Just got engaged in Turkey! Didnt get married but want to sponsor my fiancee. ?s

[legalguru402]

Hello All!

I have to admit I was very happy to to stumble onto these forums and thought I'd chime in and ask a few questions.

Here's my story:

I'm a Canadian citizen that recently met my fiancee in Turkey 2 weeks ago. My fiancee is Syrian and went to Turkey just to meet me. We have been chatting online for the past 4 months. In Turkey, we exchanged rings and got engaged. The issue is I did not get married there and I'm looking to sponsor her to come to Canada. Ideally, I would prefer that she got a visitor visa and then once she's here we can get married here and start the inland sponsorship. Upon searching through the forums, I realized its not easy for a fiancee to get a visitor visa. So, I thought I would ask for advice from some people that have gone through this or may know what the best route to take is.

Here are some questions I have:

1.) Is there any way to apply for Spousal Sponsorship without a marriage certificate? We have not lived together and may not qualify for conjugal relationship.
2.) If a marriage certificate is required, is it necessary to get it from Turkey (since we met there), or can I have one sent from Syria (provided they can marry there even though I'm in Canada)?
3.) Would any one advise to attempt to get the visitor visa? Would it be necessary to omit that she is my fiancee?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[MilesAway]

In order to sponsor her, you must either be married or common-law (have lived together for 12 consecutive months).

You can get married anywhere, provided the marriage is legal. I don't think you can do a proxy marriage. You also have to prove that your relationship is genuine, which would be difficult if you only met her online 4 months ago, and got engaged on your first meeting.

Getting a visitor visa is difficult. My wife has been refused 4 times. She needs to show strong ties to her home country, such as a good job, a home, family, etc.

 

[canadianwoman]

Spend more time developing the relationship. Keep all evidence of communication. Go back to visit her a few times. Then get married. Don't do a proxy marriage. You will need to prove the relationship is genuine. The CIC also wants proof of the development of the relationship.

 

[Kayaker]

1.) Is there any way to apply for Spousal Sponsorship without a marriage certificate? We have not lived together and may not qualify for conjugal relationship.
2.) If a marriage certificate is required, is it necessary to get it from Turkey (since we met there), or can I have one sent from Syria (provided they can marry there even though I'm in Canada)?
3.) Would any one advise to attempt to get the visitor visa? Would it be necessary to omit that she is my fiancee?

Any help is appreciated!

1) You cannot sponsor her without a marriage certificate. You do not qualify for a conjugal relationship.
2) You cannot get married by proxy. Or if you can, CIC will not consider it valid.
3) You could try, but she may be refused. Try to demonstrate that she wants to and needs to go back to Syria.

As others have said, the best thing now is to visit her a few times, and also collect evidence. Take pictures together, and also take pictures with her friends, her family, her co-workers etc. You want to show that everyone in your lives know about you two.

By the way, you can get married anywhere, not necessarily in Canada. And even if you get married in Canada, even if she is visiting you (long term) in Canada, do an Outland application. It's probably far less than half the time it takes for an Inland application, and there are no travel restrictions. (And yes, she can be physically present in Canada during her Outland application, as long as she is not illegal here. She can give a Canadian address.)

 

[legalguru402]

Thank you all for replying.

The issue is I want to bring her to Canada asap which is why I'd prefer to get started on her application immediately. And thanks kayaker I'll remember that when she's here. Outland applications seem to go a lot quicker. In my culture people get married very quick but I understand how important it is to prove the relationship exist.

Is the marriage cerificate sent with the application or something you would simply present if interviewed?


If all else fails, looks like I'll need to book another flight to turkey

 

[Kayaker]

Thank you all for replying.

The issue is I want to bring her to Canada asap which is why I'd prefer to get started on her application immediately. And thanks kayaker I'll remember that when she's here. Outland applications seem to go a lot quicker. In my culture people get married very quick but I understand how important it is to prove the relationship exist.

Is the marriage cerificate sent with the application or something you would simply present if interviewed?


If all else fails, looks like I'll need to book another flight to turkey

Without the marriage certificate, your application will be returned to you. It is one of the most basic requirements of the application.

She could try to get a tourist visa to Canada - who knows? You never know until she applies if she will get it or not. Keep proof of that, too - whether she gets a visa or not, keep proof of that so that you can show (in your PR application) that you tried. It's very important to prove that the relationship is genuine, and that both parties of the couple made efforts to be together.

 

[legalguru402]

The problem with getting a tourist visa is that she's Syrian and that country is going through a civil war. I highly doubt it will be approved. They would likely assume she would claim refugee status when she's here?

 

[Kayaker]

That is possible. But if she proves she has enough reasons to go back to Syria, she Might be approved. One thing is, she might be more likely to be approved before she is married to you, rather than after.

 

[spaceexp]

Thank you all for replying.

The issue is I want to bring her to Canada asap which is why I'd prefer to get started on her application immediately. And thanks kayaker I'll remember that when she's here. Outland applications seem to go a lot quicker. In my culture people get married very quick but I understand how important it is to prove the relationship exist.

Is the marriage cerificate sent with the application or something you would simply present if interviewed?


If all else fails, looks like I'll need to book another flight to turkey

Hey there! Just to help you a little bit, my husband and me also met online. I applied for a visitor visa BEFORE we got married, although we were not engaged at that time, we did not omit that we are in a relationship. I wasn't refused because I had strong ties to my home country: steady job, college etc. But the officer at the entry to Canada did spend A LOT of time questioning me. So, that one is a gamble. As far as I've seen on this forum, after you get married, chances to get a visitor visa are smaller.

If in your culture people indeed get married soon after meeting, be sure to explain, that might help with your PR application, because it shows it is normal to get married that way. For us from our first one-to-one meeting to the wedding it took 6-7 months. BUT we did have a full blown wedding (cake, photographer, reception at my home and a restaurant, relatives and friends from both sides), and his mum and brother traveled to my country to attend. We also had a religious wedding in the mosque, and we went for a honeymoon afterwards. To stress, we did not do this to make sure that CIC sees our application as a genuine, we just wanted to. We sent them all the proofs we had (and it wasn't much) - pics, western union money transfers, travel tickets, tickets for the places we visited etc.

Of course, all this was our case and cannot reassure you that your case would go the same. But it might give you some view how other applications look.

But I did get a request for passport after 8-9 months, no additional documents, no interview, I am currently in Canada visiting and they know it, and I have no problems -except with Canada post :S (although I am Muslim, considering recent attacks :-[ )

And YES, you have to send your marriage certificate with your application, wherever you got married.

 

[legalguru402]

Awesome story spaceexp and I wish you the best with your application. I really hope it goes the same with me. I think I've decided to take a gamble and have her apply for a visitor visa. If it gets approved then I'll be real happy. If not, then I have to go get married in another country. All agree?

 

[spaceexp]

Awesome story spaceexp and I wish you the best with your application. I really hope it goes the same with me. I think I've decided to take a gamble and have her apply for a visitor visa. If it gets approved then I'll be real happy. If not, then I have to go get married in another country. All agree?

Thanks! I wish you all the best too!

And yes, I think you summed it up pretty right and simple.