HELP! Stepmother is NOT cooperating.

[Elindarling]

As part of the General Application form, and then on the Additional Family info form, it's required to include ALL siblings including step-siblings. I have asked for this information many times over the past several months, always to be met with silence. I finally got my stepmother to acknowledge the request, but she is being very stubborn about not providing the required information to me about my step siblings. She keeps wanting to know "why" I need it, despite explaining that it is part of the required application and that I MUST have it. I have even told her the whole thing will be rejected if she won't give it to me, but I still have not gotten what I need.

Can anyone give me advice on how to move forward? I don't want my future and my marriage to be put on hold and restricted due to her unwillingness to provide what she is "VERY UNCOMFORTABLE" providing.

 

[rhcohen2014]

do you not know you step siblings names and date of births? there isn't that much information that goes on that form. if you can't get the information, put what you know and make sure to explain the reason why you can't obtain the rest. Only the APPLICANT needs to fill it out. Your family members do not, since they are not included in the application for sponsorship.

The additional family form is used to determine future sponsorship eligbility, and you can't even sponsor them to begin with even if you wanted to, so i don't see how it will affect your application significantly.

 

[Elindarling]

You're right, it's not on the general application form-- I was remembering incorrectly. However, it is on the additional family information form, and I don't see anything on that form indicating that it is optional. I have read in many places that this must be filled out regardless of whether they are accompanying me. The guide doesn't indicate this section as optional, either.

 

[Elindarling]

do you not know you step siblings names and date of births? there isn't that much information that goes on that form. if you can't get the information, put what you know and make sure to explain the reason why you can't obtain the rest. Only the APPLICANT needs to fill it out. Your family members do not, since they are not included in the application for sponsorship.

I know their names, but I don't remember their dates of birth-- we're not really close. It also asks for their birth place, which I have never known. I wasn't planning to have them fill it out, just include the information requested about them. But if you're sure it won't affect the application, I'll include the separate sheet with the explanation. It's just very stressful right now to be in this situation with her at all.

 

[rhcohen2014]

You're right, it's not on the general application form-- I was remembering incorrectly. However, it is on the additional family information form, and I don't see anything on that form indicating that it is optional. I have read in many places that this must be filled out regardless of whether they are accompanying me. The guide doesn't indicate this section as optional, either.

The section is not optional. I would put as much information as you possibly can. Where are your step siblings from? can you possibly deduce from that where they were born? Will your father know? If not, put n/a, explain why you don't have the information and that you don't have a relationship with them. Are they even a part of your life currently? If not, and you don't have a relationship with them, then another option is to not put them on the form.

 

[Elindarling]

Unfortunately, their father was a trucker so they were born in several different places; I believe in at least three states. They're not a part of my life and haven't been for several years. I think I'll include them but put N/A on the parts she won't give to me; I'd feel more comfortable showing the immigration officer that I have attempted to fill it out to the best of my knowledge than having it appear as intentional omission. Thank you for your help though... It makes me feel somewhat better knowing that not having this information is not going to lead to our whole application being rejected.

 

[Rob_TO]

Just put "unknown" where you don't know. For place of birth just put "USA". As mentioned, just explain on a separate paper that you are not in contact with this part of your family so you can't get all the info. It should have no effect on the application.

 

[VioletBlue]

You could also add a note explain ing that you have Tried to obtain this info from stepmother but she was not willing to provide it. There is only so much you can do...so just like everyone suggested put what you do Know and explain the rest and you'll be fine

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I can confirm that it won't affect the application, as we had many unknowns on that form.

My partner has had no contact with most of his family, including his birth parents, since he was a young child; he doesn't even know if they are still alive, let alone their addresses, birth dates or marital statuses. He only knows their names from his birth certificate. He has several half-siblings that he has never met, doesn't even know their names, so couldn't put anything for them.

We put "Unknown" and included a brief explanation on a separate sheet. No issues.

 

[taffy7]

My application that i sent off is looking worse and worse. My father has many children who i have never met.I don't class them of my step bothers or sisters. We have always maintained their is 4 of us in this family, so i never even mentioned them . Honestly never crossed my mind .Well i will have to wait and see.

 

[Becki567]

Hi, I just wanted to add my experience as well.

I am 33. I didn't meet my biological father until I was 25 and l last heard from him a few years ago. I did not know his birthday or place of birth. And I know he had legally changed his middle and last name but was not 100% sure to what. I provided a letter explaining all this to CIC and had Zero problems. So if I think lack of information on a biological father was not am issue, then step siblings would be even less of an issue

 

[rhcohen2014]

My application that i sent off is looking worse and worse. My father has many children who i have never met.I don't class them of my step bothers or sisters. We have always maintained their is 4 of us in this family, so i never even mentioned them . Honestly never crossed my mind .Well i will have to wait and see.

this will have no influence on your application. how is CIC going to know you have estranged step brothers and sisters? From what I understand, the information provided is for information only, and used to determine future sponsorship elibility. I am going to go on a limb and say estranged step-siblings are not going to apply to immigrate to canada down the road. They wouldn't even be eligible through family class anyway! I highly doubt CIC takes the time to run checks on the family members listed on that form. Even IF they do, any checks they run are most likely NOT going to produce information about how many children a person has by blood, let alone marriage!

 

[SenoritaBella]

That's not the only reason they ask for this information. Information about your parents, siblings, etc is used in conjunction with your personal details on the IMM 5669, known associations(memberships), military service, etc to form a 'clear' picture of an individual and ensure he/she/those they associate with are not a threat to Canada. I'm sure it will interest CIC/CBSA/CSIS to know someone is the sibling of a terrorist. Yikes!

It is for this reason people who have ever funded/donated to organizations considered a threat and are on the "no-fly list". I do not donate to any non-mainstream charity/organization until I have personally vetted them or I stick to donating to a food bank.

CSIS is involved in backgrounds checks and as a lawyer once told me, they have the ability to go right down to your parents' door if they need to. This is how they uncover those undeclared marriages, etc. The US is notorious for this... years ago in my home country some people who won the DV lottery would just marry for convenience, etc so they can immigrate. Some of the "couples" were brother and sister. So many times, the "couple" goes for the interview and are met with questions like:
a) what did you have for breakfast? (b/c the officer already knew they weren't living together)
Another time, they went to a village(no street addresses, and descriptions are by word of mouth) and asked an applicant's aging mother how many kids she had. Turns out the applicant had married his sibling and was trying to immigrate with her as his "wife".

So for anyone who has not declared step-siblings, my suggestion would be to consider doing so and providing the little information you have, while explaining why you don't have the rest, to be on the safe side.

this will have no influence on your application. how is CIC going to know you have estranged step brothers and sisters? From what I understand, the information provided is for information only, and used to determine future sponsorship elibility. I am going to go on a limb and say estranged step-siblings are not going to apply to immigrate to canada down the road. They wouldn't even be eligible through family class anyway! I highly doubt CIC takes the time to run checks on the family members listed on that form. Even IF they do, any checks they run are most likely NOT going to produce information about how many children a person has by blood, let alone marriage!

 

[maxliz13]

As part of the General Application form, and then on the Additional Family info form, it's required to include ALL siblings including step-siblings. I have asked for this information many times over the past several months, always to be met with silence. I finally got my stepmother to acknowledge the request, but she is being very stubborn about not providing the required information to me about my step siblings. She keeps wanting to know "why" I need it, despite explaining that it is part of the required application and that I MUST have it. I have even told her the whole thing will be rejected if she won't give it to me, but I still have not gotten what I need.

Can anyone give me advice on how to move forward? I don't want my future and my marriage to be put on hold and restricted due to her unwillingness to provide what she is "VERY UNCOMFORTABLE" providing.

hello, I am facing the same problem with my step mom. She is not providing me enough info. What was your update? Did LOE worked?

 

[Ceimi]

hello, I am facing the same problem with my step mom. She is not providing me enough info. What was your update? Did LOE worked?

If you have names, atleast put those, and then put unknown in all other fields. I put unknown for everything except my fathers birthdate and name and attached an explanation letter stating I have no contact with him and was not able to get the info. It will be fine if you do something like this.