Thanks to all who have already given me a lot of helpful advise on this matter. Rather than intrude on other threads, I thought it made more sense to start my own! I'll try to summarize my story quickly.
My husband and I had an arranged marriage and were married in March 2006. He had been in the country since 1997. First on a visitors visa, then that lapsed and was here illegaly. Then in 2004 he applied on Humanitarian visa was denied, then applied for refugee status. While he had refugee status, he had a work permit which allowed him to continue to work. My sponsorship of him overlapped his refugee claim. He was denied his refugee claim but we never bothered to appeal since we figured we were on the route for my sponsorship of him anyway. Our application went into Vegreville in April 2006. We got a letter from Vegreville in Feb 2007, finally telling us our applicaiton had been received and that our file had been transferred to our local office. We waited patiently until this past October where my husband got a letter asking for documentation such as pictures (we sent our wedding and reception pictures), phone bills, if we had joint bank accounts then to send statments but if we had separate to send statments (I only have my account where all bills are paid, but his name is not on it and he does not have an account as he is not working). Anyway, we sent in whatever documentation we had. He got another letter about 2 weeks ago asking for similar documenation (i.e. phone bills, bank accounts, photos) and telling us a we have an inteview scheduled this coming Thursday. I am asking for help as to what to expect for this interview. My husband and I are having a tough time grappling with the whole notion of 'proving our marriage' is genuine. I know people marry for citzenship but to prove we got married for love is silly. It was arranged. Nonetheless, after we married, we certainly have grown to love one another and nothing else mattered.
Can anyone help me out and tell me what questions to expect in the interiew. I have already written a letter stating my case and my husband is in the middle of doing the same. All this time, we have not gathered photos cards because, in all honesty, it never occured that we would be asked for 'proof'. Our marriage for the last 2 1/2 years was proof enough (or so we thought).
Anyone?
My husband and I had an arranged marriage and were married in March 2006. He had been in the country since 1997. First on a visitors visa, then that lapsed and was here illegaly. Then in 2004 he applied on Humanitarian visa was denied, then applied for refugee status. While he had refugee status, he had a work permit which allowed him to continue to work. My sponsorship of him overlapped his refugee claim. He was denied his refugee claim but we never bothered to appeal since we figured we were on the route for my sponsorship of him anyway. Our application went into Vegreville in April 2006. We got a letter from Vegreville in Feb 2007, finally telling us our applicaiton had been received and that our file had been transferred to our local office. We waited patiently until this past October where my husband got a letter asking for documentation such as pictures (we sent our wedding and reception pictures), phone bills, if we had joint bank accounts then to send statments but if we had separate to send statments (I only have my account where all bills are paid, but his name is not on it and he does not have an account as he is not working). Anyway, we sent in whatever documentation we had. He got another letter about 2 weeks ago asking for similar documenation (i.e. phone bills, bank accounts, photos) and telling us a we have an inteview scheduled this coming Thursday. I am asking for help as to what to expect for this interview. My husband and I are having a tough time grappling with the whole notion of 'proving our marriage' is genuine. I know people marry for citzenship but to prove we got married for love is silly. It was arranged. Nonetheless, after we married, we certainly have grown to love one another and nothing else mattered.
Can anyone help me out and tell me what questions to expect in the interiew. I have already written a letter stating my case and my husband is in the middle of doing the same. All this time, we have not gathered photos cards because, in all honesty, it never occured that we would be asked for 'proof'. Our marriage for the last 2 1/2 years was proof enough (or so we thought).
Anyone?