Hello,
Wondering if anyone can help or been in a similar situation.
My partner and I are in the early stages of applying for express entry, we're just about to do our IELTS test and my ECA will be back soon - we're hoping to get ourselves in the pool by August and will have 454 points (assuming we don't faff up our English tests!) so should be in a fairly good position to get an ITA soon after if the points don't shoot up over the coming months.
One of our main concerns is in regards to our relationship. Basically I'm currently still married (been separated for almost 5 years at this point but just never got around to sorting the divorce). As soon as we decided we wanted to immigrate to Canada I got the divorce process rolling, which is no problem and I should be legally divorced in the next couple of months.
Originally we thought we would just apply as common-law partners, but due to the circumstances we really have little proof we've been living together for a year. We both own our own properties, financially very independent of one another and it just never seemed that necessary to update the address for my partner as his friend was still living in his flat and passing mail on.
We did get around to sorting it out at the start of this year and now have a joint account etc. but seeing as we're planning to start a family, we decided we'd like to get married anyway.
So my question is, if we got married in August and then put ourselves in the pool for express entry is that going to look suspicious to immigration? Will we still need to prove a genuine relationship? If so, how easy is that if we don't have much in the way of documentation prior to this year?
I've seen information in regards to sponsoring a spouse and seen all sorts of things you could use to help your case, but as pretty private, hermit type people we will struggle with some aspects (e.g. I've realised we only have like 3 photos together in all our years together ha) but we could easily provide messages between us, receipts for holidays we've been on etc. He was also paying me money into my bank account since we've lived together to cover bills, I don't know if that would count for anything, but overall it's not a mountain of evidence.
We're loathed to delay applying just to make sure we've got a year of proof, we just want to start our life over there as soon as we can, especially as we want to start a family and we're not getting any younger! We also can't apply separately as my partner wouldn't have enough points.
Thanks!
Wondering if anyone can help or been in a similar situation.
My partner and I are in the early stages of applying for express entry, we're just about to do our IELTS test and my ECA will be back soon - we're hoping to get ourselves in the pool by August and will have 454 points (assuming we don't faff up our English tests!) so should be in a fairly good position to get an ITA soon after if the points don't shoot up over the coming months.
One of our main concerns is in regards to our relationship. Basically I'm currently still married (been separated for almost 5 years at this point but just never got around to sorting the divorce). As soon as we decided we wanted to immigrate to Canada I got the divorce process rolling, which is no problem and I should be legally divorced in the next couple of months.
Originally we thought we would just apply as common-law partners, but due to the circumstances we really have little proof we've been living together for a year. We both own our own properties, financially very independent of one another and it just never seemed that necessary to update the address for my partner as his friend was still living in his flat and passing mail on.
We did get around to sorting it out at the start of this year and now have a joint account etc. but seeing as we're planning to start a family, we decided we'd like to get married anyway.
So my question is, if we got married in August and then put ourselves in the pool for express entry is that going to look suspicious to immigration? Will we still need to prove a genuine relationship? If so, how easy is that if we don't have much in the way of documentation prior to this year?
I've seen information in regards to sponsoring a spouse and seen all sorts of things you could use to help your case, but as pretty private, hermit type people we will struggle with some aspects (e.g. I've realised we only have like 3 photos together in all our years together ha) but we could easily provide messages between us, receipts for holidays we've been on etc. He was also paying me money into my bank account since we've lived together to cover bills, I don't know if that would count for anything, but overall it's not a mountain of evidence.
We're loathed to delay applying just to make sure we've got a year of proof, we just want to start our life over there as soon as we can, especially as we want to start a family and we're not getting any younger! We also can't apply separately as my partner wouldn't have enough points.
Thanks!
