Hi everyone.
Just thought I share my story and my timeline to help anyone I can possible can. I been silently viewing this forum when I can for information.
I send in my application Dec 7,2017.
I got acknowledge that my application was in progress Jan 25,2018. Two weeks later it was sent to Colombo Visa Office.
I got my medical request in May 15 and my wife completed the medical in Astri Hospital and medical pass took couple of days.
After long delay, I got a letter for a interview. My wife went to interview at the 10:00 AM Oct 30. interview was only 15min for her but some other people it was over an 1hr. Same day later I got email to submit the passport at the VFS office.
My wife submitted the passport following day. currently waiting to get it back. its been 5 business days, still have not got it back, however when I check my sponsor online status it says Final decision:- Your application is approved and it also shows visa expire of next year 2019 may.
tips: try to give much information you can when you submit your application when you can to prevent from delaying like mine taking upto 11 months. I used a person to help me fill the form and paid money for it. it was useless cause they only told me to submit the basic requirement.
Try submit everything you can like phone conversions(everything from facebook replies, messenger,viber,whatsapp). they don't care if its not translated. they looking for date,time, if it has your name and numbers. photos with both people together, receipts, money transfer receptis, greeting cards, wedding receipts, plane ticket, boarding pass, if you send a package to sri lanka or canada, send that receipt too.
Another reason it was delayed for me is, I only did wedding registration in sri lanka not full hindu wedding. Officer who was doing interviewer mentioned it takes longer if its just wedding registration and they have to ask more question in the interview. Lucky for me, I went back in May 2018 and got married in sri lanka. So i had more prove to show during interview. When my wife mention our wedding was completed in sri lanka, officer was very happy.
They ask for phone conversion and wedding albums and wedding receipts, notice of assessment for interview.
My wife took lot more than this. Greeting cards, wedding cards, phone conversion all available messengers, money transfer receipts, honey moon photos and receipts from it. Make sure you label each one what they are. Officer does not have time to review and figure what each receipt is. I made portfolio for my wife with detailing each receipts and evidence with a Title page. Officer took like 10 min to review and my wife was called into interview after that.
Question asked: When you or your family decide about this wedding, how long you known the person and how do you talk to them before wedding. What your husband do for living, and what company he is working for and how much does he make. Basic questions.
hope this helps. Good luck everyone.