Sponsoring a second wife to Canada

[russianfront]

This is for fellow Canadians who might know an answer.

A brief history:
I was married to a woman from Ukraine in Feb. 2000 in Ukraine. I was there for 6 weeks after corresponding with her for about 7 months beforehand. Near the end of my stay we married in ZAGS in her city. When I returned home I applied to sponsor her to Canada and hired a lawyer to assist with the paperwork. In Dec 2000 she arrived and we spent a few happy years together then in 2007 things started to go downhill and we seperated 6 months ago and began divorce proceedings. So we have been legally married for just over or about 9 years.

Assuming that my divorce is finalized (which I hope it will be soon)

I am serious about a lady in Russia and I plan to visit her in the late summer. Ideally I will stay with her for about 2-3 weeks and then come home and try to get her a visitor visa so she can come to me for a while to see if she likes it here and also that we can be happy together. She has a 5 year old boy and has a job as an English teacher in the Polytechnical Institute in her city. So because of these ties she MIGHT get a visitor visa.

Question is - is a 2nd spousal sponsorship any more tough than the first? In my case being married to wife #1 for 9 years should show that I am not simply "importing" women to the country.

Has anyone on the board in Canada sponsored a second wife?

Ideally IF she got the visitor visa then we could marry here and things would be a lot easier...

The other complication I am facing is that she is not on good terms with her ex-husband and she is not sure if he would agree to let his son go..But that's a battle for another day.

Thanks in advance!

[GoodOlBoy]

The other complication I am facing is that she is not on good terms with her ex-husband and she is not sure if he would agree to let his son go..But that's a battle for another day.

Hello Russianfront.

I can't answer any of the questions you have in the first part of your story, BUT....I am sure the other North of the Border, RWD members will. 

Sadly, I can comment on the last item.

I have an American neighbor here, where I live, that had a similar problem (upset RM/Father) 3 years ago.

My neighbor wound up "buying" the Russian Father's "forgiveness" with $5000. (US).

All problems dissappeared and child and Mom are here in the GoodOl' USA.

It's a sad fact, but you can buy anything in the FSU. 

I often wonder when this nice boy grows up, how he will feel about his real father "selling" him for $5000. 


GOB

[Misha]

Question is - is a 2nd spousal sponsorship any more tough than the first? In my case being married to wife #1 for 9 years should show that I am not simply "importing" women to the country.

Short answer, no it won't make a huge difference. You have to demonstrate that it is a legitimate marriage and that you have a true relationship.

Ideally IF she got the visitor visa then we could marry here and things would be a lot easier...

This might be tough. Will she want to travel with her son? Or, will she leave him when she visits you in Canada?

[Misha]

P.S. I forgot to add that it would only be a big problem if you have been married for less than three years (now the standard length of a sponsorship agreement as opposed to the 10 years in the past).

[brucen36]

This is for fellow Canadians who might know an answer.

When I returned home I applied to sponsor her to Canada and hired a lawyer to assist with the paperwork.

Hi, couple of questions for you.
Was hiring a lawyer really necessary to sponsor your first wife?  May I ask how much it cost?  Are you going to hire another lawyer for the second sponsorship?

Thanks, B

[KievHarmony]

This is for fellow Canadians who might know an answer.

A brief history:
I was married to a woman from Ukraine in Feb. 2000 in Ukraine. I was there for 6 weeks after corresponding with her for about 7 months beforehand. Near the end of my stay we married in ZAGS in her city. When I returned home I applied to sponsor her to Canada and hired a lawyer to assist with the paperwork. In Dec 2000 she arrived and we spent a few happy years together then in 2007 things started to go downhill and we seperated 6 months ago and began divorce proceedings. So we have been legally married for just over or about 9 years.

Assuming that my divorce is finalized (which I hope it will be soon)

I am serious about a lady in Russia and I plan to visit her in the late summer. Ideally I will stay with her for about 2-3 weeks and then come home and try to get her a visitor visa so she can come to me for a while to see if she likes it here and also that we can be happy together. She has a 5 year old boy and has a job as an English teacher in the Polytechnical Institute in her city. So because of these ties she MIGHT get a visitor visa.

Question is - is a 2nd spousal sponsorship any more tough than the first? In my case being married to wife #1 for 9 years should show that I am not simply "importing" women to the country.

Has anyone on the board in Canada sponsored a second wife?

Ideally IF she got the visitor visa then we could marry here and things would be a lot easier...

The other complication I am facing is that she is not on good terms with her ex-husband and she is not sure if he would agree to let his son go..But that's a battle for another day.

Thanks in advance!

I have only sponsored my first (and I hope last) ukranian wife, but there should be no difficulties the time your responsabilities toward your first wife are finished. In your case, after 9 years, it should show only that you like FSU women

My wife is still waiting for her permanent visa, she will spent summer in Canada while her son will be with his grand parents. This is her third visitor visa, the last one is a multi entries.

But definitely, try to be with her when she will apply for a visitor visa. Our plan was that my wife let the door open when she entered the room for the interview and I was coming to close it, showing my face and telling to the officer that I am the sponsor and available if they need... I knew they will not call me, but at least , they saw that I am not only a name on a paper.

[russianfront]

Thanks for the replies so far. I wasnt aware that the sponsorship commitment was reduced to 3 years. I thought it was 10 still!
About the immigration lawyer I hired back in 2000. It cost me about $1000 in total (assuming it was a routine application). It turned out that there was no issues at all and I probably could have done it alone, but when you think about it what's a grand when you are waiting for your wife to come to you? And yes I will probably hire a lawyer the second time around as well - just to reduce the risk especially since this would be my second time around the block. As far as her visiting here on a visitor visa we will try and if they reject it, so be it, I would have to just go back to see her and possibly marry there if it was the right thing to do. As far as her child, she has parents who are willing to help out and it seems that she would be willing to leave her son with her parents while she visits me if she does of course. As far as the "bribe" for the child, yes it might happen. Who knows what the future will hold at this point! One slow step at a time...