When you provide proof that the relationship is legit...?

[kourts]

Do you need to show proof as far back as when you met, or just since you started dating? We've known each other almost 4 years, but just met in person 3 months ago, and started dating then. plus, I have a bit of a problem, she doesn't go by her legal given name, so any proof we have of convos doesn't show her name. Do you think if I explained this, they would understand?

 

[Rinnerz]

Others may have done things differently, but I believe it is important to show just how far back your relationship goes.

In our case, my husband and I have known each other since fall 2001, and were good/best friends almost immediately. But we didn't actually become romantically involved until summer 2005, and didn't meet in person (i.e. officially start dating in person) until summer 2006. We included proof of our entire relationship though, as we believed it showed how our relationship has developed and strengthened over the years and how well we have come to know each other (and each others' friends and families).

Edit: I forgot to add that another benefit of approaching it this way is that it doesn't seem like (in your case) you guys have only just started to get to know each other 3 months ago.

As for the name thing, in probably 90% of the emails, chat logs, etc between my husband and I, he has always referred to me by a nickname he made for me back in 2002 or so. We just made sure to explain, in the section about emails and chat logs, who was who and why. I believe I explained the origin of the nickname in my handwritten timeline about the development of our relationship as well. It helps that there are also logs where we joke about it and references to my actual legal name, as well as gift cards from his family showing them calling me by both the nickname and my birth name.

 

[kourts]

Thank you. We became best friends almost immediately as well when we met in the beginning of 2007. I don't have full on chat logs of the past 4 years, some here and there, but I do have screen prints of parts of convos, i found funny or really sweet.

 

[RobsLuv]

Use those - you don't have to submit every conversation you've ever had . . . but it's important to be able to document, as Rinnerz mentioned, when you met and how the relationship developed. Remember, a "genuine relationship" is one that was not entered into to facilitate status in Canada for the foreign national. That's what you're trying to prove - not just that you're "in love". So the length of the friendship, as well as the relationship, is a very important piece. Relationships that are genuine develop "naturally" - over a period of time, whereas a relationship that's only about getting into Canada might show indications of having started, and developed into something serious, much more quickly than what might be considered normal. This is, of course, just an example - but it does at least illustrate the differences they're looking for when assessing the "genuine nature".

 

[kourts]

Thank you. All in all she's been my best friend for 4 years. we've been together for 3 months. Been waiting my turn for a while. I don't really know how to prove it's genuine, I don't care about the free health care or any other things. I just love her and want to be with her. simple as that. I don't like the fact of leaving my family behind, but being with her just means that much to me. I'd have to say if this wasn't genuine we'd gone for this a lot quicker than 4 years. besides the fact I'm young only 20 years old, how did I ever know this was going to come from it, let alone to save conversations and stuff of the sort I had no idea what I had to go through for this. so wish me luck on trying to prove this. =/