Commitment Ceremonies for Conjugal partners?

[elkan]

My partner and I are wondering if there are any Conjugal partners out there who have actually done a commitment ceremony or partnership ceremony? We are stuck on the one question of the application, "Have you celebrated your relationship through a formal ceremony? ie. commitment / partnership ceremony". If the answer is no, you have to explain why. We haven't been sure how to answer that question. We don't believe in the institution of marriage? Nobody I know (common law or conjugal) has had one? City hall has not heard of it? These don't seem like answers the IO wants to here.

I did contact somebody who performs them and he said he has done them for heterosexual couples in Toronto, but he's hesitant to do it for us for immigration purposes. He really feels we should challenge immigration and say that the reason we haven't had a ceremony is because we don't believe in the institution of marriage. He said if we did decide to do one, he will support it.

Just lookin' for some input from others in the same boat?

Thanks!

 

[bonbon9]

Hi!

This one, or any type of ceremonies, are NOT mandatory for immigration. You should answer truthfully, just say you don't want/plan to have one. Only problem that I see is that you're applying under conjugal category, have you checked if you meet the requirements? "Deciding not to get married because you don't believe in the institution of marriage" is not a valid reason to apply as conjugal partners.

 

[matthewc]

Actually you can qualify as conjugal if there is a genuine impediment (beyond your control) to living together for the one continuous year required to qualify as common-law. You're asking for hassle going that route, but technically CIC can't force you to marry in order to qualify. The flip side is that you have to be careful, as if you let on that you plan to marry later, then they can refuse you as conjugal based on their being nothing to prevent you marrying now - conjugal isn't for fiancées. For that to work, though, there has to be a really good reason why you can't live together (proof you've both been refused visitor visas for long-term visits in each other's countries, for example).

 

[BeShoo]

I disagree with bonbon9. You are supposed to be able to choose whether to marry or become common-law partners. Normally, you wouldn't apply as conjugal partners unless there was no way of either marrying or living together for one year (you should be able to choose which).

The most important thing in a conjugal application is to show that you are currently in a ongoing marriage-like relationship of a least one year's duration. What doesn't qualify is a boyfriend/girlfriend/fiancé relationship that is only a precursor to a marriage-like relationship.

Read the three messages starting here for more detailed criteria or what's considered a marriage-like (conjugal) relationship: Characteristics of a conjugal relationship. If you can meet all or most of those that it is possible to meet, you should theoretically be fine. (Although some immigration officers would really prefer that you just be married.)

No commitment ceremony is required, but if you had one, they will want to know why your friends and family weren't all in attendance. If you didn't have one, you should have some reason. (Some reason other than, "We didn't tell our families because it's not a real marriage/partnership." Of course, no-one would say that, but you don't want the IO to think that either, so you ought to have a reason if you can state one.)

 

[AllisonVSC]

I answered no to the ceremony question in our conjugal partner app and put "because it wasn't appropriate" as the reason why.

 

[chelley]

i suspect these commitment type ceremonies are performed for couples who cannot marry but WANT to engage in an "official" joining ritual (cultures where divorce is not permitted and one or both parties are separated from previous spouses, homosexuals in cultures where gay marriages are not allowed ect)... if you are not of the mindset that you need an "official ceremony" to substiantiate your relationship then you should likely do as Allison has done and say "We did not feel this was appropriate"....

 

[Osiris]

: We are applying UNDER CONJUGAL PARTNERS CATEGORY and we had a commitment ceremony my BB bought a pair of rings and we had a beautiful intimate night, we answered the question YES we had a a very intimate ceremony with not guest.

 

[canindian]

Hi,

We did a small party with our friends and exchanged rings...but it wasn't an official ceremony documented by any city or religious person.

Question for the group...has anyone been contacted for an interview. I am not sure if this category always get interviewed. Any details that you can share about the interview questions.....

Thanks.

H

 

[AllisonVSC]

Hi,

We did a small party with our friends and exchanged rings...but it wasn't an official ceremony documented by any city or religious person.

Question for the group...has anyone been contacted for an interview. I am not sure if this category always get interviewed. Any details that you can share about the interview questions.....

Thanks.

H

I didn't get called to an interview.

 

[canindian]

I didn't get called to an interview.

Now I'm even more worried

 

[AllisonVSC]

Now I'm even more worried

Why? It looks like from your timeline that you've already received a PPR. Am I mistaken and you've been called for an interview?

 

[canindian]

Hi Allison,

In Delhi they request your passport upfront when they start the overseas portion of the application. So still early days and no guarantees

 

[AllisonVSC]

I see. Thanks for clarifying and GOOD LUCK!

 

[canindian]

Allison

I am quite new here and don't know everyones background story. I am trying to find someone in a similar boat to me as I constantly hear how hard it is to get the conjugal partnerships visas approved.

In a nut shell:
I am Canadian, divorced with a beautiful daughter of almost 10. I am the primary caregiver for my daughter, but she has a good and close relationship with her dad (as she should). He won't let me take her to India for a visit or for longer. And quite frankly, it is not in her best interest to move to India even if I fought tooth and nail (and won), when her dad and rest of the family is here.

My other half is obviouly in India and he can't even get a tourist to come to visit as they don't think he will go home at the end of the visit. (Which is not true, but a different argument for another day...lol).

We have been together for over 2 years in a committed relationship and I have gone out there a number of times to visit. Marriage without having a chance to bond with my daughter, and not having her there is not an option, as we believe that this could be detremental to her well being and of that of the family unit. So we have opted for the Conjugal route.

Do you mind me asking what your background is as I see that you were successful.

Thanks