Background Declaration: Trouble remembering historical details

[poeticaesthetic]

Hi all,

I'm a Canadian citizen sponsoring my husband, an American, for PR. The Appendix A: Background Information form asks him for a detailed history (with no time period left unaccounted for). My husband has a bit of a chaotic past and some memory impairment, and can't remember certain details about where he was living/what he was doing at certain times (he was traveling around a lot). He's trying to remember to the best of his ability, but the chronological order is stumping him a lot of the time; it also stresses him out a lot thinking about that period of his life, so it's very unpleasant for him to try to recall all the details.

Does CIC cross-reference information with other sources? For instance, could they compare his PR application with his visitor status renewal application? They both ask for work histories, but he's not sure if the one he gave for his status renewal is entirely accurate (I did ask his Mom about part of it, but it may still be a little off with some of the dates). We thought about changing some details but we're hesitant if there's a chance they might compare documents. Also, what about his border crossings--do they check those? He did visit Canada a few times, but may not remember all of the trips and dates, exactly. We can try to ask his family about that if necessary.

Also, how detailed does it need to be, really? Does he need to include every bit of travel, for instance, even if it was only a few days? What are they really looking for?

Any advice or helpful hints appreciated!

 

[SchnookoLoly]

He needs to make it as accurate as possible. You can always include a letter that says that you're confident it's accurate up until 2000 (or whatever) but past that it's a bit hazy so you've made a best guess. That's fine. Do not unilaterly alter anything, as that's opening you up for misrepresentation. Ultimately CIC doesn't care if it "Stresses him out" to recall details - CIC is concerned with his history and that's all, so do your best to make the history as complete as possible.

As for the travel, it depends. For example, if he was employed full-time and took a few holidays but remained employed, then you don't have to include those trips. If, however, he went travelling in between jobs when he was otherwise unemployed, then those do need to be included. So your history might read something like:

Jan 2000 to May 2004 - worked for Company A
May 2004 to June 2004 - travelled (list countries)
June 2004 to August 2007 - worked for Company B
August 2007 to September 2007 - unemployed for 2 weeks
September 2007 to April 2009 - University C for Masters Degree
April 2009 - September 2009 - travelled (list countries)
September 2009 to Present - working for Company D

 

[poeticaesthetic]

He needs to make it as accurate as possible. You can always include a letter that says that you're confident it's accurate up until 2000 (or whatever) but past that it's a bit hazy so you've made a best guess. That's fine. Do not unilaterly alter anything, as that's opening you up for misrepresentation. Ultimately CIC doesn't care if it "Stresses him out" to recall details - CIC is concerned with his history and that's all, so do your best to make the history as complete as possible.

As for the travel, it depends. For example, if he was employed full-time and took a few holidays but remained employed, then you don't have to include those trips. If, however, he went travelling in between jobs when he was otherwise unemployed, then those do need to be included. So your history might read something like:

Jan 2000 to May 2004 - worked for Company A
May 2004 to June 2004 - travelled (list countries)
June 2004 to August 2007 - worked for Company B
August 2007 to September 2007 - unemployed for 2 weeks
September 2007 to April 2009 - University C for Masters Degree
April 2009 - September 2009 - travelled (list countries)
September 2009 to Present - working for Company D

Thanks for you reply! They really don't mind him saying that he made a "best guess"? He has a period of about four years where the dates on things are hazy. It's a little more than stressful; I'd say it's more like PTSD. He will try to remember everything as best he can. We definitely won't leave any period unaccounted for; it's good to know he doesn't need to include every single trip, especially when he was already employed. I was more concerned that CIC might cross-reference the information with existing recorded information, and think he was omitting things on purpose or changing information and therefore bending the truth intentionally. When you say "don't unilaterally alter anything," do you mean he shouldn't change any information already submitted to CIC for his status renewal? Or does that not matter?

Thanks for the rundown. So if he was traveling, he can just list the countries without stating his exact activities, then? There were times where he was living in a place for several months, then resumed traveling. Most of the time, he was exploring art communities and getting involved musically/artistically.

 

[Jalex23]

CIC is not square and irrational.

If you have a valid reason for not remembering that is fine. For example, I meet my wife and her family back in the 90s... it is impossible to ask us to remember exact dates so we gave our best guess. We tried as hard as we could, asked friends and tried to match with relevant dates... and we could barely get it as close as a month.

So as long as it is reasonable CIC will be fine with that.

 

[realismsleeve]

CIC is not square and irrational.

If you have a valid reason for not remembering that is fine. For example, I meet my wife and her family back in the 90s... it is impossible to ask us to remember exact dates so we gave our best guess. We tried as hard as we could, asked friends and tried to match with relevant dates... and we could barely get it as close as a month.

So as long as it is reasonable CIC will be fine with that.

I agree and this goes for most questions in the forum. CIC are reasonable and the staff are educated and understand, this is Canada after all. They will not reject a form if you dont remember a postcode or number from 20 years ago etc. Fill out the forms to the best of your knowledge and if you like add a short letter also. I did that and was approved as a sponsor.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

Thanks everyone! Well they actually only ask for the last 10 years, but still, it is difficult at times! We will try to get it as accurate as possible, and I will have him write an explanation stating that he has remembered to the best of his ability.

Does anyone have any feedback with regards to my last post, in terms of changing/updating work history previously submitted for a status extension? Also, whether he needs to mention specific activities during his travels (ie. why he was in a certain place, what he was doing, etc.)?

 

[SchnookoLoly]

You can always include a letter that says "when I originally applied for my status extension, I wrote that I worked at x from January 2010 to July 2010. After my extension I found documentation which said that I actually worked there until September 2010. I did not have this documentation available when I filled out the extension so supplied the dates to the best of my memory, but am supplying the correct date now with this application."

As I said, just tell the truth. When I said don't unilaterally alter anything, I meant basically the above - don't write July just because that's what you did before. If it turns out July is not accurate, then make the correction and just include a note explaining why it does not match your original status extension application. They may not cross-reference, but it means you've covered your backside in case they do.

He doesn't need to mention specific activities for travel. Just saying he was travelling is fine.

 

[truesmile]

The CIC absolutely WILL cross-reference, it's right in front of them!
It's the easiest check of all.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

Thanks everyone! I will have him include a note explaining any changes he makes to the dates. Thanks SchnookoLoly for the info on traveling as well. This makes sense to me now!

 

[poeticaesthetic]

One more thing--for the history, it says to leave no time period unaccounted for. But what about the addresses section? Obviously for the times he was traveling around a lot, he didn't have a residence really, and doesn't remember the addresses of the places he stayed. Is it okay to just put down the addresses for the times he had an actual residence, and leave the time periods for travel out of it? Or should he mark down that he had no address during the times he was traveling?

 

[Mapleson]

One more thing--for the history, it says to leave no time period unaccounted for. But what about the addresses section? Obviously for the times he was traveling around a lot, he didn't have a residence really, and doesn't remember the addresses of the places he stayed. Is it okay to just put down the addresses for the times he had an actual residence, and leave the time periods for travel out of it? Or should he mark down that he had no address during the times he was traveling?

From my own application, I had many short periods of work and travel due to the nature of my university (4 months school then 4 months work, no breaks). However, in this time, my official residence for tax purposes never changed, and that's the address I used on the application while listing the various activities. I lived in other places, but I resided at my mother's house.

If it's less an a six month period, the official address is less important (6 months is the length that requires a police history). Another option is a general listing. For example, if you can list only the city or state, this partial information is still significant enough to match any cross checking that is done.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

From my own application, I had many short periods of work and travel due to the nature of my university (4 months school then 4 months work, no breaks). However, in this time, my official residence for tax purposes never changed, and that's the address I used on the application while listing the various activities. I lived in other places, but I resided at my mother's house.

If it's less an a six month period, the official address is less important (6 months is the length that requires a police history). Another option is a general listing. For example, if you can list only the city or state, this partial information is still significant enough to match any cross checking that is done.

Thanks Mapleson. So are you saying that he does need to fill in the address gaps? My husband had a lot of residences that were short-term (less than six months) while he was traveling--for the detailed history he was going to put down that he was traveling between certain dates, and where. So for the separate list of addresses, for the times he didn't really have a residence, per se, or doesn't remember an address that he was staying at for less than six months, it's okay for him to just put down the city and state he was traveling/couch-surfing/visiting in? Just making sure

 

[canadianwoman]

Yes. If he does not remember a specific address, just say so and give as much detail as possible. Saying he was travelling in Spain from July 5, 2000, to September 23, 2000, stayed in Madrid at several hostels, and does not remember the exact dates he stayed at each is fine, for example. Or the exact addresses.
When I submitted my history, for my three and a half years in South Korea I could not give any addresses, but just said what city I lived in and explained I didn't know the addresses. No one questioned this.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

Yes. If he does not remember a specific address, just say so and give as much detail as possible. Saying he was travelling in Spain from July 5, 2000, to September 23, 2000, stayed in Madrid at several hostels, and does not remember the exact dates he stayed at each is fine, for example. Or the exact addresses.
When I submitted my history, for my three and a half years in South Korea I could not give any addresses, but just said what city I lived in and explained I didn't know the addresses. No one questioned this.

Thank you! That eases my worries. We are almost done compiling his history, and will give explanations anywhere we can't remember.

 

[SchnookoLoly]

Alternatively if he kept a residence in the UK while he was traveling then you can just leave the UK in the address history. My husband did 9 months of travel in his gap year... It was captured in the personal history that he was traveling in Europe and Asia but his primary residence was in the UK during that time.