Spousal sponsorship question re:marital status

[cygnusx1]

Hi folks, quick question. I’m sponsoring my wife to come to Canada. On one of the forms where it asks our marital status, there are options for “married - physically present” and “married - not physically present”

Can someone please explain what these mean? My interpretation is “present” means in Canada and “not present” means outside Canada, but I could be way off. Don’t want to mess up our application so I’d appreciate some clarity!

 

[Ponga]

`Proxy, telephone, fax, Internet or similar forms of marriage where one or both parties are not physically present are excluded relationships in all temporary and permanent immigration programs.'

Not physically present is a proxy marriage, which IRCC no longer recognizes/allows for spousal sponsorship as of June 11, 2015.

 

[cygnusx1]

I appreciate the quick reply. So for us, we live in different countries but see each other fairly regularly. So we’d apply as “physically present” then? I’m assuming “not physically present” to mean never met physically in this case?

 

[YVR123]

I appreciate the quick reply. So for us, we live in different countries but see each other fairly regularly. So we’d apply as “physically present” then? I’m assuming “not physically present” to mean never met physically in this case?

That question is really addressing if both of you were there at the wedding/legal marriage procedure.

I would assumed that both you and your spouse were at the wedding in person.

 

[Ponga]

I appreciate the quick reply. So for us, we live in different countries but see each other fairly regularly. So we’d apply as “physically present” then? I’m assuming “not physically present” to mean never met physically in this case?

The question is asking about HOW you were married, NOT if your `living together' now. IF you and your wife were in fact married in person (face-to-face), you would say physically present.

 

[cygnusx1]

The question is asking about HOW you were married, NOT if your `living together' now. IF you and your wife were in fact married in person (face-to-face), you would say physically present.

Really appreciate it. Yes we were both physically present. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Ponga]

For reference:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...family-class-determining-spouse/legality.html

"Marriage where one or both parties are not physically present (e.g. proxy, telephone, fax, Internet)

Proxy, telephone, fax, Internet or similar forms of marriage where one or both parties are not physically present are excluded relationships in all temporary and permanent immigration programs [R5, R117(9)(c.1), or R125(1)(c.1)].


Proxy marriage is defined as a marriage in which one or both of the participants are not physically present, but they are represented by another person who attends the solemnization. A telephone, fax or Internet marriage is a marriage in which one or both of the participants are not physically present at the same location, but participate in the solemnization of the marriage by telephone, fax, Internet or other means (e.g. Skype or FaceTime). It is possible that someone other than the persons getting married participates on their behalf as well as over the telephone, by fax, Internet or other means.


Applications received by IRCC before June 11, 2015, from persons married by proxy, telephone, fax or Internet are not subject to this exclusion.


To be considered physically present at a marriage ceremony, both parties (e.g. sponsor and spouse or principal applicant and accompanying spouse) must have participated in a wedding ceremony in person."