Just married to a Swede, Should/Shouldn't wait before applying for Sponsorship?

[matti]

Hi Everyone,
I met my Swedish Girlfriend (Now Wife) in Toronto in June last year. She was here on vacation for a few months and then moved back to Sweden. As our relationship progressed, I went for a visit and stayed for a month with her in Sweden before deciding to get married. Our marriage took place on Jan 1 (last week) in Europe and now, we have decided for her to move with me to Toronto by summer.
Our concern is with the short time gap between the marriage date and the upcoming application which we want to submit. We are a little worried that our application might be delayed or even worse, refused.

Would it be better if we waited a few more months before applying for sponsorship or should we go ahead with the application right away?

Thank you!

 

[rathika]

hey it shouldn't be a problem...........to sponsor right after u get married just get all the supporting documents together like example police report,medical report,greeting cards,chat logs etc etc......i sponsored my husband soon after i married him.........good luck

 

[scylla]

Something else to keep in mind is that you can't actually "move" to Canada until you have permanent resident status. If you enter Canada before you have PR status - make sure you behave as a visitor who is coming for a visit rather than a permanent move.

 

[matti]

Thanks for the helpful and speedy reply guys!
Please correct me if I misunderstood, but should I submit those kinds of proofs (vacation Photos, Call logs, Skype Chat history, etc) TOGETHER with the application or should I keep them ready just in case?!

Best,
Matti

 

[scylla]

Include the proof with the application.

 

[clubcanada]

all evidence needs to go into the application. Have you downloaded the application kit from the cic website yet? It's all described in there what needs to be done.

And answering your question: No, you don't wait. Getting together all the required material will take awhile anyway plus the application process will take several months - if not over a year. In addition, your wife might not be allowed to enter Canada unless she can show proof that she'll return home (has a very good job in her home country, assets, etc.). so you guys might be separated for a couple of months anyway. I have not seen my wife in person for over 6 months now as her visa app is in process - that really sucks....

 

[canadianwoman]

Our concern is with the short time gap between the marriage date and the upcoming application which we want to submit. We are a little worried that our application might be delayed or even worse, refused.

Would it be better if we waited a few more months before applying for sponsorship or should we go ahead with the application right away?

Don't wait. The problem is not with a short time gap between the marriage and the application; the problem is with a short time gap between meeting for the first time and the marriage and application. I have seen cases where the visa officer has questioned the marriage because the couple waited too long after the marriage before applying. If the time frame between meeting and marrying is very short, the marriage will also be questioned. I have never seen a case where the visa officer questioned the bona fides of a marriage just because the couple applied for immigration shortly after the wedding. This is considered normal.

The proofs of a genuine relationship are sent in with the application. Then continue collecting proof from the time the application is sent until you get the PR visa: the visa officer sometimes asks for more proof; if there is an interview the visa officer will probably want to see proof from that time frame; if the case goes to appeal you will also need it.

Since your wife is from Sweden, she can easily come visit you in Canada while you wait for the application to be processed. She won't need a visa, and the usual allowed stay is 6 months. Keep in mind that she should say she is coming to visit only; she should definitely not say she is moving here until she gets the PR visa.

 

[clubcanada]

Since your wife is from Sweden, she can easily come visit you in Canada while you wait for the application to be processed. She won't need a visa, and the usual allowed stay is 6 months. Keep in mind that she should say she is coming to visit only; she should definitely not say she is moving here until she gets the PR visa.

It's true that she does not need a visa but that does not mean she will be allowed to enter Canada automatically - it's the same the other way round: a visitors visa does not grant you entrance for sure. If the officer has doubts that she will not return to her home country, she might be refused and sent back straight away.
When I visited Canada during my PR application process some years back I had to go through a short interview at the airport where I had to provide evidence of ties to my home country. I was asked about employment, assets, etc. I did not have to prove it (e.g. through some evidence in writing such as employment letter) but I'm very sure that I got a note in my PR application file stating my answers I gave which probably were used when my application was reviewed some time later).

Having a spouse waiting for you in Canada and no job in your home country might make people suspicious...

 

[maja22]

And answering your question: No, you don't wait. Getting together all the required material will take awhile anyway plus the application process will take several months - if not over a year. In addition, your wife might not be allowed to enter Canada unless she can show proof that she'll return home (has a very good job in her home country, assets, etc.). so you guys might be separated for a couple of months anyway. I have not seen my wife in person for over 6 months now as her visa app is in process - that really sucks....

I do not think this part taht she might not be allowed to enter Canada unless she has very good job, assets and etc. Swedish people can come to visit without visa (if I'm correct) and stay for 6month even though she has no job or assets in home country. She has to tell immigration she is married to canadian and will stay with him who will support her and that they are applying for PR.
I had no problems entering canada and I dont have job or lots of money in my bank account in home country. But Im staying with my husband for 6 month (sometimes less) and travel home once in a while.
Definetly start your application as soon as possible. It takes time (few month) to collect supporting documents and fill out the application.
Good luck

 

[clubcanada]

@ Matti: I forgot to mention - some european countries have youth mobility agreements with canada. These programmes allow people below a certain age to come and even work in canada for 12 months. Mostly it's very easy to get these visas (sometimes referred as working holiday visa in Holland/Germany or BUNAC in the UK). In this case she'd be exempt from having a job in your home country as she's allowed to work in Canada. So you might check whether sweden has some sort of youth exchange programme with canada (go to the canadian embassy website in stockholm) which is not for sure as e.g. austria has none.

 

[clubcanada]

@ maja22:

assets does not refer to 'much money'. it means that you have valuables in form of tangible fixed assets that require you to return home. For example you have a business or you own property.

I know for sure two cases where this was an issue. The person came with her daughter from germany and was questioned at the border. The only reason she was allowed to enter was that she was able to bring up reasons to return to germany (she had a return flight scheduled 2 weeks later and her about 5 year old son was still in germany).
In another case a german was told that he would not allowed in the next time as long as his spouse would not be qualified as a sponsor. It's true that immigration tends to have different standards for europeans and asians and it makes it much easier for europeans (to be honest this is almost discrimination as my wife who is asian was refused when we applied for a visitors visa) but I would not always rely on it.

btw: the process in warsaw takes 7 months only - so how often were you in canada for 6 months during your PR application process ....

 

[HoneyBird]

dont worry about the application timing.
we applied 3.5 weeks after we got married.
and they just asked for my passport without having to go through an interview.

 

[whoopsydaisy]

Don't wait. The problem is not with a short time gap between the marriage and the application; the problem is with a short time gap between meeting for the first time and the marriage and application. I have seen cases where the visa officer has questioned the marriage because the couple waited too long after the marriage before applying. If the time frame between meeting and marrying is very short, the marriage will also be questioned. I have never seen a case where the visa officer questioned the bona fides of a marriage just because the couple applied for immigration shortly after the wedding. This is considered normal.

Hie canadianwoman, re: that part of your post where you said the problem is with a short time gap between meeting for the first time and marriage (and application) - what is considered "too short" of a time? Is five months to six months considered too short? Thank you in advance for your response

 

[KarenCee]

I have seen cases where the visa officer has questioned the marriage because the couple waited too long after the marriage before applying.

Why would the VO question a marriage on the basis of the couple waiting too long to apply? The reason I ask is by the time my husband (the Canadian) applies for sponsorship and eventually PR for me and my daughter (U.S. Citizens) we will have been married 10 years. Surely that would not give cause to be suspicious of anything?

 

[maja22]

@ maja22:

btw: the process in warsaw takes 7 months only - so how often were you in canada for 6 months during your PR application process ....

I've been traveling back and forth home for more than 2years. It was before we got married and applied for PR (we applied this december). So what I meant is that of course visitors may have problems entering Canada everytime, but it's better to say you come to visit somebody close( boyfriend, husband etc.) than lie about friends (I did that too though). I know every case is different but I try to help using my own experience that's all. I also was asked if I intend to stay in canada eventually, when I mention to immigration I was coming to my fiance and I answered that probably I will ) It's funny, but I told the truth. I know what assests mean and I don't have anything back home that would keep me from staying in canada what so ever but I always have ticket back home and I don't overstay.