Spouse Sponsorship

[rburgess]

Hi, I am a Canadian citizen working in china as a teacher. During my time here, i fell in love with Chinese teacher here and after a year, on June 28, 2007, we got married ( signed the official papers). Its been almost 2 years now and my contract is ending. I want to take my husband home with me to Canada. we want to build our life in Canada.

My question is that we have not had a "formal engagement or wedding ceremony," so will our application for spouse sponsorship be refused? My brother is studying in another country and My parents have really busy jobs and have not had a chance to china yet ( my mom runs a daycare; thus she needs to find alternate care for her kids if she leaves). Plus, we have been too busy working to plan a ceremony and we want to raise more funds first.

Anyway, everyone, our families and friends, know we are married and that we are a real couple. We have traveled together and lived together for almost 2 years ( i have tons of pictures and testimonies from friends) We love each other. What more do i have to do to prove we are a real couple? I am just worried that they will reject us because we have not had a ceremony!

Please give me some advice.
Thank you!

 

[Rahimi]

Your case really a little i don't know how to say. you married a chines man right. and why didn't go for court marriage. you should have Marriage certificate.

Before you apply for your husband you should collect all the required documents as example.

You have mentioned in your message that we didn't formally married what do you mean by this. if you married you should have marriage certificate its impossible to sponsor your husband. and i am sure Embassy will not accept your case. you should go for formal marriage procedure.

Also you mentioned that my parents busy or your brothers etc. at least there are a lot of chines people you should invite them in your marriage cermony that will be also fine.

the following documents your husband needs to provide.

1- Marriage Certificate

2- Police certificate

3- Wedding Photos

4- Police certificate

Being canadian you should prove that you have enough money for sponsoring your husband to Canada and your case is a little Sophsticat because you are in China. i think you should leave your husband in china you should go back canada then find a job and then apply for your husband.

Submit your application to Case Processing Centre, Mississauga. they will look/ check whether you are eligable to sponsor your husband or not. 2 decision approve or refuse. depends on your case.

Lets see what other members write you concerning your case. Its only my idea. .

 

[Leon]

Not everybody has a wedding ceremony. Just show that you have been living together by mail to the same address, joint whatever bills or accounts you have etc.

 

[RobsLuv]

You don't have to have had a wedding ceremony to be legally married, and a legal marriage is the only requirement for being in a "qualifying relationship" to sponsor your spouse. You won't be refused as long as you can demonstrate that you're a genuine couple and that the relationship was not entered into simply to facilitate your husband's entry to Canada. The fact that you've been together for awhile, and married for 2 years, is positive.

As far as money - there is no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorships, but you will have to prove that you intend to leave China and return to Canada with your husband when his PR is approved. You should have evidence that you've arranged housing, have a pending job offer - or in absence of that, signed declarations from friends/family saying they are willing to provide support until you get settled again. I would think that, if you have a Canadian teaching credential, that will also be helpful in proving you will be able to successfully settle again in Canada and support your husband until he can work, too.

It is not likely that your husband will be granted a temporary visa to visit Canada before he is approved for permanent status, most non-visa-exempt nationals are refused TRVs to visit Canada when they're in a relationship with a Canadian or they've applied for PR status because they cannot convince the officer assessing their application that they intend to leave Canada again at the end of their authorized stay. So chances are that you will have to remain with him in China until his PR is approved if you want to avoid a separation. Processing for Chinese nationals stands at between 2-8 months (plus about 6 weeks for sponsor's approval through the Case Processing Center in Mississauga, ON), depending on whether the file is processed through the visa office in Beijing or Hong Kong.