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What would trigger an interview?

Eric Parker

Star Member
Jun 26, 2008
171
1
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So...anyone?....what would make a VO request an interview? Especially since they have a lot of negative descretion in their decision making while looking over documents and 'validating' legitamate marriages and/or relationships.
 

mitamata

Hero Member
Nov 21, 2008
740
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Vienna
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-02-2009
AOR Received.
27-03-2009
Med's Done....
03-12-2008
Passport Req..
29-04-2009
VISA ISSUED...
06-05-2009
LANDED..........
27-07-2009
They are entitled to request an interview if they have any doubts or questions regarding your relationship. They're often needed because the application isn't prepared very well and the full picture isn't clear, because there's little evidence to support what's written in the application, because of contradictions in the app itself (it sponsor lists one thing, applicant another), ... I know it's easy to blame the big bad IOs, but fact is some people don't prepare their applications as well as they should and the interview is their chance to fix things.

And then of course there are interviews that are called because the facts of your case make them suspect that you're not really a genuine couple. If for example a young man marries a much older woman (sadly, the older man marrying a much younger women is much more acceptable it seems). Or anything else really that isn't normal in the cultural environment of the applicant - for example in some countries, a woman over 40, divorced and with a child or two is considered to be "used goods" and most men would not get involved with her. The man from such a county who marries her will possibly be called for an interview. Or, for example, if in a country where religion is a vital part of society, a couple decide to skip a religious marriage even though they're both religious. That might be cause for suspicion. Or if in a very traditional society, where family is extremely important, a couple decides to not invite family to the wedding. Or in a society where homosexuality isn't tolerated, a same-sex couple finds each other. Sometimes it's the fact that a lot of fraud claims have been made from a country in the past (couples in Marocco face problems like that for example).
And then there's the ones that would be fishy anywhere. For example a man sponsors a wife to Canada, divorces her shortly after her landing and then a couple of years later, he's sponsoring another wife.
I don't think it's usually any one thing though. It's some of the above, coupled with the fact that the other circumstances or the evidence presented isn't strong enough to outweigh their concerns.

And of course, I'm sure there's at least one or two IOs out there that are just not professional enough and call for an interview for no good reason. There's usually at least one bad seed in the bunch, but I think overall the IOs are all very professional and good at their jobs.

You my opinion of course.
 

Suin

VIP Member
Sep 14, 2008
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Ontario, Canada
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mitamata said:
If for example a young man marries a much older woman (sadly, the older man marrying a much younger women is much more acceptable it seems).
but in present day society which marriages are more convenient - older man and younger woman, or younger man - older woman? it looks quite abnormal to see a younger man marrying a much older woman anywhere in the world, and it looks quite ok in the opposite way - that is a society rules
 

mitamata

Hero Member
Nov 21, 2008
740
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Job Offer........
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App. Filed.......
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AOR Received.
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Med's Done....
03-12-2008
Passport Req..
29-04-2009
VISA ISSUED...
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LANDED..........
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Exactly, they judge based on the cultural norm. They don't decide what's ok and what isn't themselves, they use the standards of the societies that the couple lives in. Something which is ok and accepted in one society may be completely outrageous in another and there it can cause an interview.
 

Boncuk

Hero Member
Nov 15, 2008
831
3
See that statement right there bugs me.. I'm older than my husband.. by several years in fact.. and there is nothing abnormal about us. In Canada women tend to get married later as we are focused in our education and careers.. In other countries as soon as they start college they are looking for husbands.. Cultural differences yes.. but it doesnt mean that every older woman should be frowned upon for marrying a younger man.. I married my husband for many other reasons.. not for his age.. his age was a mute point for me.. and him for me.. Now 6 years later if anyone told me "Oh you are older than him how come?" I will punch them in the face.. I hate these generalisations..really I do.

Suin said:
mitamata said:
If for example a young man marries a much older woman (sadly, the older man marrying a much younger women is much more acceptable it seems).
but in present day society which marriages are more convenient - older man and younger woman, or younger man - older woman? it looks quite abnormal to see a younger man marrying a much older woman anywhere in the world, and it looks quite ok in the opposite way - that is a society rules
 

mitamata

Hero Member
Nov 21, 2008
740
11
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-02-2009
AOR Received.
27-03-2009
Med's Done....
03-12-2008
Passport Req..
29-04-2009
VISA ISSUED...
06-05-2009
LANDED..........
27-07-2009
I'm older than my husband too. Not by much, only 4 years, but when me met, 4 years was quite a difference - he was 17, I was 21. It earned me the nickname of 'cradle robber' xD We got teased about it a lot, but we didn't care. And nobody meant anything bad by it.
 

Boncuk

Hero Member
Nov 15, 2008
831
3
Yeah cute teasing is one thing and it wasnt your post that I was talking about ;) lol I think having a younger hubby keeps us young as well :))
 

genio

Star Member
Dec 27, 2008
69
0
Mita. , one scenario you pointed out EEK!, I am not too worried, just still waiting so long,,but, I never thought about my wife viewed that way. She is now 47, was only married for 1 year, and has an 8 year old daughter. I am 54 , so age wise, I think we are perfect. But of course her living in Colombia, it is just harder than some countries. As a personal note about airports, last year I made 2 trips to Colombia. The second trip back passed through customs at Vancouver YVR and the guy congratulated me on my marriage. Just about out and someone called me back. I went into a smaller room and had to wait a long time. Finally a young lady had looked at my stuff, I am sure took things for testing, then looked me in the face and said "Sir, your pupils are very dilated" I told her I hads hardly slept, and was fine. But I am sure it looked a bit suspicious, new canadian passport, and already 2 visits to Colombia.Anyway, Esp. compared to some customs in the states, I have found Vancouver customs fine. I hope I can still say that when my new family arrives. Best to you all.
 

mitamata

Hero Member
Nov 21, 2008
740
11
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-02-2009
AOR Received.
27-03-2009
Med's Done....
03-12-2008
Passport Req..
29-04-2009
VISA ISSUED...
06-05-2009
LANDED..........
27-07-2009
I'll be landing in Vancouver and who knows how I'll look after a 20 hour journey. LOL! I hope they don't delay my landing for drug testing xD

When I mentioned that about divorced women... it depends who's from where. If a Canadian (someone who didn't grow up in the same society, since the Canadian can also be someone who immigrated 5 years ago for example) marries a divorced woman in such a country, it's not an issue, as such a thing is perfectely acceptable in Canada. And (if this will make sense) it's acceptable for the divorced woman to marry, but it's not as acceptable for a man to marry a divorced woman. Nobody suspects the woman is up to no good. But if the husband is the one from that country... well, he would supposedly be raised with the notion that divorced women are not marriage material and so his intentions could be questioned. Especially if besides that, he's younger than her.
I really don't think you have anything to worry about, at least not in that regard. Hope you get reunited with your family soon! ^^
 

Rasha

Hero Member
Apr 26, 2008
529
38
I want to add a few things that been discussed here, from my perspective, and those that I have known who have completed this process and received their PR card.

Even if the circumstances which brought two people together are OUTSIDE of the norm, for the applicant's home country....that is still nor necessarily a trigger for an interview....

IF:

1. they have been honest on their application
2. they have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a genuine and real relationship, and are a true married couple. [This is done by submitting substantial and complete evidence - by what ever means you feel it is best to describe, detail and show your relationship to someone from the outside looking in.]

I have seen couples get approved with significant age difference outside of cultural norm, without interview. I have seen couples of different religions get approved without an interview. I have seen couples who have met in very non-traditional methods get approved, without an interview. I have seen couples with a mixture of these scenarios and more get approved, without interview. The common denominator was in the completeness of how they presented their individual cases.

IF you have shown your life and relationship and love to be real, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the I/O will not have any question if the relationship is genuine, and therefore more than likely will not call you for a relationship interview..

There is a still a question of security interviews - and those are only done when questions arise regarding the applicant's 'background'.

Interviews are time-consumptive and a drain on resources for any field visa office - they will not call them unless it is absolutely necessary, and they have not been shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that the relationship is real. It's as simple at that....

I'll leave a few links below which discuss this very topic:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t13330.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t12054.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t5180.0.html

Good Luck!