haiauphixu

Hi all,

I'm facing a difficult decision. Please help...

I'm planning to marry my Indonesian girlfriend. I'm PR in Canada (not Indonesian citizen), she is Indonesian in Indonesia.

I have two choices :

1. Having wedding party and register our marriage in Indonesia.
2. Having wedding party in Indonesia and register our marriage in Canada.

Which one should I go with in respect to immigration ? We have separate for too long and I want to be with her as soon as possible. What's pro and con in term of time and complexity ?

(note: due to religion difference between us, it's extremely difficult to register our marriage in Indonesia, but not impossible)

Thank you very much

Andrew Miller

From immigration rules perspective it is irrelevant where you get married, as long as marriage is valid in the jurisdiction it took place and as long as it is your only spouse and older than 16.

amancharan

But isnt it that registered legal marriage is only valid for immigration purposes?? I mean if they marry according to some religious ceremony; that would'nt be accepted?
I might be wrong but thats what I was told and thats why we did a registered marriage before submitting our application!

Andrew Miller

Again - it has to be a legal marriage, recognized as such in the jurisdiction it took place.

haiauphixu

If I go with Canadian marriage registration, my wife would travel to Canada first as visitor, then we do the registration. After that, I will sponsor her to be PR.

During the process, should she travel to outside of Canada? Can she extend the visitor visa ? How long the process would take ?

Thank you

Andrew Miller

Before you start making plans about wedding in Canada find out if your fiancee can get Canadian visa first. It will be much more difficult than you think.