HELPFUL TIPS TO A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION (well, from my experience):
Please share with any future applicants you know, to help them avoid CHC stress.
What I did:
1) Contact before marriage, after baat pakki/engagement. We had regular communications back and forth first trying to get to know each other and then lots of wedding planning, what we both wanted from the wedding, and thoughts about the future. I sent in all these (came out to like 63 pages of printed emails). My in-laws were big on having my full involvement in the wedding, so we had regular skype sessions on weekends through my and hubby's accounts. Though I was only talking to in-laws (MIL, SIL's) I still sent in a log of these skype communications (a few months worth).
2) Arrived 3 weeks before wedding. Had a few planned dholki's, had another wedding both families attended, although not "together" but sent them pics from that day to show we had met face to face before the wedding day.
3) Stayed 2 months after wedding. Sent in pics from pre-wedding, wedding functions, honeymoon, eid, restaurants, just regular at home with in-laws. Made sure that pics had us two with atleast 3 or more people. Tried to have as many different people included, but also shown more than once (ex. attended wedding, dholki's and seen at eid, etc). Provided date, occasion, and name+relationship of everyone in pics. My hubby wrote out all the details for these pics from his perspective (close to 70 pics sent). Made sure pics showed a connection between us that was real (i.e. holding hands at honeymoon, although we had to ignore a lot of stares but it is a halal relationship..eating from same plate at restaurant, etc). Also showed all the people who came from oversees to show that a lot of people were invested in the wedding, my friend from Canada, hubby's friend and wife from UK, aunt from UK, my khala from Saudi (and made sure to list who came from Canada in the forms too).
4) Came back in Sept, and had to wait for one PCC from hubby so started arranging the file to send. Sent by oct, and included that months phone bill and further skype communications as well. For skype, also did screen shot captures on various dates showing us having video conversations.
5) Provided receipts for all purchases (gifts, wedding costs, living costs pre-wedding, and spending post-wedding with hubby). Provided itinerary for everyone travelling from Canada to Pak, and my boarding passes plus entry and exit stamps.
6) Organized all required information according to requirements, and proof separated into categories and arranged in chronological order. There are already many great posts on how to organize a great submission file.
I come from a career in regulatory field, so pretty aware of gov't procedures and policies and how to deal with submissions to gov't (although they are to Health Canada, but same principle applies). What they want in a submission is a)complete and accurate information and b)strong evidence. For the evidence, it really is quality that matters, not quantity. Even if you have to "stage" it a bit, just make sure you provide what they are looking for to consider marriage genuine (pre-wedding mutual consent to getting married, and post-wedding togetherness/investment in each other. This is very hard to do with our culture and keeping it halal as well, but be creative and find ways around it. Was it Danny on this forum who staged his rukhsati on a nikkah only case?
If your case is strong, they have no reason to "sit" on it, but if they can pick even a small thing to close your file and put it back in que for update at a later time, they will (to avoid their workload). So you just have to make sure not to give them that chance.
MUST's FOR COMPLETING FORMS:
- Do go over the forms with your spouse, before the marriage, so you both have a good idea of what will be required from both of you! Fill the forms together if possible, it's a great way to get to know your spouse and to try to recall personal history. Also discuss what both your answers should be to the questionnaire's first, and then fill each respective one out.
- Make sure everything is filled out to the best of your knowledge. Anything that doesn't apply, specifically write N/A on each line, do no leave any space blank. Be truthful, and do not embellish too much. It should be something you can recount accurately later on, along with your spouse.
***The personal history field is very important. Spend lots of time going over it and filling in all gaps. Co-ordinate the dates with your school certificates and job acceptance letters. Include any and all travel history or stays in different areas. Keep the month precise, and if you don't remember the exact date, just go with the first day of the month to the end of the month, but don't even leave a day's gap. If all you did was spend time at home then say that (ex. at home, looking for jobs and studying for exam)***
- Provide originals for all documents listed for Pakistani nationals. DO NOT make the mistake of submitting copies of anything that is specifically asked for as an original (these have to be validated for authenticity and you could potentially add so much time to your review for them to prove that the copy they received is not fake/forged, etc). You will get all these documents back safe and sound!
- Keep checking CIC website for any updated forms/policies that come out before you submit everything.
- REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW the file till your head hurts to make sure you did not miss/leave anything out.
I don't have the file with me so can't remember now anything else that is important, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff. Will try to add more information, as hubby is bringing the whole submission as returned by CHC.
HTH! =)
