computergeek said:
At a minimum, you should fully expect to be interviewed and they will ask all of these questions and more. That means your application is going to take a very long time. In addition, there is now the new five year bar for sponsoring anyone new AND the impending two year relationship requirement (ergo, you must remain together for at least two years after you become a PR in order to retain your permanent residency.)
So scrape together every shred of evidence you can - chat logs, pictures, facebook posts, letters from family and friends. If you DO get married, make sure you do it as well as possible under the circumstances because CIC is going to scrutinize you quite a bit. If you can afford it, I would find a good immigration attorney to represent you because your case is very likely to become complicated - you can wait until it does, of course, but someone with quite a bit of experience in complex spousal cases such as yours is likely to improve your odds.
Thank you for the info.
I don't mind the 5 year bar and a 2 year living together rule after the PR is granted. I'm marrying to spend our lifetime together.
God, is it really happening? Thank you, Immigration Canada for dictating how(big ceremony with lots of friend and relatives) and when(2 year courtship) a couple that love each other should get married!
What if I don't want to wait 1 or 2 years to get married? What if some relatives are disagree with the marriage? Then it's better not to get married at all and wait until relatives are ok with the marriage and it's been 2 years since we met? My parents got married despite their parents were against it and still together after 30+years being married.
I have tons of evidence, even though we've known each other for 3 months (over 500 pictures together, over 3000 text messages, receipts from restaurants and trips together, joint accounts, rental agreement, we live together). But that may not be enough for them, as someone received this and was scheduled an interview:
"Proof of relationship is standard package of photos & communications familiar in this office. Lack of documentary proof demonstrated combined joint affairs to the extent that reasonable person would expect of a couple spousal relationship, nor demonstrate the level of interdependence expected to such a relationship. Recommendation: Further examination."
or this:
"Short courtship, age difference, ethnicity difference. Is relationship genuine?"
I don't mind being interviewed, but wait for it 2-3 years is absurd.
To be honest, I'm considering just going back to my country and trying to get a working visa, so I can come back and reunite with my fiancée and work. I don't know if that's the right move, but not being able to work and rely on my fiancée's income for 2-3 years will make me miserable.
Still can't believe CIC is pushing me to wait for my marriage. Where are human rights??? I guess in the system like this there are rules only. I did know that love and marriage should go by the rules... Oh, Canada... Beautiful land, nice people, BUT who made the rules?