advice for second PR application

[wjmund]

A short history: Online dating and emailing for 2 months, June-July 2013. Went to China and 3 days later married my wife July 28/2013. Stayed with her and honeymooned for 3 weeks.
Applied for PR to Missisauga. Went to China and lived with wife Oct.15 to Nov.15/2013. She was called for interview to Hong kong on January 15/2014. Wife wanted me to go, so i went for a week, (very cold in her unheated apartment). VO refused application (marriage of convenience).
We did not want to appeal, instead applied for her to get visitor visa. March 17, Consulate in Guangzhou refused visa.
I have a China visa (now for 180 days) and am going to live and holiday with wife May 28 to Oct. 28 2014. Then we plan i will go back again for 6 months in May to Oct/2015.
QUESTIONS: After Oct.15, 2015, should i submit the emails and photos from when we first applied? What are crucial items we should include? Do you think we have a chance in h---!
We are very compatible, and have fallen deeper in love. She is learning English, and i am learning Mandarin. We are both retired. I am 73 and she is 58. I will read any advice carefully.
Thanks, wjmund.

 

[keesio]

I must admit that I can see why they rejected the first application. Marriage on first meetup is viewed very suspiciously and marrying after 3 days of first meetup no less.

But i think your second application now is promising. Because you are still together and have spent more time together. You both are learning each other's languages. All looks good to CIC.

I would submit all the photos/e-mails from when you first applied also. Be honest. Say that you had a quick courtship after marriage and was denied. Then follow that up by saying that despite the denial, you two still stuck together and show more photos and e-mails of your progressing relationship. If you have vacationed together, show boarding pass for both of you. Show records of you living in China for awhile (your Chinese visa, any records of you living in China (receipts, etc) ). You may still have a long road for sponsorship, but I'd say that you have more than just a longshot chance. I think your current case has come a long way in disproving the MoC.

 

[Rob_TO]

Ya i too can see why first app was refused. Only 2 months online and then marrying the first time you meet... has practically zero chance for approval. It's good you didn't appeal as that would have just cost you lots of time/money and also had practically no chance for success.

I would ensure you include in your second application
- document all time spent together in person, including proofs from previous application
- explain how you communicate if you are not fluent in each other's language
- as many photos as you can together, and more importantly with each other's friends/family
- letters of support from each others friends/family that will be testimonials they are aware of and support the marriage
- joint finances. Show that you've made your wife beneficiary to life insurance and/or show you're supporting her with transfers of money/gifts. Assumed you've already changed status with CRA to married.

 

[SenoritaBella]

In addition to short courtship, I think speaking different languages may have led the officer to wonder how you guys communicate.
1. Was your marriage attended by both families? If not, why not?
2. Did you follow all the traditional norms for Chinese marriages? If not, why not?
3. Did you include letters of communication?
4. Did the letters have some substance to them? It is OK to express love in letters, but besides that, whatelse do you talk about? An officer should be able to 'see' from the letters overtime that there is merging of affairs, support [emotional, financial(if applicable), etc] for each other, you share your day to day lives, etc - that is, you are interdependent.

About #4 - I learnt from reading appeal cases and seeing what officers' comments as to why they rejected certain applications on the Federal court website or CanLii database.

Your relationship story is an opportunity to describe how your relationship developed, the choices that led to your decision to propose and/or marry, etc and address any red flags. If an officer is not able to see these from the story or still has questions/doubts, then an interview is generally requested to help shed some light. Unfortunately, the outcome can sometimes be rejection. So the best thing is to avoid even having to go for an interview. Also, some interviews can be for quality assurance purposes.

Best wishes on your second attempt.

 

[wjmund]

Thanks keesio - Rob-To - SenoritaBella. I have printed your sage advice.

Olivia Chow reported that Hong Kong rejects 75% of spousal appl". Beijing only 50%. My wife lives closer to Hong Kong. If an interview is required, perhaps she can ask for a different VO?

If i write an cover letter, our whole relationship, will they read it?

Mandarin is a sensible language, the more you learn, the easier it gets...xie xie ni.

 

[Rob_TO]

Olivia Chow reported that Hong Kong rejects 75% of spousal appl". Beijing only 50%. My wife lives closer to Hong Kong. If an interview is required, perhaps she can ask for a different VO?

Not sure where those stats are coming from, but they are completely wrong (Chow isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer so wouldn't be surprised if she got it wrong).

CIC releases all the stats of VOs.
For HK, during last 1 years time they've had an 81% APPROVED rate for spousal PRs.
Beijing during last 1 year has had a 95% APPROVED rate.
Both offices are also pretty quick at processing at around 6-7 months time on average.

If i write an cover letter, our whole relationship, will they read it?

Yes, many people do this.

 

[keesio]

Not sure where those stats are coming from, but they are completely wrong (Chow isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer so wouldn't be surprised if she got it wrong).

Chow has an axe to grind with HK VO after she had issues with the timeline of her mother's application there. How dare they not give politician's kin special treatment (sarcasm)?