Sponsoring Your Spouse and Kids to Canada

SPN003A Proof of Marriage

When you’re applying for a marriage sponsorship, one of the most important steps of the process is to prove not just that you’re married but also that your marriage is “bona fide.” A bona fide marriage means that you and your spouse intend to build a future together and did not get married only for immigration purposes — in this case, to obtain Permanent Residence of Applicant (or a Permanent Residence card).

 

To accomplish this, you must first provide a marriage certificate with your sponsorship application. But that alone won’t be enough to establish that your marriage is authentic. Canadian immigration authority (IRCC) knows how easy it is to get married as a legal transaction. That’s why they look for other proof that the couple is planning a life together when evaluating marriage-based spousal sponsorship applications.

 

There are two primary opportunities to prove that your marriage is authentic:

  • Through your documents ( to be attached in the Word file explained below)
  • In an interview (at an approval stage)

Proof that you combined your finances

Financial documents showing that you and your spouse have combined both your assets and liabilities are an excellent way to establish that you have a bona fide marriage.

Examples of such documents include copies of :

  • Joint bank account statements
  • Titles or deeds for jointly owned property (real estate or vehicles)
  • Mortgage or loan documents showing joint responsibility for payments
  • Joint credit card statements
  • Joint auto, health, and/or home insurance policies
  • Life insurance policies listing each other as your primary beneficiary

 

Proof that you live together

IRCC expects married couples to live together (living apart will generally raise red flags). If, however, the couple honestly and thoroughly explains their unusual living situation and provides alternative evidence of a genuine marriage, the living arrangement itself should not prevent obtaining a permanent residence card.

If you haven’t lived with your spouse since you were married, it’s essential to include a strong explanation as to why you’ve had to live apart.

For more typical cases, examples of documents that can help prove cohabitation (living together) include:

Copies of the following, showing both spouses’ names :

  • Joint mortgage or lease documents
  • Utility or other bills
  • Property deed
  • Copies of the following, showing the same address for both spouses:
  • Driver’s licenses
  • Property deed
  • Insurance statements
  • Joint bank statements
  • Original copies of the following, showing the same address for both spouses:
  • Letters from family members, friends, and/or employers

Proof that you have children together

Proof that you’re together raising children — from either your current or previous marriage(s) — is one of the strongest pieces of evidence.

Examples of such documents include: Copies of :

  • Your children’s birth certificates (listing one of the spouses’ names if from a previous marriage)
  • Adoption certificates
  • School or medical records listing the stepparent as an emergency contact for the stepchildren

Original copies of :

  • A letter from a medical provider attesting to a current pregnancy or fertility treatments
  • Family photos from vacations or other events showing both of you with your children and/or stepchildren
  • Other proof
  • A marriage is about more than just money and kids. IRCC wants proof that you and your spouse have a real relationship — that you communicate and engage in activities together.

Examples of such proof include: Copies of :

  • Travel itineraries for vacations you took together, especially to the home country of the spouse seeking a permanent residence card
  • Phone or chat records showing that you talk regularly

Original copies of :

  • Wedding photos, such as at the courthouse and celebrating with family
  • Photos from parties, events, and trips (as a couple and with friends and family) spanning the course of your relationship and during major life events
  • Letters, emails, or cards you sent to each other
  • Receipts for any gifts (such as candy, flowers, or jewelry, not everyday household items, such as groceries) you purchased for each other (receipts or invoices listing one spouse as the “bill to” name and the other spouse as the “ship to” or “recipient” name are especially helpful)

Stronger versus weaker evidence

IRCC considers some documents as more convincing proof of a real relationship. Here are examples of strongest evidence and weaker evidence, ranked, to serve as a guide:

Primary evidence: Joint bank account, life insurance, wills, joint leases, joint utilities

Secondary: Joint travel itineraries, split utilities, text messages, phone logs

Tertiary evidence: Cards, affidavits from friends/family, single travel itineraries, tickets to shows

You won’t need to include every single document listed in each category, but the immigration department typically wants to see documents that fall into as many of those.

How to collect evidence in one place

Make an MS Word file. name it ‘Evidence’. In this file, you can upload rightly-named documents as exampled under :

1.     Proof Of Marriage
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2.     Engagement Pics With Dates And Details
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3.     Marriage Pics With Dates And Details
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4.     Invitation Cards
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5.     Invoices Of Arrangements Pics With Dates And Details
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6.     Gifts Pics With Dates And Details
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7.     Lists Of Attendees Pics With Dates And Details
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8.     Your Travels Pics With Dates And Details
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9.     Boarding Passes Pics With Dates And Details
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10.  Tickets Of You Two or (accompanying family travelers)
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11.  Group Photos With Names Left To Right In Each Row From Bride’s Relatives And Groom’s Relatives
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12.  Any Gifts You Gave Each Other, Any Monies Sent Received. Any Remittances Sent Or Received Pics With Dates And Details.
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13.  Your Web Talk, Whatsapp Chats Pics With Dates And Details
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14.  Details Of Your Honeymoon Hotel Booking, Pics Places You’ve Been Together, Dined Together Etc.
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15.  Children – Pics With Dates And Details
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16.  Other Pics With Dates And Details
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