Hi Pollination! I want to share some information with you
for my case I applied for a visitor record because I was already inside of Canada but for the visitor visa CIC ask for almost the same information (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/tourist.asp)
Then the trick it's to add extra info that will help to support your application (and I know all of this info because I hired a lawyer and she helped me a lot, actually I got my papers and I am right now in Canada with my hubby). These are the extra documents that you must add (but they are not in the list of documents that they normally ask for but remember you have to play smarter than them).
-If you have been in Canada before add the stamp made by Canadian authorities on your most recent entry into Canada and any other marked pages
-Photocopy of your last 3 Bank Statements and you HUSBAND'S statements
- Photocopy of your Marriage Certificate
- Photocopy of the submission of your Spousal Sponsorship Application, as a receipt or any other document that proves the submission. If you already have UCI then add any paper that has it.
-If you have been working in your country ask for a employer's letter. It has to has this specifications: company letterhead, must be signed for the responsible, have the printed name and title of the responsible person and show the company's full address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and (if applicable) website address). The letter has to has the specific period of your employment with the company, position, main responsibilities, annual salary, number of hours worked per week.
-Any link that you have with your country can help you to prove that you will not remain in Canada further than the period allowed to stay and you after will return to your country as stated by the conditions of her visitor's visa.
-You need a invitation letter, there's a couple of examples in the forum of visitor's visa.
Husband's documents:
- Copy of his last Notice of Assessment
- Birth certificate's copy & passport's copy
- Last3 Bank Statements
- Employer's letter: see specifications (the letter has to has company letterhead, must be signed for the responsible, have the printed name and title of the responsible person and show the company's full address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and (if applicable) website address). The letter has to has the specific period of your employment with the company, position, main responsibilities, annual salary, number of hours worked per week.
I hope all this info helps