Proving your relationship is genuine

[canuck_amuck]

Alright,

So from what I have heard, proving that your relationship is a genuine one is the most difficult part of the application process. A marriage certificate basically allows you to do a spousal sponsorship, but does not go far by the way of proving your relationship is real. So what methods of proving our relationships are genuine do we have at our disposal?

These are the things I know of so far:
- Wedding photos
- Photos of trips with partner/spouse
- Proof of ongoing correspondence between you and your partner/spouse (letters, emails, instant message logs, etc)
- Joint bills (lease, electric, internet, etc)
- Joint bank accounts
- Phone bills showing long distance calls to each other
- Proof of money transferred to each other (bank statements, western union receipts, etc)
- Letters from family and friends that have been with you while you were together, and can personally vouch that your relationship is genuine


I can get most of those together. Would that be enough evidence? My wife and I were only dating for a year and a month before we got married (which was on july 12th), would there be any issues with that? Our marriage is genuine and we love each other very much.

Has anyone else used any other methods to prove their relationship?

Thanks,
Canuck

 

[LCS]

Alright,

So from what I have heard, proving that your relationship is a genuine one is the most difficult part of the application process. A marriage certificate basically allows you to do a spousal sponsorship, but does not go far by the way of proving your relationship is real. So what methods of proving our relationships are genuine do we have at our disposal?

These are the things I know of so far:
- Wedding photos
- Photos of trips with partner/spouse
- Proof of ongoing correspondence between you and your partner/spouse (letters, emails, instant message logs, etc)
- Joint bills (lease, electric, internet, etc)
- Joint bank accounts
- Phone bills showing long distance calls to each other
- Proof of money transferred to each other (bank statements, western union receipts, etc)
- Letters from family and friends that have been with you while you were together, and can personally vouch that your relationship is genuine


I can get most of those together. Would that be enough evidence? My wife and I were only dating for a year and a month before we got married (which was on july 12th), would there be any issues with that? Our marriage is genuine and we love each other very much.

Has anyone else used any other methods to prove their relationship?

Thanks,
Canuck

Everything you've listed here and can show docuementation of sounds very solid as far as proving your combined/connected lives together. If there are any joint purchases as well you could include that. The rest sounds very complete.

 

[canuck_amuck]

How would I prove it is a joint purchase? I mean anything large would either be on my credit card or hers right?

Or are you talking about purchasing something that is for both of us (ie. wedding rings)?

 

[LCS]

How would I prove it is a joint purchase? I mean anything large would either be on my credit card or hers right?

Or are you talking about purchasing something that is for both of us (ie. wedding rings)?

It was just another idea about showing possible connectivity. Have you ever purchased something where you both had to sign a contract together for financial responsibility for the repayments. ie. a vehicle as co-applicants or purchaser and co-signer? Appliances, furniture etc. Everything else you have seems to cover it.

 

[canuck_amuck]

ah, I got it.

 

[x5-452]

I'm just starting to gather my proof documents and would like to know what else I should include.

Currently I have, Joint bank account statements, Joint Car insurance documents, My daughter's birth certificate that states both me & my wife's name, emails between my wife and I.
With the photographs, do i need to put in a description on when and where that photo was taken?
I will also be getting a letter from my sister regarding meeting my wife while she came and visisted, and she too will be providing photographs from her trip. Should i get a letter from my parents as well to authenticate the relationship?
I guess the more documents the better, but what else can i include. I would think that my daughter's birth certificate is proof enough...

 

[Silver_Spirit]

You can include emails, online conversation historys, any letters youve ever written each other, cards you've sent each other (Valentines are a good one!) And you can get statements from friends and family too.

X5-452 - I'd deff put a description on the photos saying whos in them, where it was and when it was. Most people C&P photos into a word document and just type under each picture as its less time consuming!

The more evidence you can get the better really, especiall if its only a 'short' relationship. I was with my hubby for 5 years and submitted my bank and his bank, a print out showing his email inbox and copies of some of the emails, and cards and letters he'd gotten from me. Plus copies of our wedding invites and our engagement party photos We didnt have anything 'joint' except both our names on the marriage cert, but the emails and stuff backed us up nicely.

 

[boyee6576]

Also I dont know if anyone has mentioned it. But life insurance policies with naming each other as beneficary is another important proof. Credit card statements if you both have that is also proof. If you pay for medical insurance for your spouse is another good one to have. Usually policies have family member names on it for those covered. The more you gather the better it is.

good luck

 

[heatherusa]

Also I dont know if anyone has mentioned it. But life insurance policies with naming each other as beneficary is another important proof. Credit card statements if you both have that is also proof. If you pay for medical insurance for your spouse is another good one to have. Usually policies have family member names on it for those covered. The more you gather the better it is.

good luck

I included copies of the enrollment forms for the health insurance through my work, that showed that I was insuring my husband. 401k beneficiary statements with my husband as beneficiary, and also emergency contact forms for work and school, showing him or me and his family members as our emergency contacts for things such as work, my daughters school, etc.

I also sent a copy of every joint tax return we filed together for 11 years.

 

[canadianwoman]

I would think that my daughter's birth certificate is proof enough...

Having a child together is good evidence of a genuine relationship, but the child alone is not enough. Couples with children have been rejected. Any evidence the foreign spouse is heavily involved in the life of the child, in spite of being out of Canada, is good evidence - for outland applications, of course.

 

[CBIS]

Life insuance,health insurance,beneficary,goes to show just how dumb i was i have never even thought of any of this, and i have all of it.lol