Will being legally married in more than one place be a problem?

[DimT44]

Asking on behalf of a friend. Is there any problem if a couple gets legally married in more than one place?

The PA’s home country does not easily recognize civil marriage (that happened in the sponsor’s home country), and the PA wants to register the marriage in their home country. It’s going to be extremely difficult and impractical to try to register it. So the couple wants to legally get married there again from scratch.

Could that cause problems with an in process sponsorship application?

 

[armoured]

Could you clarify, you are referring to a second marriage ceremony with the same person?

And, when you say problems with the sponsorship, you are referring only to issues with Canada and with the IRCC application (here and going forward)?

And for my own curiosity - for what purpose does your acquaintance want the marriage registered (in the PA's home country)?

(Frankly might be a bit easier if the countries were just named and what the issue is with registering it in that country - presumably some religious issue, because it rather sounds like there's some specific issue underlying the question. But up to you/your friend)

That said, veering wildly away from the basic idea that this is a legal issue and may need a lawyer to weigh in - my gut reaction is that as far as IRCC/Canadian law is concerned, the second marriage is just invalid and since it's the same people, not a matter of substance. There are questions though about eg whether the parties have to misrepresent/lie in home country B to get married that I'm not going to even guess about though.

 

[DimT44]

I was trying to simplify and keep it general, but here’s all the info if that helps.

Could you clarify, you are referring to a second marriage ceremony with the same person?

Yes, the same people.

And, when you say problems with the sponsorship, you are referring only to issues with Canada and with the IRCC application (here and going forward)?

Yes, exactly.

And for my own curiosity - for what purpose does your acquaintance want the marriage registered (in the PA's home country)?

(Frankly might be a bit easier if the countries were just named and what the issue is with registering it in that country - presumably some religious issue, because it rather sounds like there's some specific issue underlying the question. But up to you/your friend)

The couple got legally married in Russia. Now they want to register it in Egypt too. The only way for Egypt to recognize the Russian marriage is if the couple shows up in person to the Egyptian Embassy in Russia so that they can “approve” it and make it legal by Egypt’s standards too. The couple doesn’t wish to return to Russia at all, and definitely not travel all the way there just for this.

The benefit of registering the marriage in Egypt is for the PA to keep their civil status info up to date, and keep the options open for the sponsor to get citizenship there too.

That said, veering wildly away from the basic idea that this is a legal issue and may need a lawyer to weigh in - my gut reaction is that as far as IRCC/Canadian law is concerned, the second marriage is just invalid and since it's the same people, not a matter of substance. There are questions though about eg whether the parties have to misrepresent/lie in home country B to get married that I'm not going to even guess about though.

Fair enough, I guess it makes sense that it for Canadian law it’s basically invalid. I guess you are right that they might need to misrepresent in Egypt, but it’s not like the country is giving them any other option to begin with. (Third world problems..)

 

[armoured]

The only way for Egypt to recognize the Russian marriage is if the couple shows up in person to the Egyptian Embassy in Russia so that they can “approve” it and make it legal by Egypt’s standards too.

Odd procedure, surprised there isn't any other way. (Perhaps a lawyer in Egypt could advise? Knowing a wee bit about both countries, surprised there isn't a way to legalize via embassies' facilitation.)

The couple doesn’t wish to return to Russia at all, and definitely not travel all the way there just for this.

Understandable given the circumstances ... (

The benefit of registering the marriage in Egypt is for the PA to keep their civil status info up to date, and keep the options open for the sponsor to get citizenship there too.

Well, no idea to what extent these benefits matter in Egypt if they have an application in process to move to Canada, so can't really weigh in there.

 

[DimT44]

Odd procedure, surprised there isn't any other way. (Perhaps a lawyer in Egypt could advise? Knowing a wee bit about both countries, surprised there isn't a way to legalize via embassies' facilitation.)



Understandable given the circumstances ... (



Well, no idea to what extent these benefits matter in Egypt if they have an application in process to move to Canada, so can't really weigh in there.

Makes sense, I guess their goal is to make sure thar everyone in the family has the same citizenship in case in the future that becomes necessary. So starting it now rather than later will be important too.