A Few Questions (Common-Law Sponsorship)

[ChellyCat]

Hi all!!

I have a few questions for you. Just some background info, I'm from the US, boyfriend is sponsoring me. I originally came to Canada on an OWP which expired, now I'm on visitor visa. Planning to send our sponsorship application (inland) out sometime late this month.

1. We are gathering proof of our relationship to send. I want to have friends write letters saying our relationship is genuine. Does this need to be a "statutory declaration" or can they just pen a letter from the heart? I googled what a statutory declaration looks like and it's very... cold? Any tips on how this should be written?

2. I only just realized I need a police check (whoops ) I'm assuming I won't be able to have that done by the end of this month... Can I submit it later, like you can with the medical exam? Am I screwed?

3. Nearly EVERY document we have proving our relationship (joint bills, etc), my boyfriend's name is spelled incorrectly. He has a Polish first name and commonly letters are switched around or left out. It's close enough, but ultimately not correct (the last name is always correct, at least). Will this prove to be a problem?

4. With the new OWP pilot program, which application do I use? There's not a specific one for sponsorship that I can find on CIC's website. Also, I saw you send it at the same time as your application. Is this sent in the same envelope, or a separate one? It all goes to the Mississauga location?

That's all I can think of for now, thanks for your help, and good luck everyone!!!

 

[rhcohen2014]

As a us citizen, i highly encourage you to not apply inland and consider switching to outland. currently us outland applicants are getting approved in 6 months or less. US applications are processed in Ottawa and the stats posted online are very misleading for outland processing. Inland is a 2 year processing, and i really don't think it's a good idea to let the "dangling carrot" that is the OWP to entice you to not consider outland. By the time you get the owp, you'd nearly be approved as a full pr through outland, and it hasn't been proven yet it will only take 4 months to issue the permits. What's important to understand is that a person can apply outside of canada (outland) while they are IN canada as a visitor, worker or student. they can use their canadian address for communication for cic. Most US applicants are waived the interview, so it's also not a reason to not consider outland. i really urge you to do more research. the inland guide (in the overview section) even suggests applicants apply outside of canada.

2. you are correct. it is currently taking 12 weeks to process FBI checks. 2a. yes. 2b.no

Definitely take a look at the ottawa spreadsheet to take a look at the tracking of outland applications. Currently CIC is approving July 2014 applicants. it's the blue link in my signature below.

 

[ChellyCat]

As a us citizen, i highly encourage you to not apply inland and consider switching to outland. currently us outland applicants are getting approved in 6 months or less. US applications are processed in Ottawa and the stats posted online are very misleading for outland processing. Inland is a 2 year processing, and i really don't think it's a good idea to let the "dangling carrot" that is the OWP to entice you to not consider outland. By the time you get the owp, you'd nearly be approved as a full pr through outland, and it hasn't been proven yet it will only take 4 months to issue the permits. What's important to understand is that a person can apply outside of canada (outland) while they are IN canada as a visitor, worker or student. they can use their canadian address for communication for cic. Most US applicants are waived the interview, so it's also not a reason to not consider outland. i really urge you to do more research. the inland guide (in the overview section) even suggests applicants apply outside of canada.

2. you are correct. it is currently taking 12 weeks to process FBI checks. 2a. yes. 2b.no

Definitely take a look at the ottawa spreadsheet to take a look at the tracking of outland applications. Currently CIC is approving July 2014 applicants. it's the blue link in my signature below.

Thank you for the info. That dangling carrot sure is tempting, though...! Why would my visa office be Ottawa rather than New York? I'm not sure how that works. Ugh, so confusing, you have me questioning everything again... eek!

 

[Rob_TO]

Why would my visa office be Ottawa rather than New York? I'm not sure how that works.

If you read through the outland guide, it links to this page here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

If you look up United States, you'll see all PR apps are processed at CPC-Ottawa. This was actually changed from the US office locations quite some time ago.

 

[ChellyCat]

If you read through the outland guide, it links to this page here

If you look up United States, you'll see all PR apps are processed at CPC-Ottawa. This was actually changed from the US office locations quite some time ago.

Would you mind linking me to the outland guide? I can't seem to find it.

I still am reading that it must be sent to Mississauga first. That's not true? I can send it straight to Ottawa?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Would you mind linking me to the outland guide? I can't seem to find it.

I still am reading that it must be sent to Mississauga first. That's not true? I can send it straight to Ottawa?

Here is the outland app including the guides http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp.

The app goes to Mississauga first for sponsor approval; CIC then forwards the app to Ottawa for the applicant's portion to be processed.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thank you for the info. That dangling carrot sure is tempting, though...! Why would my visa office be Ottawa rather than New York? I'm not sure how that works. Ugh, so confusing, you have me questioning everything again... eek!

NY doesn't process family class pr applications. the only applications that go to LA are those requiring an interview. ALL US applications are processed in OTtawa, and transferred if need be.

as for the application, as stated, the entire package is sent to Mississagua, then after the sponsor is approved CIC will internally transfer it to OTtawa.

while the dangling carrot may look delicious now, before you eat it... once you take a bite, you can't be guaranteed it's going to taste as CIC promises. 6 months vs. 2 years. it seems like an easy choice to me!

 

[surleplateau]

1. We are gathering proof of our relationship to send. I want to have friends write letters saying our relationship is genuine. Does this need to be a "statutory declaration" or can they just pen a letter from the heart? I googled what a statutory declaration looks like and it's very... cold? Any tips on how this should be written?

I had to do the same thing. It's clearly stated in your (main applicant's) guide (from the US):

If you are a common-law or conjugal partner, provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing and has existed for at least 12 months prior to your application. Also provide details of the history of your relationship and at least two statutory declarations from individuals with personal knowledge of your relationship supporting your claim that the relationship is genuine and continuing.

Statutory declarations, according to my Googling at that time, means the letter writer must sign/affirm the letter in front of a commissioner of oaths. Each province will have a list of commissioner of oaths (there are tons) and at least in Quebec, there is a max fee of 5 dollars. It's easy to just go to any city bureau and have it done by the city clerk.

If you are in the US, you can probably get it done at the Canadian consulate (I'm guessing). Contact the Canadian counsulate to see what your options are if you are not in Canada but need a "statutory declaration" for CIC purposes. Maybe a notary?

I told my friends to just write a simple letter stating something along the lines of how long they have known me ("___ and I became friends in 2012 during ___ class/work/period/through mutual friends" and then state how they came to know about my relationship with my partner, because they met us together, or because we hung out several times, or whatever, and then add a line about how they believe that our relationship is genuine and continuing.

I told them to keep it simple, just a page. I honestly felt like an application should not depend on the strength of just these two letters, since I believe I have submitted more than sufficient evidence. If my whole application package is so weak that I need a 5-page essay from friends, then I think there's something wrong with the rest of my application. I already submitted other documentary evidence as listed on my checklist, including photos with my two letter writers with us as a couple.

Honestly, I figure if my two letters were "too weak" that should not cause serious problems. Maybe I'll need an interview, but that's just a hassle and a delay, not the end of the world (or my application).

Anyhow, that's my two cents on the matter. Now I'm just waiting for CIC to respond.

 

[ChellyCat]

Here is the outland app including the guides .

The app goes to Mississauga first for sponsor approval; CIC then forwards the app to Ottawa for the applicant's portion to be processed.

Oh thanks! I thought you meant a guide on this forum, no wonder I couldn't find it

Well thank you for your insight both of you; I think you have made up my mind!! Outland it is. I've been looking at the app and it seems pretty much the same as inland so at least I won't need any additional documents or whatever. And thanks for the info on statutory declarations Surle. Hopefully someone can chime in on my #3 question!

 

[surleplateau]

About the statutory declarations, I forgot to mention a few things: I made sure that they wrote both my first and last name, and also my partner's first and last name. And that they referred to us as common-law somewhere in the letter. It's probably fine if they mention when they knew you guys were dating and then became common-law. And my letter writers also included their contact info (address, email, phone numbers) in case CIC should wish to contact them personally.

3. Nearly EVERY document we have proving our relationship (joint bills, etc), my boyfriend's name is spelled incorrectly. He has a Polish first name and commonly letters are switched around or left out. It's close enough, but ultimately not correct (the last name is always correct, at least). Will this prove to be a problem?

You can call CIC and ask them directly what they would recommend, but at the very least, I'm guessing that you include a cover sheet that explains the original Polish name (with evidence) and then explains that these certain bills have misspelled his first name in such and such manner. Assuming that he has other letters to the same address with the correct spellings, then it should be accepted by CIC that there are not two or three Polish guys with very similar names but same last names hiding in your closet.

 

[canadianwoman]

Definitely explain the name issue, or they will be asking you to explain it later at an interview.

You can also get a notary to sign the statutory declarations. Any lawyer should also be a notary.

 

[ChellyCat]

Assuming that he has other letters to the same address with the correct spellings, then it should be accepted by CIC that there are not two or three Polish guys with very similar names but same last names hiding in your closet.

LOL. Yeah, I would assume one can tell that it's just administrative errors (I swear, even looking right at his ID, people still copy it into their systems wrong!) but it doesn't hurt for me to include a letter of explanation in the application as well.