Gay Couple Seeking Guidance and Support

[MyAndiboy]

We are a gay couple and are hoping for guidance and support.

So our back story, I am a Canadian citizen and my fiancé is from North Macedonia. We met online (an many couples are due to COVID situation) in January. We started out as friends and our relationship blossomed into an incredible romance. Soon we were spend 8 to 12 hours a day together online and have 1000+ pages of documentations. Conversations reflect not only our physical and sexual attraction to one another but also our values, hopes and dreams. It is important to note (not an issue for us but could potentially be a red flag for immigration) there is a age gap of 20plus years. As the Canadian sponsor I am the older of the two. I am a principal of an elementary school with a provincial school Board and my fiancé is a medical student in a university in his country. Due to COVID we have not been able to travel to spend time together and so luckily we have had an amazing virtual relationship. unfortunately My fiancé lives in a country where homophobia is rampant and his ability to safely com out to his parents and family could be could have serious consequence.

Here is our question on the best way to move forward.
Our Plan A, was getting married in Iceland this August. We would be only be the ones attending the wedding, however I would have my family members Skype into the ceremony. In addition we would document our wedding and honeymoon with lots of photos and all subsequent visits until he is finally able to come to Canada. In addition my fiancé will have a letter from a friend who is an educator who knows and supports our relationship. We are aware that there may be the need for an interview.

Our Plan B, is to apply for conjugal sponsorship.

We are really hoping for the path of least resistance. We are planning to have children and with my age we are trying to avoid this process being delayed for longer than the normal 12 months. In addition I am so worried about my fiancé living in a country where being gay is not socially accepted.

Any support or guidance would be greatly appreciate. I need to help my sweet fiancé to stop worrying and stressing and to help us both to remain positive and hopeful

 

[armoured]

Any support or guidance would be greatly appreciate.

-Spend as much time as possible physically together, preferably multiple visits and again, as much time as possible, before and after marrying and applying. (And after applying if possible and advise IRCC)

-This will affect the likeliness of it being approved with less time and complications. Age difference and it being almost entirely an online relationship to date will raise risk of longer process, interviews, and potentially refusal.

-You cannot 'just apply' under conjugal partnership. You will have to demonstrate that there are barriers to you being together - including impossibility of marrying in home country, and refusal of TRV to your partner (otherwise he could just come to Canada and you marry). [I do not know situation in Macedonia but may be additional skepticism if travel for him to countries in Europe where same-sex marriage is legal.]

-So it is in your interests for him to apply for TRV - even if the likely result is refusal, that may be a necessary component. (And if approved, he can come to Canada and you marry and apply inland).

-But by far your biggest barrier is going to be demonstrating it's a real relationship. A lot of time online is not going to cut it, and marrying at first meeting will raise suspicions as well. The primary way to address that - in your case - is as much actual time together as possible. (Also a good idea from a relationship standpoint, but that's your business)

 

[scylla]

We are a gay couple and are hoping for guidance and support.

So our back story, I am a Canadian citizen and my fiancé is from North Macedonia. We met online (an many couples are due to COVID situation) in January. We started out as friends and our relationship blossomed into an incredible romance. Soon we were spend 8 to 12 hours a day together online and have 1000+ pages of documentations. Conversations reflect not only our physical and sexual attraction to one another but also our values, hopes and dreams. It is important to note (not an issue for us but could potentially be a red flag for immigration) there is a age gap of 20plus years. As the Canadian sponsor I am the older of the two. I am a principal of an elementary school with a provincial school Board and my fiancé is a medical student in a university in his country. Due to COVID we have not been able to travel to spend time together and so luckily we have had an amazing virtual relationship. unfortunately My fiancé lives in a country where homophobia is rampant and his ability to safely com out to his parents and family could be could have serious consequence.

Here is our question on the best way to move forward.
Our Plan A, was getting married in Iceland this August. We would be only be the ones attending the wedding, however I would have my family members Skype into the ceremony. In addition we would document our wedding and honeymoon with lots of photos and all subsequent visits until he is finally able to come to Canada. In addition my fiancé will have a letter from a friend who is an educator who knows and supports our relationship. We are aware that there may be the need for an interview.

Our Plan B, is to apply for conjugal sponsorship.

We are really hoping for the path of least resistance. We are planning to have children and with my age we are trying to avoid this process being delayed for longer than the normal 12 months. In addition I am so worried about my fiancé living in a country where being gay is not socially accepted.

Any support or guidance would be greatly appreciate. I need to help my sweet fiancé to stop worrying and stressing and to help us both to remain positive and hopeful

Conjugal won't work.

Go for Plan A. Very strongly recommend you take at least one trip together first before you go on the trip to Iceland to get married. Generally speaking, applications where a couple married on their first trip together get a great deal more scrutiny due to marriage of convenience concerns and have a
higher chance of being refused.

 

[canuck78]

Agree that you should at least take one trip together to actually get to know someone in person. The best virtual relationship is not the same as time in person. Before marrying someone spending sometime together is just a smart move for anyone even if immigration isn’t involved. You already have an age difference that could create red flags so eliminating other red flags (no time spent in person before marriage) would be a very good idea.

 

[AutumnSkies]

I definitely agree with everyone else about going for plan A, as well as finding a way that works for you to meet in person and spend time together at least once before the wedding if it’s possible to do so.

I definitely get where you’re coming from as I also met my now husband online, but even though I knew from the start he was the one, (just as you love your fiancé before having met in person) I made sure my husband and I found a way to meet in person, spend time together, live together, etc to make it ‘official’ before we got married, and then I sponsored him. If you can manage to do some of that, even just a visit, it will help alleviate some possible red flags. It will also make your paperwork so much easier and less stressful when you’ve got some substantial, rock solid evidence to back up the genuineness of your relationship.

Unfortunately, even if we know our relationships are genuine, IRCC doesn’t, so we have to prove we’re legit in the best way we can. Spending time together in person will help a lot to solidify your case.

 

[MyAndiboy]

I definitely agree with everyone else about going for plan A, as well as finding a way that works for you to meet in person and spend time together at least once before the wedding if it’s possible to do so.

I definitely get where you’re coming from as I also met my now husband online, but even though I knew from the start he was the one, (just as you love your fiancé before having met in person) I made sure my husband and I found a way to meet in person, spend time together, live together, etc to make it ‘official’ before we got married, and then I sponsored him. If you can manage to do some of that, even just a visit, it will help alleviate some possible red flags. It will also make your paperwork so much easier and less stressful when you’ve got some substantial, rock solid evidence to back up the genuineness of your relationship.

Unfortunately, even if we know our relationships are genuine, IRCC doesn’t, so we have to prove we’re legit in the best way we can. Spending time together in person will help a lot to solidify your case.

Thank you, we are taking your advice. We know this is right but we understand how ppl who have not fallen in love online think how is this possI le —especially IRCC. We have modified our plan based on everyone’s advice, plus I want to do everything to eliminate the stress of the process that my fiancé is feeling. He’s a worrier by nature and I’m a glass overflowing person so together we balance each other extremely well. So we are off to Europe in October and then during December holiday, with a wedding in Mexico in March. We are adding on some months before our application will be approved and we are officially living in the same home but it’s worth eliminating the red flags. Plus I will have some family attend the wedding in March.
My fiancé is a wise and thoughtful man, he assures me the process is difficult and long for a reason, it proves that those of us who are willing to go through this process truly are in love, because others would just give up. What’s most important is our determination and dedication to being with one another.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you, we are taking your advice. We know this is right but we understand how ppl who have not fallen in love online think how is this possI le —especially IRCC. We have modified our plan based on everyone’s advice, plus I want to do everything to eliminate the stress of the process that my fiancé is feeling. He’s a worrier by nature and I’m a glass overflowing person so together we balance each other extremely well. So we are off to Europe in October and then during December holiday, with a wedding in Mexico in March. We are adding on some months before our application will be approved and we are officially living in the same home but it’s worth eliminating the red flags. Plus I will have some family attend the wedding in March.
My fiancé is a wise and thoughtful man, he assures me the process is difficult and long for a reason, it proves that those of us who are willing to go through this process truly are in love, because others would just give up. What’s most important is our determination and dedication to being with one another.

Would also encourage him to also look at how difficult it is to get licensed in Canada as an IMG. That may also may influence future decisions.

 

[Copingwithlife]

We are a gay couple and are hoping for guidance and support.

So our back story, I am a Canadian citizen and my fiancé is from North Macedonia. We met online (an many couples are due to COVID situation) in January. We started out as friends and our relationship blossomed into an incredible romance. Soon we were spend 8 to 12 hours a day together online and have 1000+ pages of documentations. Conversations reflect not only our physical and sexual attraction to one another but also our values, hopes and dreams. It is important to note (not an issue for us but could potentially be a red flag for immigration) there is a age gap of 20plus years. As the Canadian sponsor I am the older of the two. I am a principal of an elementary school with a provincial school Board and my fiancé is a medical student in a university in his country. Due to COVID we have not been able to travel to spend time together and so luckily we have had an amazing virtual relationship. unfortunately My fiancé lives in a country where homophobia is rampant and his ability to safely com out to his parents and family could be could have serious consequence.

Here is our question on the best way to move forward.
Our Plan A, was getting married in Iceland this August. We would be only be the ones attending the wedding, however I would have my family members Skype into the ceremony. In addition we would document our wedding and honeymoon with lots of photos and all subsequent visits until he is finally able to come to Canada. In addition my fiancé will have a letter from a friend who is an educator who knows and supports our relationship. We are aware that there may be the need for an interview.

Our Plan B, is to apply for conjugal sponsorship.

We are really hoping for the path of least resistance. We are planning to have children and with my age we are trying to avoid this process being delayed for longer than the normal 12 months. In addition I am so worried about my fiancé living in a country where being gay is not socially accepted.

Any support or guidance would be greatly appreciate. I need to help my sweet fiancé to stop worrying and stressing and to help us both to remain positive and hopeful

This was the exact situation my ex was in. He met someone online . Him here in Canada, the guy was in Peru . Age difference.Online Relationship, and he wanted to bring him too Canada . I asked him about his background etc . He was a artist , been refused a US visa in the past .
I said Canada & US share information.I said he doesn’t have a strong travel history, and you HAVE to go see this person , in person . Well the guy applied for a visa, got refused . My ex then offered him a job , well of course that got refused . He flew back& forth to South America 5x visiting . Documented the relationship, they got married there. He came back , did the Outland spousal application. All in all it took just over a year.for the sponsorship. Two years in total . It is possible, but it took quite awhile , lots of documentation to support the relationship.

 

[AutumnSkies]

Thank you, we are taking your advice. We know this is right but we understand how ppl who have not fallen in love online think how is this possI le —especially IRCC. We have modified our plan based on everyone’s advice, plus I want to do everything to eliminate the stress of the process that my fiancé is feeling. He’s a worrier by nature and I’m a glass overflowing person so together we balance each other extremely well. So we are off to Europe in October and then during December holiday, with a wedding in Mexico in March. We are adding on some months before our application will be approved and we are officially living in the same home but it’s worth eliminating the red flags. Plus I will have some family attend the wedding in March.
My fiancé is a wise and thoughtful man, he assures me the process is difficult and long for a reason, it proves that those of us who are willing to go through this process truly are in love, because others would just give up. What’s most important is our determination and dedication to being with one another.

Sounds good! I would also suggest looking into what canuck78 said as well about qualifications for your fiancé’s field of work. The more prepared you are, the less stressful it’ll be. Good luck to you and your fiancé!