Proving our genuine relationship..

[hwanlj]

Hi guys, my partner and i are applying for inland spousal sponsorship (married) and about to send our application,
but after i read all the thread about what to send to prove marriage, I feel like we are not sending enough amount of supporting evidence.. A lot of people here are sending tons of amount of facebook message logs, emails, and etc..

We are sending about 20 pages of our wedding photos(approximately 60 photos) only (other than marriage certificate, and photos that we need to submit for Imm 5285) .. but no other documents, email, or anything..

When i was preparing all those photos, I thought this would be ample evidence, but now after I read all the thread here, I feel like i should collect more evidence.. It's not that I am lazy to do so, but it seems odd to me that I have to overly prepare all those documents and logs..
Or am i just too confident? please advise!

Is there anyone who sent photos only and got approved for PR?

 

[browntrout]

Hi guys, my partner and i are applying for inland spousal sponsorship (married) and about to send our application,
but after i read all the thread about what to send to prove marriage, I feel like we are not sending enough amount of supporting evidence.. A lot of people here are sending tons of amount of facebook message logs, emails, and etc..

We are sending about 20 pages of our wedding photos(approximately 60 photos) only (other than marriage certificate, and photos that we need to submit for Imm 5285) .. but no other documents, email, or anything..

When i was preparing all those photos, I thought this would be ample evidence, but now after I read all the thread here, I feel like i should collect more evidence.. It's not that I am lazy to do so, but it seems odd to me that I have to overly prepare all those documents and logs..
Or am i just too confident? please advise!

Is there anyone who sent photos only and got approved for PR?

we sent images only, maybe 60 images on 20 WORD document pages or so. Of those maybe 5 pages of images from the wedding itself. I applied OUTLAND, but inland should be similar i think and it asks several times to provide proof of relationship, how you met etc. We had loads of images of trips we did together, many years before the wedding. I suggest including some like that also, and not just the wedding.

 

[QuebecOkie]

First, I must say that we had zero red flags and and easy road to PR (I'm American, he lived in my state for four years before we came to Canada, no kids, no complicating factors of any sort). Having said that, we didn't send a lot. All "proof" was included in a four-page word document. There were 8 photos from various vacations and outings. Only one showed us with family (his family), as we're terrible about taking photos. With each photo, I wrote a short description ("this is from our first vacation to Mexico, November 2010, when we went parasailing together in Cancun. Itinerary attached."). For the three photos from our trips together, I attached our travel itineraries for those trips. Then I wrote a brief (one paragraph) statement about our relationship, that I had a good life in the US, and that leaving that life, all of my family and friends, to start a new life with him in a land where I had to learn a new language (since we live in Quebec) shows how genuine our relationship is.

We had no trouble with the PR process, other than the stress and frustration that everyone goes through. Landed in just under a year from the time our inland application was received.

I think how much "proof" you need depends on your individual relationship. If there are larges differences in age, or culture, or religion, or if you knew each other a very short time before marriage, or your family doesn't know about the relationship, or any other "unusual" circumstances, you probably need to show more proof to convince CIC you are a genuine couple. Our storyline (met because we lived near each other, dated, fell in love, traveled together, lived together, married, and then his job required him to move back to Canada) is very "normal" with no unusual or suspicious circumstances.

I do think some people really go "overkill" on the proof. Probably doesn't hurt, but I don't think it probably helps. While we made our fair share of mistakes through the process (perhaps more than our fair share!), I think a well-organized, clear application is enough for most genuine couples with no red flags. 100 pages of documentation is not necessary.

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi guys, my partner and i are applying for inland spousal sponsorship (married) and about to send our application,

What is your country of citizenship? I notice from your previous posts, that you have PGWP status until Feb 2015. With valid work permit in Canada for over the next year, you might want to consider an OUTLAND application instead of inland. Many outland visa offices are fairly quick, and if you could possibly get full PR in less than 12 months.

Compare that to inland which is 11 months just for stage 1 approval and another 8 months for stage 2, and the restriction that you should not leave Canada during this entire time.

Of course this depends which visa office you would use. With 1 years status in Canada you could request CPP-Ottawa as your processing office for outland app (although the choice of visa office is ultimately up to CPC-Mississauga)

I feel like we are not sending enough amount of supporting evidence

It's always good to include proofs that show sharing of finances. This could be showing you are registered as married with the CRA, having a supplementary credit card, joint bank account, shared lease/rental agreement, term life insurance with each other as beneficiary, etc etc.

 

[hwanlj]

What is your country of citizenship? I notice from your previous posts, that you have PGWP status until Feb 2015. With valid work permit in Canada for over the next year, you might want to consider an OUTLAND application instead of inland. Many outland visa offices are fairly quick, and if you could possibly get full PR in less than 12 months.

Compare that to inland which is 11 months just for stage 1 approval and another 8 months for stage 2, and the restriction that you should not leave Canada during this entire time.

Of course this depends which visa office you would use. With 1 years status in Canada you could request CPP-Ottawa as your processing office for outland app (although the choice of visa office is ultimately up to CPC-Mississauga)

It's always good to include proofs that show sharing of finances. This could be showing you are registered as married with the CRA, having a supplementary credit card, joint bank account, shared lease/rental agreement, term life insurance with each other as beneficiary, etc etc.

Thanks Rob!

I'm from South Korea ( I guess you or your spouse is korean, too )..and my partner is a Canadian citizen. I know that Outland could be a lot faster, but I have a job here, and I can't leave the country...( because I won't be getting work permit..after February next year if we are submitting Outland application) I meAn , it's gonna be the best if we get my pr before February, but there's no guarantee..

 

[lovindahubby]

Hi goodnight.
Im from a next forum, what are the redflags in an application?
For my case, we have a 1 year old daughter together, i sent in photos of us both including wedding photos,the only thing our wedding wasnt a big wedding, it was private but his mom, and other relatives was there. We have original marriage certificate and i also sent in photos of us on site seeing, photos of us going to dinner, beach etc... in all around 30 or so... bt we have aroun 1000 photos of us on camera and on phones,laptop... ps we dnt use the letter system... we are more of a skype or oovoo, facebook.kind of couple. I also have a life insurance with him and our daughter as beneficiaries. Am in luck... or i need more proof???

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks Rob!

I'm from South Korea ( I guess you or your spouse is korean, too )..and my partner is a Canadian citizen. I know that Outland could be a lot faster, but I have a job here, and I can't leave the country...( because I won't be getting work permit..after February next year if we are submitting Outland application) I meAn , it's gonna be the best if we get my pr before February, but there's no guarantee..

You are right, there is no guarantee. Applying through the CPP-Ottawa or Manila outland offices, your application could take over 1 year... you never know. In that case after your PGWP expires, you would need to extend your status as a visitor, and would lose work status so would have to stop working until PR is approved. There is definitely a risk here.

If you apply inland, you would get stage 1 approval/open work permit after 11 months so just as your PGWP is expiring, so at least you are pretty much certain to be able to work continuously during your entire process. If you want for-sure peace of mind to stay/work in Canada then inland is better. Just don't plan any vacations outside Canada for the next few years!

 

[lovindahubby]

Any information is appreciated! Thank you

 

[hwanlj]

You are right, there is no guarantee. Applying through the CPP-Ottawa or Manila outland offices, your application could take over 1 year... you never know. In that case after your PGWP expires, you would need to extend your status as a visitor, and would lose work status so would have to stop working until PR is approved. There is definitely a risk here.

If you apply inland, you would get stage 1 approval/open work permit after 11 months so just as your PGWP is expiring, so at least you are pretty much certain to be able to work continuously during your entire process. If you want for-sure peace of mind to stay/work in Canada then inland is better. Just don't plan any vacations outside Canada for the next few years!

Thanks again, Rob!
But just to be sure, Is it really possible to apply with outland application? Our case is really straightforward. We have no dependants,any divorce,committed crime or whatsoever history. The only thing is that we are same-sex couple. It's really tempting to apply outland if i could get it faster since i am looking forward to going back to school in Canada once i get pr...

 

[jenny12345]

We only sent about 25 pics, joint account statement and letter from friends. Don't worry about sending too much proof. If it's real, its real. , you have nothing to worry about.

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks again, Rob!
But just to be sure, Is it really possible to apply with outland application? Our case is really straightforward. We have no dependants,any divorce,committed crime or whatsoever history. The only thing is that we are same-sex couple. It's really tempting to apply outland if i could get it faster since i am looking forward to going back to school in Canada once i get pr...

Yes you can apply outland even if you live in Canada during the entire time. CIC even recommends people in the inland guide, to apply outland if they want quicker processing. In our common-law app, my spouse and I lived together in Toronto during the entire processing time.

If you do decide to apply outland I would request CPP-Ottawa as your visa office. A main negative aspect to outland apps is in case an interview is required, it will be according to visa office. So if your app is being processed at CPP-O your interview would be in Canada, but if it's processed in Manila then your interview would be in Seoul (based on your citizenship). Of course the odds of interview are usually very low, if you submit a strong application.

Also if you do apply outland, as i mentioned just be prepared in case it takes over 1 year... and you will need to get visitor status to stay in Canada if you can't extend your PGWP. There is no OWP or implied status with an outland app.

To ensure the strongest application possible, make sure to include some of the financial proofs mentioned above in addition to all the pictures. Also some testimonial letters from sponsor/applicant's family members/friends supporting the relationship, will help a lot.

If it's real, its real. , you have nothing to worry about.

That advise wouldn't really help the numerous people who are in real relationship, yet still had their applications denied. Look in the appeals thread for "real" relationships that are now being delayed many years in the appeals process. Just because a marriage or common-law relationship is genuine, is no guarantee of success. One should always do the strongest application possible, and not take the application lightly.

 

[hwanlj]

Yes you can apply outland even if you live in Canada during the entire time. CIC even recommends people in the inland guide, to apply outland if they want quicker processing. In our common-law app, my spouse and I lived together in Toronto during the entire processing time.

If you do decide to apply outland I would request CPP-Ottawa as your visa office. A main negative aspect to outland apps is in case an interview is required, it will be according to visa office. So if your app is being processed at CPP-O your interview would be in Canada, but if it's processed in Manila then your interview would be in Seoul (based on your citizenship). Of course the odds of interview are usually very low, if you submit a strong application.

Also if you do apply outland, as i mentioned just be prepared in case it takes over 1 year... and you will need to get visitor status to stay in Canada if you can't extend your PGWP. There is no OWP or implied status with an outland app.

To ensure the strongest application possible, make sure to include some of the financial proofs mentioned above in addition to all the pictures. Also some testimonial letters from sponsor/applicant's family members/friends supporting the relationship, will help a lot.

Thank you so much.. I really appreciate your advice!

I have one more question.. On the CIC website, currently it's gonna take 15 and 14months for ottawa and manila office to process the case.. but do you happen to know if thise time amount is 'on average'?

Looks like you and your partner got the pr really fast (4months?)..
when you were applying what were the numbers on the website..? were the amount of time pretty close to what the website was saying?

 

[browntrout]

Thank you so much.. I really appreciate your advice!

I have one more question.. On the CIC website, currently it's gonna take 15 and 14months for ottawa and manila office to process the case.. but do you happen to know if thise time amount is 'on average'?

Looks like you and your partner got the pr really fast (4months?)..
when you were applying what were the numbers on the website..? were the amount of time pretty close to what the website was saying?

those are on average the way i see it, and i think most cases gets done before those time frames. Also, i think when they initially get the documentation packs in Mississauga i think they do a "rough" separation of solid vs. "lets investigate" cases, but that's just how i think it works over there. My case was solid, been dating my wife since teens, and our case took less than 3 months from sending in to receiving COPR back

i head inland is generally slower than outland though

 

[Rob_TO]

I have one more question.. On the CIC website, currently it's gonna take 15 and 14months for ottawa and manila office to process the case.. but do you happen to know if thise time amount is 'on average'?

No, they are not "average" times. They should be looked at more as worst-case times to process 80% of application. So out of 80% of apps in that office, the longest times are posted.

The "average" times should be seen by taking the 50% stats, which you can only find by downloading the excel spreadsheet from opendata website (you can follow this link, and search for "Permanent Resident Applications Processed Abroad and Processing Times" : http://data.gc.ca/eng )

Based on 50% times, the latest times for outland VOs for spousal category are:
CPP-Ottawa: 10 months
Manila: 9 months

You can also tell by looking at either the CPP-O or Manila threads in this forum, and see what the latest times are for people posting there.

Looks like you and your partner got the pr really fast (4months?)..
when you were applying what were the numbers on the website..? were the amount of time pretty close to what the website was saying?

No, our time was significantly quicker than what the website was showing at the time for Seoul office (now closed). At the time it was showing something around 10-12 months I think.

In general, most people get times quicker than the 80% times posted on CIC website. However sometimes people get the 80% times or longer, it all comes down to how strong the application is, and a lot to do with simple luck.