Evidence at the Interview

[Dan and Ali 3]

Hey everyone!

So my interview is next Thursday and we are leaving for Vancouver Tuesday night. My fiance will be there with me at the interview. I'm wondering what kind of evidence I should bring as far as proof of our relationship goes ... suggestions, please? So far I have put together a few photos of us but I'm wondering if that will be enough. To me, it seems like it should be sufficient as he will also be there with me (and you can of course tell from our mannerisms etc that we are a couple and very much in love!) but I don't want to get denied or asked to provide further evidence for such a silly reason.

I would like to avoid printing out our e-mails/chat logs/phone call records from back in the day ... if anyone who had their interview with their fiance there could possibly tell me how it went, and what evidence they were asked to provide, that would be super appreciated! Thanks in advance everyone

[Flames9_RN 358]

pictures, letters, travel receipts,chat longs. Letter from inlaws-

[SapphireDreams 71]

Hey everyone!

So my interview is next Thursday and we are leaving for Vancouver Tuesday night. My fiance will be there with me at the interview. I'm wondering what kind of evidence I should bring as far as proof of our relationship goes ... suggestions, please? So far I have put together a few photos of us but I'm wondering if that will be enough. To me, it seems like it should be sufficient as he will also be there with me (and you can of course tell from our mannerisms etc that we are a couple and very much in love!) but I don't want to get denied or asked to provide further evidence for such a silly reason.

I would like to avoid printing out our e-mails/chat logs/phone call records from back in the day ... if anyone who had their interview with their fiance there could possibly tell me how it went, and what evidence they were asked to provide, that would be super appreciated! Thanks in advance everyone

We just brought some photos too and my fiance was there with me. They didn't ask for any evidence and then gave us back all the photos we gave them in our initial package, LOL.

Chat logs and telephone bills are really secondary anyways, so you'll probably be fine with a few photos and then maybe 2-3 chats or phone bills.

[lgg 2]

For our folder, I included tons of pics of us and us with his family and daughter. I included tons of plane stubs, cards he's given me, and a copy of a lawyers letter we had to get for him in order for us to marry. As an american, and divorced, we had to get permission from the province of Ontario. We had to prove that he was, indeed, divorced. That was a crapload of legwork and money so I thought it was good evidence for us.

I included tons of screen captures of my email box with his name, letters, cards... everything that I could find that would show that we have a real relationship. THere's quite a lot, actually.

hope this helps Ali... feel free to ask me anything if you need/would like to.

oh and yeah and as sapphire pointed out, probably all for nothing but I figured, I have this stuff, may as well bring it as you just never know...

Hey everyone!

So my interview is next Thursday and we are leaving for Vancouver Tuesday night. My fiance will be there with me at the interview. I'm wondering what kind of evidence I should bring as far as proof of our relationship goes ... suggestions, please? So far I have put together a few photos of us but I'm wondering if that will be enough. To me, it seems like it should be sufficient as he will also be there with me (and you can of course tell from our mannerisms etc that we are a couple and very much in love!) but I don't want to get denied or asked to provide further evidence for such a silly reason.

I would like to avoid printing out our e-mails/chat logs/phone call records from back in the day ... if anyone who had their interview with their fiance there could possibly tell me how it went, and what evidence they were asked to provide, that would be super appreciated! Thanks in advance everyone

Edited January 23, 2010 by lgg

[Dan and Ali 3]

For our folder, I included tons of pics of us and us with his family and daughter. I included tons of plane stubs, cards he's given me, and a copy of a lawyers letter we had to get for him in order for us to marry. As an american, and divorced, we had to get permission from the province of Ontario. We had to prove that he was, indeed, divorced. That was a crapload of legwork and money so I thought it was good evidence for us.

I included tons of screen captures of my email box with his name, letters, cards... everything that I could find that would show that we have a real relationship. THere's quite a lot, actually.

hope this helps Ali... feel free to ask me anything if you need/would like to.

I really like the idea of the screen capture instead of printing each e-mail! I have tons and tons of e-mails from him and printing them all out just seems like a waste of paper to me. But, taking a screen capture with the date of each e-mail wouldn't be that much paper and it would prove how often we were corresponding. I also have a statement from a joint bank account I'll bring too, but I honestly think I'll stop there. My fiance will be there with me, if they have any questions regarding the validity of our relationship they can certainly ask him!

Thanks everyone ... you guys are all so helpful!

[darkchilde794 5]

If your fiance is coming with you, I dont think they will ask for evidence... as he is evidence

When I interviewed, we brought along all our flight tickets, some pictures with family and friends, my engagement/wedding ring receipts and wedding license receipt. The consul didnt ask for any of those

You definitely have to provide a letter of intent to marry (from each of you) that should be signed close to your interview date -- that is something they will ask again.

GOODLUCK!

[sdhiman 0]

Yes, the screen capture idea is so good...thanks lgg!!

I have a question about evidence too....thought it will be appropriate to ask in this thread and not start a new one.

I have a huge wedding album from the religious ceremony we did with all friends and family...its like a fancy picture book. Should I bring that? I am debating because its very heavy (not that I have to carry it) but its also too big to be passed from under the glass in the interview room. I think the glass window in interview room is probably similar to all the other interviews I have been to for immigration/visa purposes.

I am also bringing pictures from the legal wedding which was very simple with only 10 people and pictures of us together from different occasions including when we were little kids!!

Thoughts...anyone about the wedding album?

[darkchilde794 5]

Yes, the screen capture idea is so good...thanks lgg!!

I have a question about evidence too....thought it will be appropriate to ask in this thread and not start a new one.

I have a huge wedding album from the religious ceremony we did with all friends and family...its like a fancy picture book. Should I bring that? I am debating because its very heavy (not that I have to carry it) but its also too big to be passed from under the glass in the interview room. I think the glass window in interview room is probably similar to all the other interviews I have been to for immigration/visa purposes.

I am also bringing pictures from the legal wedding which was very simple with only 10 people and pictures of us together from different occasions including when we were little kids!!

Thoughts...anyone about the wedding album?

If its really heavy and will make your travel inconvenient, I would say just bring select photos from both your religious and legal weddings. There is also a limit to how much you can bring in the embassy -- big bags and purses are generally not allowed or need additional security check. So if you bring something so big, they might not let it inside anyway

That is so cute that you guys have pics together when you were little

[Dan and Ali 3]

If your fiance is coming with you, I dont think they will ask for evidence... as he is evidence

When I interviewed, we brought along all our flight tickets, some pictures with family and friends, my engagement/wedding ring receipts and wedding license receipt. The consul didnt ask for any of those

You definitely have to provide a letter of intent to marry (from each of you) that should be signed close to your interview date -- that is something they will ask again.

GOODLUCK!

Oh, thanks for reminding me of that or I would have totally forgotten!

If its really heavy and will make your travel inconvenient, I would say just bring select photos from both your religious and legal weddings. There is also a limit to how much you can bring in the embassy -- big bags and purses are generally not allowed or need additional security check. So if you bring something so big, they might not let it inside anyway

That is so cute that you guys have pics together when you were little

I agree with darkchilde794, just bring a select few photos vs. the whole album.

[TimandJoyce 1]

I just did the screen capture too!! That way...it was easy to choose the parts of the conversation I wanted. When we discussed trips to see each other..and wedding plans etc.

As a side note: You said you'd be in Vancouver? When I was there last June there was another woman with her husband/fiance. ( not sure which ) and she alone was called to the window. They never asked for him to come up. So be prepared as if he wasn't there. If you have Hong, the woman interviewer, she's a sweetheart. I really liked her. She'll ask basic questions, and actually, when she asked me for proof, I handed her the stack of pictures I had, she looked at the top one, and handed it back. She didn't look at anything else.

Smile,be confident, and be organized. It's better to go with a little "too" much proof, than not enough. You just never know what they're going to ask for, but I believe you'll be just fine!

[Dan and Ali 3]

I just did the screen capture too!! That way...it was easy to choose the parts of the conversation I wanted. When we discussed trips to see each other..and wedding plans etc.

As a side note: You said you'd be in Vancouver? When I was there last June there was another woman with her husband/fiance. ( not sure which ) and she alone was called to the window. They never asked for him to come up. So be prepared as if he wasn't there. If you have Hong, the woman interviewer, she's a sweetheart. I really liked her. She'll ask basic questions, and actually, when she asked me for proof, I handed her the stack of pictures I had, she looked at the top one, and handed it back. She didn't look at anything else.

Smile,be confident, and be organized. It's better to go with a little "too" much proof, than not enough. You just never know what they're going to ask for, but I believe you'll be just fine!

Thanks for the heads up Joyce I didn't think they would want to talk to him really, I just thought if things are going south I could say "He's here with me today actually!" ... fingers crossed it doesn't come to that

[sdhiman 0]

If its really heavy and will make your travel inconvenient, I would say just bring select photos from both your religious and legal weddings. There is also a limit to how much you can bring in the embassy -- big bags and purses are generally not allowed or need additional security check. So if you bring something so big, they might not let it inside anyway

That is so cute that you guys have pics together when you were little

Thank You!! I'll print some pictures and not take the album. My hubby didnt want to take the album anyways, it was me who always said that we are going to take it!! And yes we have known each other since Grade 1 but we moved to different countries and lost touch for 15 years before meeting again!!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I really like the idea of the screen capture instead of printing each e-mail! I have tons and tons of e-mails from him and printing them all out just seems like a waste of paper to me. But, taking a screen capture with the date of each e-mail wouldn't be that much paper and it would prove how often we were corresponding. I also have a statement from a joint bank account I'll bring too, but I honestly think I'll stop there. My fiance will be there with me, if they have any questions regarding the validity of our relationship they can certainly ask him!

Thanks everyone ... you guys are all so helpful!

Screen captures of emails are what I've done too -- just capturing seven or eight periods over the last couple of years.

I did the same thing for my phone records, since it's all done online for me.

[Blitz 3]

Does anyone know if showing that you have children together (their birth certificates) is adequate proof of a real marriage too? I'll bring pics too, but just tought that would be a good sign that our marriage is legit.

Oh! And is there a checklist somewhere here on VJ that shows all the things to take to the interview (mandatory and recommended) in addition to what is listed on the gov't website?

[TimandJoyce 1]

Thanks for the heads up Joyce I didn't think they would want to talk to him really, I just thought if things are going south I could say "He's here with me today actually!" ... fingers crossed it doesn't come to that

exactly. I'm so glad he gets to be with you! Tim was going to come up, but then decided about 3 weeks or so before the interview he'd rather put the money toward the wedding and honeymoon!! Hrrrmp. As if THAT was important

They are all very sweet in Vancouver. Oh, and you know about bags, cell phones, etc. Well, across the street of the consulate, I believe there's a passport picture sign in the window, it's a small store, they will hold your things. They have bags of different sizes, so the cost will vary. I had a small purse and it cost me $3 for the hour and half I was in the consulate. *Unless of course you keep everything in your hotel room*....