Sponsoring my girlfriend to canada...

[garytheoiler]

Hi, my name is Gary, I am a Canadian citizen and have a girlfriend that lives in siquirres Costa Rica. Here is our situation... we know each other for more than 1 year talking on the phone and chatting online, and this july/09 I will be visiting her... The original plan was for her to get a visitors visa to come to canada then we would get married here, unfortunately they denied her the visitors visa so our second plan was for me to go there (Jul/09) and get married there. From there i would return to Canada and sponsor her as my spouse... my girlfriend told me that she spoke with a lawyer and told her that I would have to live in the costa rica area for atleast 4 years!!! I don't want to believe this so if someone can please tell me if this is true! I mean I could never live in a country that I barley know, I know that I could live there with her for 1 year and that would make us common-law partners... but I cannot risk that either because I have a job here and have plans to study here. Also, I want to know ... if I actually sponsor her as a spouse, is there a possibility that the application for her to get residence here get denied because of my finance? I mean I live with my parents, I don't pay rent, I do have a job but it pays minimum wage, and I am also going to be studying soon.

Another option that i was thinking about but am not sure if it is the best route... would be to apply for conjugal partner sponsorship... I was reading on the cic website and it was saying something like I wouldn't be able to sponsor her this way unless it is because of a war or immigration barrier...didn't quite understand that, but the reason I would want to sponsor her this way is so that she can get residency and get married here....

So if someone can please reply to my thread and point me to the right direction, because right now I am lost and unsure of what I should do! Thanks!

Gary

 

[rjessome]

Ok, the 4 years thing is complete BS. That's a new one for the "I heard" file. If you marry her, you can apply to sponsor her. Simple as that. You still have to prove your relationship to show CIC how your relationship developed so save all your emails, chats, cards, letters, boarding passes, etc. Take lots of photos together and with friends and family. CIC wants to see that your relationship is REAL.

Conjugal probably won't work for you. It's a difficult class to begin with and is only usually successful when there is a barrier to marriage.

Spousal sponsorships are exempt from the financial requirements. However, you should have a plan as to how you and your wife are going to live when she gets to Canada.

Hope this helps. Others will probably chime in with their thoughts too. There are plenty of helpful people on this board.

 

[mitamata]

Haha, that's a new one!

No, you don't have to live there at all. Your plan is fine, get married and then sponsor her. In the mean time, make sure to keep as much relationship evidence as you can - chat logs, phone bills, pictures, hotel bills, boarding passes, ...

And, as rjessome said, there are no financial requirements, so you having a low paying job will not be an issue. What are your plans for when your wife comes to Canada? If you will continue to live with your parents, you can include a letter from them stating you have a place to stay. Just to ease the mind of the processing IO

Do avoid conjugal though. Those are generally denied if you have the option to marry but choose not to take it. They're mental process is that if you don't want to marry, then obviously you're not commited enough.

 

[garytheoiler]

Thanks guys that really cleared things up, so you are sure there is no waiting period to stay there before we can get married right? and also want to know, what documents exactly would i have to bring in order to get married? is there more than just ID and citizenship card? Thanks really appreciate your help!

Gary

 

[PMM]

Hi

Thanks guys that really cleared things up, so you are sure there is no waiting period to stay there before we can get married right? and also want to know, what documents exactly would i have to bring in order to get married? is there more than just ID and citizenship card? Thanks really appreciate your help!

Gary

Yes, start your reading here: http://marriage.about.com/od/costarica/p/costarica.htm

PMM

 

[ariell]

Hi Gary
Wow, that's really funny that a lawyer would say that!! Do you think maybe he misunderstood and thought you wanted to become a Costa Rican citizen?? Anyway, as others have said there is absolutely no requirement from Canada Immigration that you live there for any period of time.

As for what you need to do before you get married there, you will have to check the regulations in Costa Rica. That's not something that CIC or anyone here (unless they've been married in Costa Rica) can give you proper information on. I would suggest you have your girlfriend find that out for you since she is in Costa Rica. I did a quick look and found this website which gives some information. http://www.immigroup.com/marriageabroad/marriage_to_CostaRican.php It doesn't sound too complicated. But please double-check for yourselves that the information is correct.

Also, not sure if you are aware, but there may be slightly different instructions or documents required depending on what country you are applying from. Please make sure to read through the Country Specific Requirements for Costa Rica here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/3908e.pdf . You will save yourself some time if you can start gathering that information now.

All the best to you!

 

[garytheoiler]

Hi Gary
Wow, that's really funny that a lawyer would say that!! Do you think maybe he misunderstood and thought you wanted to become a Costa Rican citizen?? Anyway, as others have said there is absolutely no requirement from Canada Immigration that you live there for any period of time.

As for what you need to do before you get married there, you will have to check the regulations in Costa Rica. That's not something that CIC or anyone here (unless they've been married in Costa Rica) can give you proper information on. I would suggest you have your girlfriend find that out for you since she is in Costa Rica. I did a quick look and found this website which gives some information. immigroup.com/marriageabroad/marriage_to_CostaRican.php It doesn't sound too complicated. But please double-check for yourselves that the information is correct.

Also, not sure if you are aware, but there may be slightly different instructions or documents required depending on what country you are applying from. Please make sure to read through the Country Specific Requirements for Costa Rica here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/3908e.pdf . You will save yourself some time if you can start gathering that information now.

All the best to you!

ok I saw the website about specific documents I must have present in order to get married there... I got everything except the Affidavit of single status and Certified copy of police record, where could I obtain these docs? if someone can clear this up too thanks!

 

[rjessome]

Ok Gary, think for a second. The POLICE will give you the criminal records check and a lawyer or notary public can do an affidavit for you. I know you are excited and overwhelmed by all of this information but just slow down, breathe, and think.

LOL! It's kinda cute. I was in your shoes last year trying to get everything ready to get married. Now I'm an old haggard veteran of this immigration world! Good luck.

 

[PMM]

Hi

quote author=rjessome link=topic=20605.msg102990#msg102990 date=1245451569]
Ok Gary, think for a second. The POLICE will give you the criminal records check and a lawyer or notary public can do an affidavit for you. I know you are excited and overwhelmed by all of this information but just slow down, breathe, and think.

LOL! It's kinda cute. I was in your shoes last year trying to get everything ready to get married. Now I'm an old haggard veteran of this immigration world! Good luck.
[/quote]

I know the OP is excited, but he should at least meet the girl in person before proposing. Find out if you are compatible. At least spend some time together.

PMM

 

[koolchik]

I also found the 'not having met part' and 'gf saying 4 yrs needed in CR part' weird.....but hey some ppl have more faith than me for sure...lol....

 

[ariell]

[quote author=PMM ]

I know the OP is excited, but he should at least meet the girl in person before proposing. Find out if you are compatible. At least spend some time together.

PMM
[/quote]

LOL. Good point. I completely missed that in the original post.

Seriously Gary, I would advise that you do spend some time together before marrying. 1. So that as PMM said, you know that you're compatible and you're making the right decision. As is, you haven't spent any time together, correct? 2. It will definitely make your application stronger. If you marry so soon after meeting in person, CIC may have some questions about the genuineness of your relationship. Good luck.

 

[garytheoiler]

Thanks a lot for all your responses, they really helped a lot! and yes, maybe your right, maybe we should spend some time together, although her and I are sure of the love we have for each other, I know some people may think that is weird since we never met in person, but we have been in contact for over a year now and yea we will definitely think about this decision since it is the biggest decision of our lives. Thanks again!

Gary

 

[MARLENA]

Also don't forget to take a lot of pictures once you are with her. Don't do like me who hate taking pictures and never thought it would be requested for immigration purpose so I end up sending mostly wedding pictures and not having enough when we both visited each other.

Good luck!!!!

 

[rjessome]

Wow! I missed that too! Yes, MEET! Get to know one another! Spend AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE together. Then decide if you want to get married!!!! Gosh! Don't rush into something so serious! Forget about immigration for awhile and just focus on getting to know this woman.

 

[mitamata]

gary, I met my husband online. A year later, when we finally got to meet in person, I was thinking "wow, this is it, I want to marry this man!" I was also certain that I really knew him well and that I loved him. 4 years later, I did marry him. I can tell you that at the time we first met, I didn't know him as well as I thought, my love at that point was more of a crush, I wasn't ready to marry him and I expect it would've ended poorly had I married him. Thankfully we were both rational enough not to rush into marriage.

Meet the girl and take your time. I know being apart is difficult (I almost had a nervous breakdown over it), but it's worth it.