Requirements for proving the length of a marriage are the same for sponsorship and permanent residence applications, but authenticity checks on relationships don’t always kick in. A deep investigation begins only when marital status changes during the application process or when the applicant has gone through immigration procedures before.

When a check isn’t required

During the initial application, when both applicants decide to start the process together and provide a marriage certificate and a declaration of cohabitation, immigration officers typically don’t verify the authenticity of the relationship. This isn’t part of the mandatory document list for standard cases.

A check becomes the subject of heightened attention precisely because the applicant has given a reason for doubt — even if the relationship is entirely genuine. The officer then has grounds to look more closely at the new situation.

Signals that attract attention

A serious investigation begins when a person applied as single and is then suddenly invited with a spouse, or when they got married while the case was already under review. When marital status changes during the process, the officer has grounds for a deeper check.

If the applicant has gone through immigration procedures before, various changes in marital status between different applications also become the subject of careful analysis. A history of prior procedures involving status changes gives the officer reason for close scrutiny.

Methods of verifying authenticity

When grounds for a check arise, the immigration officer may request photographs or invite the applicant for an interview. This can happen at any stage — from standard processing to Express Entry.

Applicants should be prepared for the possibility that an interview may be scheduled at an overseas mission. In one case reviewed, a woman with a history of several prior entries into Canada received a five-year entry ban. This happened after an interview, when contradictions were found while analyzing different marital statuses across various procedures.

Analysis in repeat procedures

A five-year entry ban was issued because the applicant had already visited Canada at least three times, and inconsistencies were found when examining her marital status history across different procedures. It’s precisely at such moments that the officer starts applying all the criteria for relationship authenticity.

Officers pay attention to residential addresses, travel history, and other elements that may not match up. However, these checks aren’t carried out systematically as a first step in processing.

The difference between standard and investigative procedures

In a normal initial application, when the applicant has a spouse at the time of filing and everything is submitted properly, officers don’t delve into authenticity questions. They don’t examine that side of the case at all.

The authenticity requirement check is the same for both sponsorship and spousal permanent residence procedures, but it’s applied selectively. It’s not the first thing an officer looks for in a standard procedure — it’s rather a matter of special attention in specific situations where changes or contradictions are noticed in the documents.