Spousal Sponsorship - Outland application - Please help

[Canada429]

Hello guys, I have been reading through this forum quite a while and currently i am preparing my documents to submit and i have come across many questions and i am hoping you guys would be able to help me out. I was initially going to apply through a lawyer, but then realise i can do this by myself and lawyers are not cheap. Here is my situation.

I am Canadian Citizen temporarily living outside of Canada (India). My first wife (she was PR from last 10+ years) passed away 6 months back and i have re-married now. My second wife is an Indian citizen living with me in India and she has a daughter (my step daughter). I have few questions and i am hoping i will get answers here.

1) Do i need to adopt my step daughter and then sponsor my new wife and her daughter for immigration or i can just list my step daughter as my wife's dependant and go ahead with the application?

2) My wife's has a passport and she was a widow before marrying to me. She never got her name changed after her previous marriage, but in her passport her previous husband name is mentioned in the back page as her husband..does this matter? or i need to change my wife's passport with my name (as i am her husband now)?

3) I have a marriage certificate which is completely in English. However, stamp on my marriage certificate is in my native language. Do i need to translate the stamp in to English or i can submit as it is?

4) Since i am out of country i am not working. Can anyone provide a sample letter of explanation on how i would support my wife in Canada once she receives her PR? i have some savings to show. A sample letter of explanation would be helpful.

5) Do i need to submit a Birth Certificate of my wife with the application as she does not have one. She only have her Leaving Certificate from her High School.

Please note that i have been living in Canada from past 20 years and i am temporarily out of country due to death of my first wife.


Please help !

 

[armoured]

1) Do i need to adopt my step daughter and then sponsor my new wife and her daughter for immigration or i can just list my step daughter as my wife's dependant and go ahead with the application?

You do not need to adopt her for purposes of immigration.

2) My wife's has a passport and she was a widow before marrying to me. She never got her name changed after her previous marriage, but in her passport her previous husband name is mentioned in the back page as her husband..does this matter? or i need to change my wife's passport with my name (as i am her husband now)?

IRCC will not care. If you wish, you could explain in a letter of explanation - just to avoid anyone misapprehending that your wife is still married to someone else (although will be clear elsewhere in forms). If passport expiry is soon, may make sense to renew just to not have to do later.

3) I have a marriage certificate which is completely in English. However, stamp on my marriage certificate is in my native language. Do i need to translate the stamp in to English or i can submit as it is?

Honestly, probably would be okay, but just get the stamp translated for comfort esp if getting any other docs translated.

4) Since i am out of country i am not working. Can anyone provide a sample letter of explanation on how i would support my wife in Canada once she receives her PR? i have some savings to show. A sample letter of explanation would be helpful.

Free form, savings plus employment plans, etc. Really any form of letter.

Please note that i have been living in Canada from past 20 years and i am temporarily out of country due to death of my first wife.

Note that you do not say how long you have been living out of Canada or how soon you plan to return - assume your intention is after your spouse gets the PR status allowing you to travel OR a TRV - but if you apply from abroad, you will need to show intent to return and might well get asked for more information later. Take this seriously. Your own ties such as housing in Canada may help.

 

[Canada429]

Thank you for your reply. I have a house in Canada and i do have a full intention to return back to Canada.

How do i get a stamp translated to English? Is it even possible as my full marriage certificate is in only English except the stamp.

 

[armoured]

How do i get a stamp translated to English? Is it even possible as my full marriage certificate is in only English except the stamp.

As with any other doc, take to certified translator. Specifics vary a bit by country.

(If others advise you the stamp is okay untranslated, I've no quibble with that - can depend on country - so my suggestion primarily belt-and-suspenders to avoid potential issues)

 

[Canada429]

As with any other doc, take to certified translator. Specifics vary a bit by country.

(If others advise you the stamp is okay untranslated, I've no quibble with that - can depend on country - so my suggestion primarily belt-and-suspenders to avoid potential issues)

Than You. Very much appreciated

 

[Canada429]

This is in regards to the question 1) above and i am wondering if someone can shed some light or clear my confusion. I know i do not have to adopt my step daughter to sponsor her with my new wife ( biological mother), but what happens if i adopt my step daughter and giver her my name and then list her as a dependent on my new wife?

Is there a different aaplication package for adopted child or i can just use same spousal sponsorship application package and just include adoption paper with other documents?

Just need to know are there two separate application package if i end up adopting my step daughter before sponsoring both my wife and her daughter( my step daughter) because my step daughter would become my adopted child in this case.

Please help as people are advising me to adopt her before i sponsor her as my wife's dependent. I do not want to go through complicated process of adopting unless i just have to use the same spousal sponsorship package rather than both adopted child package and spousal sponsorship package.

 

[armoured]

This is in regards to the question 1) above and i am wondering if someone can shed some light or clear my confusion. I know i do not have to adopt my step daughter to sponsor her with my new wife ( biological mother), but what happens if i adopt my step daughter and giver her my name and then list her as a dependent on my new wife?

Is there a different aaplication package for adopted child or i can just use same spousal sponsorship application package and just include adoption paper with other documents?

Just need to know are there two separate application package if i end up adopting my step daughter before sponsoring both my wife and her daughter( my step daughter) because my step daughter would become my adopted child in this case.

Please help as people are advising me to adopt her before i sponsor her as my wife's dependent. I do not want to go through complicated process of adopting unless i just have to use the same spousal sponsorship package rather than both adopted child package and spousal sponsorship package.

As far as I'm aware, there is only a separate application and documentation for an adopted child that is not the natural child of one of the two parents - i.e. if you were to adopt or sponsor a child adopted separately.

Put differently: I do not think there is ANY difference for the purposes of sponsorship between you adopting your wife's daughter or proceeding as things are right now.

The process is same as it would be for your own children with her (that did not have citizenship): she is the principal applicant, and you include her dependents (whether your legal children or not) on the same IMM0008 form as accompanying dependent of the principal applicant. That's it.

(On my own app, we had my own child with spouse and step-children from spouse's previous marriage. There was basically no difference between how they were treated for the app purposes - oh, except that we had to get non-objection form from the other parent of the step-children - you will need death certificate of the other parent).

Now, you MAY wish to adopt for other reasons, but as for the sponsorship process, I think the information you're getting is just wrong.

 

[Canada429]

As far as I'm aware, there is only a separate application and documentation for an adopted child that is not the natural child of one of the two parents - i.e. if you were to adopt or sponsor a child adopted separately.

Put differently: I do not think there is ANY difference for the purposes of sponsorship between you adopting your wife's daughter or proceeding as things are right now.

The process is same as it would be for your own children with her (that did not have citizenship): she is the principal applicant, and you include her dependents (whether your legal children or not) on the same IMM0008 form as accompanying dependent of the principal applicant. That's it.

(On my own app, we had my own child with spouse and step-children from spouse's previous marriage. There was basically no difference between how they were treated for the app purposes - oh, except that we had to get non-objection form from the other parent of the step-children - you will need death certificate of the other parent).

Now, you MAY wish to adopt for other reasons, but as for the sponsorship process, I think the information you're getting is just wrong.

So you are saying i can adopt my step child and list her as a dependant of my wife and include death certificate of her father, no need to go through adopted child application package? Of course i will be providing adoption documentation as well.

The only reason i am thinking of adopting my step daughter as we all get same last name. I am in the middle of changing my wife's name to my last name and my step daughter would have completely different last name. I just don't want Immigration officer to get confused. My understanding is i can only get my step daughter last name changed if i were to adopt her.

 

[armoured]

So you are saying i can adopt my step child and list her as a dependant of my wife and include death certificate of her father, no need to go through adopted child application package? Of course i will be providing adoption documentation as well.

The only reason i am thinking of adopting my step daughter as we all get same last name. I am in the middle of changing my wife's name to my last name and my step daughter would have completely different last name. I just don't want Immigration officer to get confused. My understanding is i can only get my step daughter last name changed if i were to adopt her.

I am saying there is no need whatsoever to adopt your step-daughter for the purposes of sponsoring her and your spouse.

If you wish to adopt her, by all means; it would probably be a good idea because of potential guardianship and other legal matters that could come up in Canada, assuming your spouse/stepdaughter have no other relatives in Canada, for example.

I know nothing about process of adopting where you are particularly length of time. I suspect that if you write a short letter of explanation in your submission that you have started the process of adopting her, complete the process during the PR process, and just send updated docs (formal adoption, name change, new passport, whatever else), it probably won't be any problem. I am guessing that since adoption is not required for the sponsorship, and the other parent remains the same from IRCC perspective of the sponsorship, it would mainly just be a name change - but again, not certain.

(You could also do it in Canada later - don't know if that would be relatively easier or harder). You could also consider just changing the step-daughter's name now and the adoption process later.

One small advantage of adopting (for much later down the road): I think that your step-daughter, when adopted and a PR in Canada, could apply for a grant of citizenship without the usual three-year residency period. Not certain though.

 

[Canada429]

I am saying there is no need whatsoever to adopt your step-daughter for the purposes of sponsoring her and your spouse.

If you wish to adopt her, by all means; it would probably be a good idea because of potential guardianship and other legal matters that could come up in Canada, assuming your spouse/stepdaughter have no other relatives in Canada, for example.

I know nothing about process of adopting where you are particularly length of time. I suspect that if you write a short letter of explanation in your submission that you have started the process of adopting her, complete the process during the PR process, and just send updated docs (formal adoption, name change, new passport, whatever else), it probably won't be any problem. I am guessing that since adoption is not required for the sponsorship, and the other parent remains the same from IRCC perspective of the sponsorship, it would mainly just be a name change - but again, not certain.

(You could also do it in Canada later - don't know if that would be relatively easier or harder). You could also consider just changing the step-daughter's name now and the adoption process later.

One small advantage of adopting (for much later down the road): I think that your step-daughter, when adopted and a PR in Canada, could apply for a grant of citizenship without the usual three-year residency period. Not certain though.

Thank you for your reply.

My understanding was that i needed to adopt my step daughter to give her my name and my last name. In my case, her biological mother is same and she is a principal applicant then i can may be get her (step daughter) last name changed. Is it also possible to change her father name to my name without adoption?

i am currently in process of changing my wife's name to my name and my last name and i still need to apply for my step-daughter passport. I was just wondering it would be a good idea that all of us have at least same last name to avoid any confusion on IRCC end.

I just kept thinking i may not be able to change my step daughter name without adopting her.

 

[Canada429]

Also in form IM0008, my wife need to add only her daughter as a dependent.. is it true? does she need to list myself and my three kids there as well? Please note myself and my three kids all of us are Canadian Citizen.

 

[armoured]

Also in form IM0008, my wife need to add only her daughter as a dependent.. is it true? does she need to list myself and my three kids there as well? Please note myself and my three kids all of us are Canadian Citizen.

Yes, only herself and her daughter. No Canadian citizens or PRs go on this form.

 

[armoured]

My understanding was that i needed to adopt my step daughter to give her my name and my last name. In my case, her biological mother is same and she is a principal applicant then i can may be get her (step daughter) last name changed. Is it also possible to change her father name to my name without adoption?

Entirely a question of name change procedures in the country in question. In Canada, yes. (Obviously only possible when she is a resident.) Don't know about other countries.

You'd also have to look at what is involved for changing the name of a minor, I vaguely recall it depends on age (minors above a certain age have to agree, I think) - at least in Canada.

Of course - adoption may be preferable (with name change as part of that process) for other reasons - I'm just saying it's not necessary in order to sponsor her as dependent of your spouse. (I expect that adoption being completed during process wouldn't be an issue, either, but not an expert).

If name is changed, by whatever means, you will need new passports for all and proof of the legal change of name (very important). Again, check with other sources; you won't be the first sponsor/applicants to have name changes but doesn't mean it's common.

i am currently in process of changing my wife's name to my name and my last name and i still need to apply for my step-daughter passport. I was just wondering it would be a good idea that all of us have at least same last name to avoid any confusion on IRCC end.

We have a mixed family with three different family names involved, no issues whatsoever. IRCC does not care about that.

Keep in mind changing names at marriage is less common now in Canada, and not even allowed in Quebec in most circumstances, plus mixed marriages after divorces and separations, and some parents give their children double-barrelled family names. No-one cares as long as the documentation is in order - so mostly a question of your preference.

 

[Canada429]

Thanks a lot. Very much appreciated.

 

[Canada429]

Entirely a question of name change procedures in the country in question. In Canada, yes. (Obviously only possible when she is a resident.) Don't know about other countries.

You'd also have to look at what is involved for changing the name of a minor, I vaguely recall it depends on age (minors above a certain age have to agree, I think) - at least in Canada.

Of course - adoption may be preferable (with name change as part of that process) for other reasons - I'm just saying it's not necessary in order to sponsor her as dependent of your spouse. (I expect that adoption being completed during process wouldn't be an issue, either, but not an expert).

If name is changed, by whatever means, you will need new passports for all and proof of the legal change of name (very important). Again, check with other sources; you won't be the first sponsor/applicants to have name changes but doesn't mean it's common.



We have a mixed family with three different family names involved, no issues whatsoever. IRCC does not care about that.

Keep in mind changing names at marriage is less common now in Canada, and not even allowed in Quebec in most circumstances, plus mixed marriages after divorces and separations, and some parents give their children double-barrelled family names. No-one cares as long as the documentation is in order - so mostly a question of your preference.

One more question

My wife is living with me and as you know i am in the process of getting her name changed to my name as well as her address. We got one national id changed and now we are going to change my wife's passport. However, my step daughter is living with her grand maa, not with us as she got her school going and we do not want to change her school for now. She is completely dependent on my wife and me except she lives away She lives in a different city. She does not have a passport and we are trying to get her passport as well. My only concern is my wife's passport would have different address and my step daughter would have a different address in her passport. Is this going to be a problem since she is a dependent of my wife/me and she does not live with her/us?