Legal marriage

[Zeinab20]

Hi members..

I was wondering if a couple marry legally according traditional/religious habits, would this also be considered as 'legally married' by Immigration Canada?

 

[fleo]

As with most things, that depends

To the best of my knowledge, if you are getting married in Canada you need to obtain a marriage license and then find a member of your religious community licensed to perform marriage ceremonies (not all are!), who can then do a traditional ceremony for you and the marriage will be registered and valid.
If you are getting married outside of Canada, if the marriage is legally recognized in the country where it took place it will generally be accepted as such in Canada (provided, I think, it isn't contrary to certain Canadian marriage requirements - for instance polygamous or between siblings).

Someone will hopefully correct me if I'm wrong

 

[Zeinab20]

As with most things, that depends

To the best of my knowledge, if you are getting married in Canada you need to obtain a marriage license and then find a member of your religious community licensed to perform marriage ceremonies (not all are!), who can then do a traditional ceremony for you and the marriage will be registered and valid.
If you are getting married outside of Canada, if the marriage is legally recognized in the country where it took place it will generally be accepted as such in Canada (provided, I think, it isn't contrary to certain Canadian marriage requirements - for instance polygamous or between siblings).

Someone will hopefully correct me if I'm wrong

Thank you for your answer. But I am still confused about what to do. My family puts lots of pressure on me and my boyfriend to marry(Nikah) at the first meeting. It is a religious habit and it is just done in a few minutes. I am worrying because I am scared this might affect our future application for sponsorship.

 

[fleo]

With Nikah it can go both ways - you can get a marriage license and find a licensed Imam to perform a ceremony, sign your license and register the marriage (which would make it possible to obtain a marriage certificate), or you can do it 'unofficially' and without a license, in which case you would not be considered married according to Canadian law.

So essentially, you can make it legally binding or not according to your wishes.

 

[Zeinab20]

With Nikah it can go both ways - you can get a marriage license and find a licensed Imam to perform a ceremony, sign your license and register the marriage (which would make it possible to obtain a marriage certificate), or you can do it 'unofficially' and without a license, in which case you would not be considered married according to Canadian law.

So essentially, you can make it legally binding or not according to your wishes.

Fleo thank you for your answer. We will do it unofficially. To me it would feel really strange, then I would be married but yet 'single' according to the law. What should I say at the border pass? I don't think it would be smart to mention this..