Meeting spouse directly for marriage due to covid travel restrictions

[gihank]

Hi everyone,

This is an arranged marriage and i will be meeting my spouse like a week before the marriage date. Our parents arranged our marriage and we have been in touch for atleast 7hrs per day via whatsapp and social media, mostly video calls since June 2020.

I initially planned to travel to my home country in 2020 dec to meet her, but airports were closed due to the covid pandemic.

We started off as friends and then developed feelings for each other and saw that we are compatible and then only planned the marriage eventhough this was arranged by parents and had their blessings.

We had the traditional ceremonies with relatives, friends and family with a huge gathering around 150-200.

I physically met her for the first time a week before the wedding, after 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine. I stayed with her for 2 weeks after the wedding and went on honeymoon and also were hosted by friends and family. I had to return back to canada to continue my job as working outside the country is not allowed.

Also i took 2 weeks unpaid leave due to the fact that i had to quarantine for 2 weeks after arriving to my home country. All together i was in my home country for 5 weeks including the mandatory 2 weeks quarantine.

When i apply for spouse visa, will it raise red flags as i only met her in person a week before? We have been having contact since 11months before the wedding although it was via social media.

Any advice on any red flags?

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone,

This is an arranged marriage and i will be meeting my spouse like a week before the marriage date. Our parents arranged our marriage and we have been in touch for atleast 7hrs per day via whatsapp and social media, mostly video calls since June 2020.

I initially planned to travel to my home country in 2020 dec to meet her, but airports were closed due to the covid pandemic.

We started off as friends and then developed feelings for each other and saw that we are compatible and then only planned the marriage eventhough this was arranged by parents and had their blessings.

We had the traditional ceremonies with relatives, friends and family with a huge gathering around 150-200.

I physically met her for the first time a week before the wedding, after 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine. I stayed with her for 2 weeks after the wedding and went on honeymoon and also were hosted by friends and family. I had to return back to canada to continue my job as working outside the country is not allowed.

Also i took 2 weeks unpaid leave due to the fact that i had to quarantine for 2 weeks after arriving to my home country. All together i was in my home country for 5 weeks including the mandatory 2 weeks quarantine.

When i apply for spouse visa, will it raise red flags as i only met her in person a week before? We have been having contact since 11months before the wedding although it was via social media.

Any advice on any red flags?

If possible I would try to visit her during the sponsorship period. There is a pretty high likelihood that you will be required to do an interview.

 

[gihank]

If possible I would try to visit her during the sponsorship period. There is a pretty high likelihood that you will be required to do an interview.

Due to covid travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine and other measures due to covid, its nearly impossible to travel more than once a year. And my job doesnt support working out of the country.

Even to travel to home country, i had to obtain special permission from foreign ministry and had to pay and quarantine in a hotel. Even after coming back to canada, i had to quarantine in a hotel. The costs are too much to bear including the flight tickets.

I wouldnt mind doing an interview as this a genuine marriage done in a traditional way of the country.

Original plan to visit her last december had to be scrapped due to flights not operating and airports being closed and counties were added to a block list ie canada

 

[canuck78]

Due to covid travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine and other measures due to covid, its nearly impossible to travel more than once a year. And my job doesnt support working out of the country

Sponsorship may take over a year.

 

[gihank]

Sponsorship may take over a year.

We are in the midst of a pandemic... not sure if that can be ignored as it already has a huge impact on travelling

 

[nikolain]

Multiple people have stories like you due to the pandemic including myself and my brother, so no need to worry. Infact this is how it has been for marriages in the Indian sub-continent.

 

[gihank]

Multiple people have stories like you due to the pandemic including myself and my brother, so no need to worry. Infact this is how it has been for marriages in the Indian sub-continent.

Thanks for the reply, did you guys apply for visa?

In one of the forms where i, the sponsor had to fill asked when we first physically met. Which was one week before our wedding. That is okay right? I mean covid put a halt to my original plan to visit in December.

 

[canuck78]

We are in the midst of a pandemic... not sure if that can be ignored as it already has a huge impact on travelling

We will likely be vaccinated in the next few months. You are asking about whqt will help your application.

 

[canuck78]

Thanks for the reply, did you guys apply for visa?

In one of the forms where i, the sponsor had to fill asked when we first physically met. Which was one week before our wedding. That is okay right? I mean covid put a halt to my original plan to visit in December.

You have to answer the truth. IRCC does prefer that people meet at least once before arranging their marriage but what‘s done is done.

 

[gihank]

You have to answer the truth. IRCC does prefer that people meet at least once before arranging their marriage but what‘s done is done.

I met her one week before, and i took 2 weeks of unpaid leave and stayed 3 weeks with her. But we have chats and calls and letters from friends etc.

 

[gihank]

We will likely be vaccinated in the next few months. You are asking about whqt will help your application.

I dont really think canada will be vaccinating the younger gen pretty soon. The rollout is so slow in canada. And being fully vaccinated means atleast end of October by the timeline canada is having.

 

[nikolain]

Thanks for the reply, did you guys apply for visa?

In one of the forms where i, the sponsor had to fill asked when we first physically met. Which was one week before our wedding. That is okay right? I mean covid put a halt to my original plan to visit in December.

Yup as you can see my Signature, I have gotten Sponsor Approval also. Whatever your story is, be truthful about it.

 

[canuck78]

I dont really think canada will be vaccinating the younger gen pretty soon. The rollout is so slow in canada. And being fully vaccinated means atleast end of October by the timeline canada is having.

No young people should be vaccinated earlier than October and anyone wanting to get vaccinated should be done by the summer unless there is a major unplanned manufacturing issue. Canada iss now having huge amounts of vaccines being delivered

 

[canuck78]

I met her one week before, and i took 2 weeks of unpaid leave and stayed 3 weeks with her. But we have chats and calls and letters from friends etc.

Chats and letters from friends are not the same as spending time together in person. You can only get to know someone so much over the phone or online. When you are actually together in person and especially if you are living together there are may issues that you have to deal with that don't come up over the phone or online.

 

[ahmedcar]

Hi everyone,

This is an arranged marriage and i will be meeting my spouse like a week before the marriage date. Our parents arranged our marriage and we have been in touch for atleast 7hrs per day via whatsapp and social media, mostly video calls since June 2020.

I initially planned to travel to my home country in 2020 dec to meet her, but airports were closed due to the covid pandemic.

We started off as friends and then developed feelings for each other and saw that we are compatible and then only planned the marriage eventhough this was arranged by parents and had their blessings.

We had the traditional ceremonies with relatives, friends and family with a huge gathering around 150-200.

I physically met her for the first time a week before the wedding, after 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine. I stayed with her for 2 weeks after the wedding and went on honeymoon and also were hosted by friends and family. I had to return back to canada to continue my job as working outside the country is not allowed.

Also i took 2 weeks unpaid leave due to the fact that i had to quarantine for 2 weeks after arriving to my home country. All together i was in my home country for 5 weeks including the mandatory 2 weeks quarantine.

When i apply for spouse visa, will it raise red flags as i only met her in person a week before? We have been having contact since 11months before the wedding although it was via social media.

Any advice on any red flags?

Hey, As long you provide a letter of explanation it will be all good. IRCC review cases based on the local cultural norms based on one's community. They would not expect a Muslim Asian (just for an example) to have an established relationship with spouse before marriage like they would expect for a westerner. They are aware that these things are not common in certain places and communities. As long as marriage process is based on your local customs and practices you dont need to worry. However, i strongly suggest that you provide detail explanations under Q 11. IS THERE MORE INFORMATION YOU WISH TO SHARE TO SUPPORT YOUR RELATIOSNHIP- to any things which you think might be red flags. If you want I could share the letter which i provided with my app, so that you might get some idea. Please DM me your email id.