Will my sponsorship be impacted by my overseas Parents not able to attend wedding due to Covid-19

[chaybani]

Hello everyone,

A bit long but I will begin by explaining our situation.
I am a Moroccan PR in Canada, my Fiancée is a US citizen. we are planning to get married in Canada sometime around August or September. The wedding will be attended by a multitude of friends, around 10 people (depending on Covid restrictions at the time). My parents can't unfortunately make it to Canada due to the obvious Covid restrictions on travel (especially that my parents have a vaccine that is not approved in Canada) as well as visa applications from Morocco (and pretty much elsewhere) are being put on hold or severely delayed. Her parents can't come either because of work and We are planning on streaming the wedding live to them and taking screenshots of that conversation as proof to the IRCC. Also, me and my fiancée can't go to Morocco to get married either since the process takes about a month at least (a duration we can't afford to get due to work reasons) as well as Covid 19 making everything way harder. We are going to have a couple ceremonies next year when things ease up (one in Morocco and one in the US)

We have been together for more than 4 years and she came to Canada 3 times to meet with me already, we have a large number of pictures, discussions, screenshots of video chats, and travel and activity tickets to give the IRCC, as well as pictures from our engagement in 2018 that was attended by a few friends, also pictures of me with her mom and her.

The question is, is the absence of our parents at the wedding going to negatively impact our application? We will, of course, try our best to explain the genuine reasons why our parents couldn't attend.

Thank you for reading this long post and for any answers

 

[armoured]

There's no single answer. Explain briefly and factually as best you can. Given circumstances you describe, probably understandable. It's not an arranged marriage after all? Other events you've held seem to support your case.

You don't give a lot of detail but I'd put more emphasis on how much time you've actually spent together - if only three times total that's not much.

Assume her parents are in USA and you've spent time there as well though so likely not. If you've lived together for any length of time, for example, be sure to specify.

 

[chaybani]

There's no single answer. Explain briefly and factually as best you can. Given circumstances you describe, probably understandable. It's not an arranged marriage after all? Other events you've held seem to support your case.

You don't give a lot of detail but I'd put more emphasis on how much time you've actually spent together - if only three times total that's not much.

Assume her parents are in USA and you've spent time there as well though so likely not. If you've lived together for any length of time, for example, be sure to specify.

Thanks for the answer
So yes, this is definitely not an arranged marriage, We've met three times (a week or 10 days every year) since we started dating in 2018 due to work obligations (she can't take more vacation time due to her employer) and her coming her for our wedding will be 4th. I mean if they need conversation and daily talks proof we have more than enough of that. We could've met more but Covid happened and 2020 and 2021 so far were out because of restrictions.
I never been to the US since it was easier for her to come here and see me (i need to apply for a visa to go there and it was more convenient for her to come here). Like I said, i really don't have any trouble specifying that the relationship is genuine and has been going nonstop for more than 4 years.

 

[armoured]

Well as I said - it's the overall picture. Provide whatever you can. A wedding with lots of people attending incl family is a plus. They look also at what is culturally appropriate. Which you haven't specified.

Having only met three times for a few weeks each time is weak. Provide what you can elsewise. Sure, getting a US visa for you was inconvenient but come on - in three years you never bothered even applying for a US visa to visit your fiancee?

Your case might be strengthened for example if you marry, honeymoon and reside together for several months before submitting. With joint bank accounts and other evidence of joint habitation.

Don't know employment and other factors but you really might consider delaying submitting the application until you've built up more evidence in that regard. Yes, it would (in my opinion) help your case a fair bit to do this.

So yes, overall, not having your parents attend the wedding is a weak point. Perhaps a minor one given covid. The weak points are elsewhere and possibly more serious than your parents not coming to the wedding.

 

[canuck78]

It seems very strange that you never attempted to get a US Visa to get married in the US and have her parents attend the wedding. How did you meet? Only spend around a month together over 4 years is not a lot of time. Did you travel together or is this more of a conservative relationship where you didn't spend time alone together as a couple.

 

[steaky]

It seems very strange that you never attempted to get a US Visa to get married in the US and have her parents attend the wedding. How did you meet? Only spend around a month together over 4 years is not a lot of time. Did you travel together or is this more of a conservative relationship where you didn't spend time alone together as a couple.

He said he need to apply for a visa to go to USA and it was more convenient for her to come to Canada.

 

[chaybani]

It seems very strange that you never attempted to get a US Visa to get married in the US and have her parents attend the wedding. How did you meet? Only spend around a month together over 4 years is not a lot of time. Did you travel together or is this more of a conservative relationship where you didn't spend time alone together as a couple.

Like I mentioned, it was for the sake of convenience, I need to apply for a visa to go to the US , she doesn't need one to come here. And the reason why we did only meet 3 times is because half of our relationship so far has been during the pandemic, we started our relationship in mid 2018 and Covid hit early 2020, severely limiting our mobility, and we have jobs and employers that give very limited vacation time, only giving us the opportunity to meet 3 times (which would've been 5 or 6 times if not for Covid and its travel restrictions). I was actually going to see her in the US myself in 2020 and this year, but the B1 visa applications to the US are put on indefinite hold since last year. The US doesn't allow tourists in since the pandemic started, that's why we can't have a wedding in the US, her parents can't attend a wedding this year in Canada either, because Canada wouldn't allow them in yet because of the restriction on non essential travel that's still going on, if that restriction is dropped by August or september then they would come here, her mom came here to see me back in 2019.
And to answer your question, yes we did travel together, and the whole time we were together we were alone as a couple, it's totally the opposite of a conservative relationship and we do have the photos and conversation records to prove it.

 

[canuck78]

Like I mentioned, it was for the sake of convenience, I need to apply for a visa to go to the US , she doesn't need one to come here. And the reason why we did only meet 3 times is because half of our relationship so far has been during the pandemic, we started our relationship in mid 2018 and Covid hit early 2020, severely limiting our mobility, and we have jobs and employers that give very limited vacation time, only giving us the opportunity to meet 3 times (which would've been 5 or 6 times if not for Covid and its travel restrictions). I was actually going to see her in the US myself in 2020 and this year, but the B1 visa applications to the US are put on indefinite hold since last year. The US doesn't allow tourists in since the pandemic started, that's why we can't have a wedding in the US, her parents can't attend a wedding this year in Canada either, because Canada wouldn't allow them in yet because of the restriction on non essential travel that's still going on, if that restriction is dropped by August or september then they would come here, her mom came here to see me back in 2019.
And to answer your question, yes we did travel together, and the whole time we were together we were alone as a couple, it's totally the opposite of a conservative relationship and we do have the photos and conversation records to prove it.

The US has allowed tourists for almost all of covid. Would still suggest applying for a US visa and trying to get married in the US. You haven't tried to get a US visa which would have allowed you to travel during covid and having no parents at a wedding given the limited time you have spent together is a warning sign. If you try to get a visa but are denied that is a very different story.

 

[pc8922]

The US has allowed tourists for almost all of covid. Would still suggest applying for a US visa and trying to get married in the US. You haven't tried to get a US visa which would have allowed you to travel during covid and having no parents at a wedding given the limited time you have spent together is a warning sign. If you try to get a visa but are denied that is a very different story.

This is a very insensitive response - and dare I say, coming from someone who has no idea how getting a visa works. It's not that easy to get a US Visa appointment ( earliest are in 2022 ), nor is it guaranteed one will get it and can't plan a wedding based on a 'chance' of getting a visa.
Additionally, not sure what you mean by US was allowing tourists to come in, as the border back to Canada has been closed since March 2020 and there was always a chance flights would discontinue or border agent would refuse entry back.
Person is asking for guidance - not dictation of how or where he should conduct his wedding. I'm sure their parents and wedding planners can take care of that.

To OP, I would suggest using your LOE to explain the entire situation, all of which seems reasonable. I met my wife through friends and we weren't able to meet and spend time till 2 weeks prior to our marriage, due to COVID ( similar for a lot of people ), and CIC found that reasonable.

Like mentioned above, just explain your case, if they have an issue, they will ask you for more proof etc. You might even be able to invite your parents to Canada by then and have pictures with them and your wife and send that to CIC.

Hope this helps.

 

[armoured]

Regardless of what the period before was (objectively not a lot of time together for a long time fianced) - you can help the app by living together for more time before submitting and making a more established joint household.

 

[steaky]

The US has allowed tourists for almost all of covid. Would still suggest applying for a US visa and trying to get married in the US. You haven't tried to get a US visa which would have allowed you to travel during covid and having no parents at a wedding given the limited time you have spent together is a warning sign. If you try to get a visa but are denied that is a very different story.

Don't you get it? OP said the B1 visa applications to the US are put on indefinite hold since last year.

 

[steaky]

This is a very insensitive response - and dare I say, coming from someone who has no idea how getting a visa works. It's not that easy to get a US Visa appointment ( earliest are in 2022 ), nor is it guaranteed one will get it and can't plan a wedding based on a 'chance' of getting a visa.
Additionally, not sure what you mean by US was allowing tourists to come in, as the border back to Canada has been closed since March 2020 and there was always a chance flights would discontinue or border agent would refuse entry back.
Person is asking for guidance - not dictation of how or where he should conduct his wedding. I'm sure their parents and wedding planners can take care of that.

To OP, I would suggest using your LOE to explain the entire situation, all of which seems reasonable. I met my wife through friends and we weren't able to meet and spend time till 2 weeks prior to our marriage, due to COVID ( similar for a lot of people ), and CIC found that reasonable.

Like mentioned above, just explain your case, if they have an issue, they will ask you for more proof etc. You might even be able to invite your parents to Canada by then and have pictures with them and your wife and send that to CIC.

Hope this helps.

Yes, the US allows tourist to come in. In fact, vaccine tourism in the US is booming:

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/26/americas/vaccine-tourism-usa-latam-intl/index.html

 

[Realman007]

Hi Chaybani
Please do not do anything extra to make your relationship looks genuine. As long as you have a real genuine relationship, just go ahead with your original plans. It is not mandatory that parents have to have attend the wedding if they can't for obvious reasons of Covid-19. Do what is more convenient to both of you guys according to your time & financial capacity. Just explain briefly on the application form the actual reason for parents non attendance. IRCC officials are also human beings as long as you have a valid reason they understands everything.
You have a 4 years of relationship before you guys decided to get married, you will laugh if I tell you that I decided to get married to my wife literally just in 30 seconds only, though she took her time to know me more.
Regards

 

[canuck78]

This is a very insensitive response - and dare I say, coming from someone who has no idea how getting a visa works. It's not that easy to get a US Visa appointment ( earliest are in 2022 ), nor is it guaranteed one will get it and can't plan a wedding based on a 'chance' of getting a visa.
Additionally, not sure what you mean by US was allowing tourists to come in, as the border back to Canada has been closed since March 2020 and there was always a chance flights would discontinue or border agent would refuse entry back.
Person is asking for guidance - not dictation of how or where he should conduct his wedding. I'm sure their parents and wedding planners can take care of that.

To OP, I would suggest using your LOE to explain the entire situation, all of which seems reasonable. I met my wife through friends and we weren't able to meet and spend time till 2 weeks prior to our marriage, due to COVID ( similar for a lot of people ), and CIC found that reasonable.

Like mentioned above, just explain your case, if they have an issue, they will ask you for more proof etc. You might even be able to invite your parents to Canada by then and have pictures with them and your wife and send that to CIC.

Hope this helps.

Canada has actually allowed entry from the US by air the whole time. Yes I was unaware of the wait for a US visa but not having either parent at a wedding while having only spent a month together in 4 years can be a red flag. We are talking about Canada and the US border. that will be open relatively soon and parents are in the US and will likely be able to travel. What would be considered normal in Pakistan is different than a western relationship in Canada and the US. You may have only met for 2 weeks before your wedding but did you may have had have a traditional ceremony, even if smaller scaled, and have at least one set of parents. That would be considered typical for a wedding in Pakistan. You also got married at a very different stage of covid.

 

[Realman007]

People are allowed for essential reasons only. And normal person coming to Canada have to book a Hotel atleast for three days if arriving by air and then rest of days in quarantine to complete 14 days.