I am a 20 F who is looking to apply for spousal sponsorship for my future husband in 3 years (NOT NOW). Currently, my boyfriend and I are in a long distance relationship. He lives in Pakistan and I am a current Canadian citizen. I plan on meeting him once I get a job and my own place to stay. By the time we apply for spousal sponsorship, we will have known each other for
THREE YEARS. We video call, chat and text EVERYDAY for 4 hours. We use whatsapp, Facebook messenger, and Skype.
I have few questions:
1. Is it better to visit my boyfriend twice and get married on the SECOND visit and then start the Temporary Residence Visa application in Pakistan? Or can I get married to him in our FIRST visit and start the TRV application and apply for PRV inland in Canada once he gets approved for TRV?
Definitely do not get married on your second visit, this throws up huge red flags for immigration and decreases your chance of a successful application. You do not want to get turned down for ANYTHING. This makes the process so much harder. The more your boyfriend/husband gets turned down, the harder it is to get accepted for anything. The TRV is very difficult to get because you have to prove that he will return to his home country.
2. Is it better to apply for BOTH TRV and PRV at the SAME time? If no then what would be the BETTER way to apply which would be faster and more convenient? Should we apply for PRV inland (canada) or Outland (pakistan)?
You cannot apply for both simultaneously. Immigration doesn't permit it. The only way to apply for a PRV inland is if he has some other type of visa that permits him to be in Canada - like a Student or Worker visa. If not, he's likely not going to get one unless he has a special set of skills or funding to pay for university in Canada. See below.
3. Do you think it is important to visit him multiple times (if yes, how many is enough?) Or can I meet him ONCE and get married in the FIRST VISIT?
Very bad idea to marry on the first visit. You will not be successful with sponsorship. Multiple visits of significant duration are best.
4. How long does PRV take to process? How long does TRV take to process?
Do not try to apply for a visitor's visa when married. If you try to obtain a visitor's visa as a girlfriend, fiancé or worse yet, a wife, you will get declined. The thing to remember is that the main criteria for any type of temporary visa is the requirement that the person will return to his home country. So unless he has a job to return to or a whack of money in the bank or you guys have a child together that he is returning to, you don't have a chance of success. If your future spouse has not shown a history of leaving his home country and returning - multiple times, he will be considered a "flight risk" - meaning that they will consider that he will not return as required. So bottom line, don't waste your time on a temporary visa.
If you guys are truly serious about marriage, take lots of time together, in person as much as possible and the more the better and the longer periods of time, the better. Otherwise it will look like a marriage of convenience and this decision by immigration is the last thing you want to have happen when you apply for spousal sponsorship. This might sound silly but if you have a child together after marriage, this is a big plus for sponsorship approval. If not, make sure you keep every little thing (dates, diaries, flight forms, movie ticket stubs, meal receipts everything!) and take lots of photos. Make sure the photos are very clear. Now this one might sound odd, but I would avoid holding anyone else's children in any of your photos. This can be confusing to Immigration.
Be prepared to answer any questions that would point to an "irregular" type of relationship. Like differences in age, religion, language, education, stage of life etc. and for your husband, they may ask what was he doing on the internet (i.e. to meet a white girl who would sponsor him). You must remember that the immigration system is adversarial and protective of Canada (not you, even though they will try to tell you that this is for your protection).
In the sponsorship immigration process, make sure you attend the interview that your husband may be invited to attend. The interview is only 1 hour long and the officer will make a decision after that. Make sure that the interviewing officer knows that you are there, who you are and that you expect to be interviewed as well. They have the right to refuse to interview you but it is very good to be seen together.
Most importantly in the interview, do not let the interview drift. Make sure that you guide the direction of the interview with your responses. Every response leads to the next question and before you know it, the officer is forming the wrong idea (and you have no idea). Practice responding to questions. There are sample questions on this website (somewhere?) but be prepared for any question.
A successful PRV can take 12 months. An unsuccessful PRV can lead to years of hard work trying to be together. If you can live together, married or otherwise, this is helpful. This might mean you moving to Pakistan. If that is not feasible, then you need to do everything you can to be successful in your first application. If you are not successful, it is a horrible journey to file an appeal. If you lose the appeal, it's often over and you have to start over with better evidence.
In my case, it took 7 years to get an approval - 3 declined TRV's, 1 declined sponsorship, 1 failed appeal and a final successful 2nd sponsorship (helped by the new immigration laws in Canada). My husband will be arriving in Canada soon. Delayed by Covid-19...
