Hello... I didn't even know that the law changed in December 2016. I want to think that this is good news.
I have a Russian/Ukrainian girlfriend I met online. We've had an online relationship for some eight months now. Due to my work, I will only be able to visit her in Ukraine in December this year. We plan to get married in that visit, with attendance of her family members.
I have a few questions: I think that I can bring her to live in Canada with me right after the marriage. Is this true? And if so, can she come with a common visitor visa, then we start living together, and after one year, we apply for spousal sponsorship?
She is a Russian citizen, though most of her family lives in Ukraine, including her parents. Is it particularly difficult for Russians to get a visa to Canada?
Red flags are tenuous, as she is 48 and I am 55, so obviously she's not some young bimbo trying to use me just to get the residence.
Maybe the real question is what can we do to speed up the process. She'd be very happy if we don't have to wait during the process of her spousal/sponsorship visa.