Need Advice, Spousal Sposorship Outland

[Avila]

My now husband is a Canadian citizen, I am a U.S. citizen. We got married in a courthouse the last time he came down to visit me. My mom really likes him and has always been a gracious host when he would come to visit. I was afraid my mom would not approove of our decision to get married since she does not really belive in marriage due to her bad relationship with my father. So we only told several friends about it and due to short notice, many could not attend for very valid reasons. We got married on May 5th, 2011 with only one witness (a close friend of mine) at the downtown courthouse. Three days later we told my mom, who surprisingly did not react badly. With her knowing, we have told everyone we know. My husband lives in Edmonton, AB, we've decided to try for me to move there since we both prefer the cold weather and he has the better job. We both have no criminal record,are in good health, have jobs and decent savings. For documantary evidence, we have over 200 photos(including our wedding), a stack of emails, hotel and flight intenararies for the past year we have been dating. We want to do spousal sponsorship from outland so that I can work while we wait. I'm afraid do to the shortage of people at our ceremony, we may not be considered genuine. My mom offered to write an affidavit for me...Would that help at all? Can anyone offer any advice to me? Is that something that would possibly get us denied? As many of you know, it's not easy being apart...Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[CharlieD10]

A small, private wedding is not unusual in the context of an American marrying a Canadian.  Unlike in some other cultures, where the lack of a large wedding could signal a marriage of convenience because entire villages are normally involved in the celebration of a marriage, this is not culturally expected in "western" marriages. 

By all means, have your mother write a letter of support, and do explain why you both chose to go the small wedding route when you answer the questions regarding your wedding arrangements, how they came about and who attended.  For those of your friends who could not attend, but knew of your plans and may have spent time with you as a couple, you can also request that they write letters of support for you, if they are willing.

The idea is to pro-actively address whatever about your relationship and marriage that might cause an immigration officer to question the genuineness of your relationship, thereby not leaving it to them to question it.

[Avila]

Alright, that makes me feel a bit more relieved. Another concern I did have, is that in my state, its not required to have witnesses....we had one plus the woman performing the ceremony who signed as the person performing the cermony, but not as a "witness". From what I've read...in Canada, you need two witnesses. Could this be a potential problem for the marriage being valid in Canada if we only had one?

[Kedeisha]

no Canada recognizes marriage that are valid where they were performed as long as the laws of that land were obsereved then ur marriage will be recognized

[Avila]

Alright, should be alright it that regard then, thanks guys