More than one spouse

[zuhaibz]

I have two wives as per Muslim law in my country of origin. I want to immigrate to Canada and I have checked that one can not keep 2 wives at a time in Canada. What's the way forward for me. Any clue?

 

[scylla]

I have two wives as per Muslim law in my country of origin. I want to immigrate to Canada and I have checked that one can not keep 2 wives at a time in Canada. What's the way forward for me. Any clue?

There is no way through sponsorship or through accompanying you. Only your first wife can come with you.

Your second wife would need to apply and qualify for PR completely on her own through an economic immigration program like Express Entry or PNP.

 

[GandiBaat]

There is no way through sponsorship or through accompanying you. Only your first wife can come with you.

Your second wife would need to apply and qualify for PR completely on her own through an economic immigration program like Express Entry or PNP.

It does not even end there. If @zuhaibz come to Canada, their second marriage will be likely be illegal (section 293). They should consult some competent lawyer on implications of this and some past judgements.

PS: I am not a lawyer and above is not legal advice.

 

[RSub]

I have two wives as per Muslim law in my country of origin. I want to immigrate to Canada and I have checked that one can not keep 2 wives at a time in Canada. What's the way forward for me. Any clue?

Only one can be your legal wife. First decide on whom you want to make legal in Canada. The, add that wife to your application and apply for the PR. The other wife has to come on her own. May be via study visa or something.

 

[scylla]

Only one can be your legal wife. First decide on whom you want to make legal in Canada. The, add that wife to your application and apply for the PR. The other wife has to come on her own. May be via study visa or something.

He actually doesn't have the option to pick. It has to be the first wife. His second marriage isn't recognized by Canada.

The only way it can be the second wife is if he first legally divorces his first wife and then remarries his second wife after the divorce to his first wife is legally finalized.

 

[RSub]

He actually doesn't have the option to pick. It has to be the first wife. His second marriage isn't recognized by Canada.

The only way it can be the second wife is if he first legally divorces his first wife and then remarries his second wife after the divorce to his first wife is legally finalized.

Got it. Tough choice for him to make.

 

[Simba112]

He actually doesn't have the option to pick. It has to be the first wife. His second marriage isn't recognized by Canada.

The only way it can be the second wife is if he first legally divorces his first wife and then remarries his second wife after the divorce to his first wife is legally finalized.

thanks for this, i had to read on the ircc website.....

For the first marriage to be recognized as legally valid under Canadian law, the couple must live together in a monogamous marriage in Canada. Common law imparts that a polygamous marriage can be converted into a monogamous marriage provided that the couple live together in a monogamous relationship from the time of arrival in Canada. This conversion can be done if the couple states their intention to convert their marriage to a monogamous one, followed by some factual evidence that they have complied – usually by divorcing the other spouses and/or by a remarriage in a form that is valid in Canada.

A polygamous second (or third, etc.) marriage cannot be converted to one of monogamy. If a husband wishes to sponsor a wife other than his first as his spouse, he must divorce his other wives and remarry the chosen wife in a form of marriage that is recognized as valid in Canada.

 

[Simba112]

Got it. Tough choice for him to make.

Keeping both wives or giving up Canadian Dream....