At the time during Covid we had not met yet, the reason for the online marriage was we were engaged at the time and she had gotten refused for a visitor visa and I couldn’t enter the Philippines as a tourist. The only option at the time was to get married online so I could enter the Philippines.
I’ve been living in the Philippines with her for just over a year now. I have a lot of photos of us spending time together even with her family to show as proof.
There’s no other red flags I can think of we’re the same age, same religion, pretty similar in terms of education I graduated high school and she graduated college.
The only red flag I’m worried about is the online marriage.
Should I make a letter of explanation explaining all this for a better chance of approval?
Thank you for your reply btw
It certainly sounds like you have your ducks in a row. You have had a year together and can prove it, so that should end any concern about a quick marriage after first meeting.
As for the online marriage, my nose tells me it's not a matter of great moment one way or the other. You married the same person twice, is all, and no deception was intended. I am not sure why the IRCC would much care if you did not mention it. Similarly, I doubt they would pay much attention to it if you set it out.
The purpose of your online marriage was legitimate. You were in a real relationship, wanted to be together, and the online marriage could be registered with the PSA and it would entitle you to a 9A visa, getting you into the Phils while locked down. It was not some nefarious plot.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sole reservation I have about full disclosure is that the IRCC might get a hair up its ass and see the Phils marriage as invalid. I say that because marrying the same person twice in my home province (BC) would not be allowed, as in violation of the Marriage Act of BC:
Marriage of persons previously married to each other
22 (1)A religious representative or marriage commissioner must not solemnize a marriage between 2 parties who have previously been married to, and are not divorced from, each other in accordance with the laws of any country, state or province except
(a)as provided in section 21, or
(b)if an order is issued under subsection (2).
Neither of the exceptions applies to your situation. If you were married in the Phils and the solemnizing authority was aware of the U.S. marriage and considered it legitimate to go through a form of marriage in the Phils, I would say that principles of private international law would require Canada to accept the Phils marriage as valid, even if the IRCC had to hold its nose to do so. But, it could be that the Phils would expect you to dissolve your U.S. marriage before being married there. I am not
au courant on Phils matrimonial law, although I have attorney friends there who are.
There is more to this than I am setting out here, but I am not looking to deliver a law treatise and have have little personal relevant experience as a legal practitioner. These are just a few somewhat inchoate thoughts after a full 5 minutes of deliberation.
@canuck78 might have a better grip on all the niceties and nuances involved. I might just be a bit out over my skis.
I do not have in front of me the forms you are required to fill out, but I think unassailable advice is to give honest and complete answers to what is asked. If the questions plainly require disclosure of the online marriage, then disclose it and explain. But, I see no compelling need to bare one's soul and to volunteer a lot of information not requested.
