down there seeing as how I think the chances of her getting approved even for a 2 week visit are low (I really wish there were a way around this part but from advice I was given that isn't the case).

I only have 2 weeks off work which I saved up for the entire year and can afford to go down there once to get married. In the Philippines there are also their own set of requirements for foreigners getting married, I have to for example go to the consulate there and get a statutory declaration of my single status. This takes a day at least. I'm currently looking at forms to send to Ottawa to get the statement in lieu of this but she hasn't yet found out if the local marriage registry will accept this as it's not from Philippines.

Assuming I can get this form, it still takes 10 days (or more) before the marriage license is released and we're legally able to get married in Philippines. This means 1 day + 10 day + wedding and we're getting very close to the 2 weeks without any time to spare (for example if it takes more than 10 days to process or if the registry is closed for a day). I feel like there has to be a way to do this right as I can't be the first person/couple to have dealt with this same situation. I just want to marry her and she wants the same, but all these applications and time constraints are making that seem like an impossibility.

I'm having trouble sleeping at night because of the stress of this, wondering if anyone can please share their knowledge and help me find the best way to deal with this complicated situation.

Thanks so much.

 

[21Goose]

Unfortunately you don't have too many good options. The only viable one is to go there and get married, and then sponsor her once you return.

Your job won't give you another few days (maybe unpaid?) even if you're going to get married?

 

[CanadianCitizen314]

Unfortunately you don't have too many good options. The only viable one is to go there and get married, and then sponsor her once you return.

Your job won't give you another few days (maybe unpaid?) even if you're going to get married?

Thanks for advice. I'm hoping we can expedite the marriage license somehow maybe courier signatures over if possible. I have no reason to believe this is possible though but haven't been able to find a straight answer. I'm probably not able to get more than 2 weeks off at my job.

 

[21Goose]

Thanks for advice. I'm hoping we can expedite the marriage license somehow maybe courier signatures over if possible. I have no reason to believe this is possible though but haven't been able to find a straight answer. I'm probably not able to get more than 2 weeks off at my job.

Not much else you can do. There's no other way to sponsor her/get her a visa. You don't have any immigration issues preventing you from going to see her, and you aren't already common law.

 

[Jarvis99]

I think you can get married Hong Kong. She would be visa exempt to go there and you'd go thru the Hong Kong rules of getting married. Not sure what the process is to get the marriage registered by the PSA once you get married in Hong Kong though.

 

[StephanH]

Her visitor visa was rejected for reason "officer didn't believe she would leave Canada by specified date" along with 4 different sub-reasons referencing this primary reason from finance to the fact that she has never traveled before to Canada. We did apply for a 6 month time frame which in hindsight may have been too long, but the application fee was an expensive $180 to find this out. Since the only reason she was going to come there was so we could get married (we've been seeing each other for 5 years and I've gone to see her in Philippines last two years and this is year we decided was time to get married), I figured I'd might as well just come down there seeing as how I think the chances of her getting approved even for a 2 week visit are low (I really wish there were a way around this part but from advice I was given that isn't the case).

I only have 2 weeks off work which I saved up for the entire year and can afford to go down there once to get married. In the Philippines there are also their own set of requirements for foreigners getting married, I have to for example go to the consulate there and get a statutory declaration of my single status. This takes a day at least. I'm currently looking at forms to send to Ottawa to get the statement in lieu of this but she hasn't yet found out if the local marriage registry will accept this as it's not from Philippines.

Assuming I can get this form, it still takes 10 days (or more) before the marriage license is released and we're legally able to get married in Philippines. This means 1 day + 10 day + wedding and we're getting very close to the 2 weeks without any time to spare (for example if it takes more than 10 days to process or if the registry is closed for a day). I feel like there has to be a way to do this right as I can't be the first person/couple to have dealt with this same situation. I just want to marry her and she wants the same, but all these applications and time constraints are making that seem like an impossibility.

I'm having trouble sleeping at night because of the stress of this, wondering if anyone can please share their knowledge and help me find the best way to deal with this complicated situation.

Thanks so much.

Yes, go there and get married to her, I have a Canadian friend that did that in February and married her, he traveled in the Philippines 2-3 times to have short visits, his wife was approved for a PR in July and will be flying to Canada on the 19th this month. They hired an agent but yo could do it yourself. You will just need to make sure you have a lot of proof about how your relationship evolved together... How long you know each other, how you met, chat logs, pictures...

 

[CanadianCitizen314]

Yeah I guess my problem now lies in logistics of planning a wedding in the Philippines within the 2 week allotted time. If anyone's done this before would appreciate any insight on this process although it's not specific to Canada.

 

[CanadianCitizen314]

I think you can get married Hong Kong. She would be visa exempt to go there and you'd go thru the Hong Kong rules of getting married. Not sure what the process is to get the marriage registered by the PSA once you get married in Hong Kong though.

Yeah tbh it's too complex I've looked into it with Thailand and involves just as many steps really but more uncertainty being in a country that isn't our homeland.

 

[Western Mountain Man]

Her visitor visa was rejected for reason "officer didn't believe she would leave Canada by specified date" along with 4 different sub-reasons referencing this primary reason from finance to the fact that she has never traveled before to Canada. We did apply for a 6 month time frame which in hindsight may have been too long, but the application fee was an expensive $180 to find this out. Since the only reason she was going to come there was so we could get married (we've been seeing each other for 5 years and I've gone to see her in Philippines last two years and this is year we decided was time to get married), I figured I'd might as well just come down there seeing as how I think the chances of her getting approved even for a 2 week visit are low (I really wish there were a way around this part but from advice I was given that isn't the case).

I only have 2 weeks off work which I saved up for the entire year and can afford to go down there once to get married. In the Philippines there are also their own set of requirements for foreigners getting married, I have to for example go to the consulate there and get a statutory declaration of my single status. This takes a day at least. I'm currently looking at forms to send to Ottawa to get the statement in lieu of this but she hasn't yet found out if the local marriage registry will accept this as it's not from Philippines.

Assuming I can get this form, it still takes 10 days (or more) before the marriage license is released and we're legally able to get married in Philippines. This means 1 day + 10 day + wedding and we're getting very close to the 2 weeks without any time to spare (for example if it takes more than 10 days to process or if the registry is closed for a day). I feel like there has to be a way to do this right as I can't be the first person/couple to have dealt with this same situation. I just want to marry her and she wants the same, but all these applications and time constraints are making that seem like an impossibility.

I'm having trouble sleeping at night because of the stress of this, wondering if anyone can please share their knowledge and help me find the best way to deal with this complicated situation.

Thanks so much.

Slim to no chance for a visitor visa especially from the Philippines. They think she would just come here and not go back.
What's your next best option? You will have to go there or somewhere else and get married.
Apply outland and expect for around 12 months.

It seems you are concerned with having only 2 weeks off work, talking about stress, time constraints, etc.
Are you sure you know what you are getting into? I think you should take a step back and seek more advice.
Trouble sleeping at this point is not good because you will be in for a long ride.

Maybe quit your job and go stay with her for some time. That would help especially during the winter season in Canada.
They don't make it easy!

 

[Canada2020eh]

I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. I am a Canuck living in PH with my wife, we got married here 5 years ago. Regarding the marriage licence, your Fiance probably knows it is applied for at the municipal hall. According to my Asawa she can do that by herself, you don't have to be here to apply for it. They will want a copy of your passport and maybe other docs. Normal time is 10 days to get it issued, can be shorter if needed and your Fiance knows how to expedite it. wink wink. VIP** If your Fiance is under 25 years old there is a marriage seminar that has to be attended by both of you.

As for the doc from the consulate you should be able to get that in Canada and send it here, although I don't know where to get it. Since there is no National marriage registry in Canada if you were married before you should provide the divorce certificate to apply for the marriage certificate. If never married it is called having "The legal capacity to marry", you are essentially swearing an affidavit before a Canadian official that you are single and there is no reason you can't get married here.

My wife says she knows of a number of instances where the non Filipino was only here for a few days to get married. If all I have said is correct your 2 week time frame might not be a problem. Keep us advised how it goes.

Cheers

 

[leanajoe]

If Hong Kong wasn't in such political turmoil right now, I would suggest to get married there. My husband and I had the same time limit but in HK you can just mail your application and be there for 1 week for the wedding. He had 2 weeks vacation time, 1 week spent in Hong Kong and had reception in the Philippines for friends and family. I would also suggest your wife look into applying for a license in her local/provincial civil registry (not the ones in big cities) as they might be more considerate with your situation. I tried applying in the city and they wouldn't budge, but I heard other things for provincial offices.
Best wishes!