|
|
| Subject: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen. |
|
|
|
I am a 51 year old Canadian citizen with both a Canadian and British passport. I have a British birth certificate as a result of being born in a British colony. Both of my parents were British citizens but are now Canadian Citizens. My fiancé is a 46 year old Belarusian citizen who lives and works in Belarus. She recently applied for a multi entry visa to visit me in Canada but was refused as per article 179. I am now wishing to travel to Belarus to marry this woman. I will then return to Canada and start making arrangements to sponsor her to Canada. I am asking for any advice and assistance from anyone who has experienced marrying a Belarusian woman in Belarus. I want to know what documents I will need. I know I will need a to apply for a travel visa but I do not know what other documents I will need before a marriage can be performed in Belarus. I tried to get this information from the Consular at the Belarus embassy in Ottawa but he refused to tell me anything except that such a marriage is a difficult arrangement. He finished by telling me that he would only speak with the woman citizen of Belarus. Any help or advise will be greatly appreciated. Once I do get married any tips on filing for a successful sponsorship for my bride would also be greatly appreciated.
[01-01-2011,10:42]
[***.206.181.61]
Sargentoi! |
|
Marrying in BLR (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
Hi, I came upon your message here and I thought I´d share a bit of my wisdom with you. First of all, I´m NOT married to a Belarusian woman. But I have lived in Belarus for the past 3 years, and I´ve done a bit of research into the subject.
If you are planning a trip to Belarus to get married, you´ll need to bring some official documents along with you.
1.) A declaration of single status from the Canadian government. Obviously this is a document proving you aren´t already married to a Canadian citizen. This can be obtained somehow in Canada, or from any embassy abroad (cost of about $75). Once you have this document, it needs to be notarised (ie. stamped/verified genuine) by the Belarusian embassy in Ottawa.
2.) A criminal record check. This is needed if you plan to stay in Belarus beyond 90 days. Likely you will need to stay beyond 90 days because the process of marriage takes a while. AND it would be to your great advantage to get yourself a permanent residence permit. This will allow you to come and go from Belarus any time, without visas, or time restrictions.
3.) Translation (into Russian or Belarusian) and notorised copy of your passport and other identification. It´s a good idea to make translations of several pieces of ID just in case.
The marriage process takes a month, at least. You will first have to go the the marriage office called "zags" and officially apply to be married. They give you a document proving you have applied. Then you will have to wait a minumum of 25 days until you can return for an official marriage. It may take longer, depending on how busy they are. In this time you may also be required to get medical tests proving you are healthy.
Once you have the ceremony, then you are officially married! Congratulations! Like I said before, I recommend you get a residence permit while you are there. You have that right as the husband of a Belarusian citizen. You will likely travel with your new wife back to Belarus someday in the future, and it helps no not have to bother with visas.
Good luck!
[16-02-2011,14:00]
[***.86.68.225]
Mr. Green |
Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
Hello Mr. Green, many thanks for your reply. Very useful information. Since my original plea to this internet page, I have written to the Belarus Embassy in Ottawa and the consular has been very helpful since that time. He told me what documents I will require and how to get them all legalized through the department of foreign affairs and then the Belarus Embassy offices in Ottawa.
I am only going to be able to stay in Belarus for a period of three weeks. The woman in Belarus whom I wish to marry is making all the arrangements through the ZAGS office.
With regards to having my identification translated from English to Belorussian I assume that can be done in Belarus? I can have the translations done Canada but I am apprehensive that the translated documents might not be recognized in Belarus.
Again, I thank you for your help and I am praying for a successful trip to your country in June.
[16-02-2011,14:48]
[**.51.219.192]
Sargentoi! |
Embassy info (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
I´m glad everything is going well for you! I also hope you enjoy your trip to Belarus in June.
Could you forward the official info the Embassy sent you? I´m interested to know what they told you, as I may decide to get married in the not too distant future.
my e-mail address is: bobcrank@live.com
[17-02-2011,08:46]
[***.86.68.225]
Mr. Green |
Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
Hello, I hope everything does go well. Still lots of work to do. I never actually got an official letter from the Embassy. I was told verbally that I will require a statutory declaration of marriage status and a background check non marriage status. These need to be authenticated and notarized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I understand that they need a two colour stamp from the ministry as well. Do you know anything about this two colour stamp? I will get the ministry to send me a Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad. If one is previously married their certificate of divorce must be double coloured stamped.
[19-02-2011,11:26]
[**.51.219.192]
Sargentoi! |
(in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
You will find that it is common to reject a visitor visa of a single woman from a former soviet country. the attitude of visa personnel at Canadian embassies is that she will not return home after visa expiration. I found this out in 2010. If she were to come here to Canada as a visitor, married returned home then immigration would look at her application for visitor visa as a fraud and could deny visa for permanent sponsorship. I searched for avenues around the system. My wife (from Belarus) met in Jamaica an married there. she returned to her home and me to Canada wherein I made sponsorship app. Marriage in Belarus is very complicated procedure. Immigration Canada has Catch 22 situation. U cannot marry in Canada unless she has an entry visa yet they will not give entry visa to single women no matter the age and u can only sponsor spouse which is impossible if entry visa is not issued. Try to arrange marriage in Jamaica. she can get entry visa at Montego Bay airport. make prior arrangements with a resort for marriage. she will need to give u original documents of birth certificate and divorce certificate, notarized and translated to English which u submit to resort of choice for wedding. Jamaican wedding is valid in Canada. for more info contact me at my e-mail
Ken
[20-02-2011,00:32]
[***.121.185.115]
Anonymous |
Reply to the Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen. (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
Hi there, thank you for your interesting story. We are actually getting married in Belarus this June. All the documents are getting sorted. You are correct it is a very complicated procedure. All the documents will be sorted and everything stamped before I arrive. This woman actually had a visitor visa to Canada last Summer. That is how we met. I have spoken to immigration people in Canada and have been told that all looks good for a successful sponsorship. I´d never convince her to go to Jamaica as she is very shy and would be scared to take such an adventure on her own. I appreciate you writing and your story was a good read. I am happy that everything turned out well for you.
[20-02-2011,02:12]
[**.51.219.192]
Sargentoi! |
At the zags (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
Hallo, mb from your experience you can help me.
I am italian and preparing to get married to my belorussian girlfriend.
I am preparing the docs here in italy with the translations and apostilles. Now i have to set with my boss the dates that i need to be in belarus...
Do you know if my presence is needed in Minsk at the Zags offices when we apply and ask a date for the marriage? Or she can set up by herself and i can reach her in the days of the marriage?
[23-03-2011,05:56]
[**.134.39.66]
Diego |
Help (in reply to: Marriage to a Belarusian Female Citizen.)
I would love to hear an update on how this went for you. Were you able to marry? I am planning to go to Belarus later this month to marry my Belarusian fiancee. We are in process of preparing the many documents and apostilles. As you know, it´s a complicated process. I am wondering about the waiting period after ZAGS registration, as well as documentation required. Also, does it matter what type of visa you enter the country on? For instance, if I go on a tourist visa, will this have any bearing on our being able to marry? Do I need to go on a personal guest visa instead? I hope your story worked out well! Thanks!
[08-08-2014,18:46]
[**.119.165.236]
Ben |
