Document Sanity Check! LIST UPDATED

[gooh]

I'm applying for outland immigration to Canada from America via common-law sponsorship. I am compiling a list of documents - other than the actual immigration and sponsorship forms, but need one last sanity check to make sure I haven't overlooked any. A once over and confirmation that I have what I need legally and in conjunction with my specific situation - since each couple is different - would put me at a great peace of mind at the beginning of our application process.

Some Background: My partner and I have cohabited for at least one year together in Canada. We have been in a relationship for 7 years and are engaged, but are in no hurry to get married. He - the Canadian sponsor - will be going off to university to complete the 2 years needed for his Engineering bachelors next year. During his summer breaks while obtaining his associates and then bachelors, he works a summer job. I - the American applicant - will be the one managing all of our documents, making sure everything is in order and that we each have a full copy of the application, and mailing it off.

We will go through the outland process. Once we come close to the time I need to actually move to Canada, his parents have agreed to house me until I get solid work and an apartment with my partner (assuming arrangements weren't put in order ahead of time). We plan on splitting the rent 3 ways between my partner and I and a good friend of ours.

DOCUMENT LIST - again these lists are for supporting documents only and is to be automatically assumed we have filled out and signed the appropriate sponsor and immigration forms for each category

Sponsor:
- Receipt for fees paid
- Photocopy of passport
- Photocopy of birth certificate

Applicant:
- Photocopy of passport
- Photocopy of birth certificate
- FBI Certificate
- Medical Exam Report
- 4 Immigration Photos

Supporting Evidence:

- Timeline letter and details of your relationship
- Personal Applicant Letter
- Personal Sponsor Letter
- Letter from sponsor declaring plan to support applicant when in Canada
- Multiple statutory, notarized letters from both person's family and friends stating the genuine nature and continuity of the relationship, and co-habitation for at least one year. - Included in the letters provided from the applicant's parents is the supporting reason to why we have not married yet - a combination of no hurry and disapproval of parents to have their son marry before graduating university.
- Letter from Sponsor's parents agreeing to house applicant until solid job and housing arrangements are put in order
- Letter from applicant's grandparents and father agreeing to provide financial aid to sponsor and applicant if needed during and after job/apartment searching
- 1 original letter from sponsor's best friend attesting to the genuine nature of relationship (include details such as how he knows the sponsor, how he met the applicant, and details enforcing their relationship and genuine and continuous)
- Bank statements from sponsor and applicant showing co habitation for at least a year
- Photocopies of bank printouts showing pay deposits for sponsor
- Additional supporting documents that indicate the status of the applicant & sponsor's relationship such as photos, texts, screenshots from skype videos, skype conversations, etc, flight tickets, holiday cards sent to couple from applicant's family
- (optional) Include a letter detailing our relationship and why we really don't have a lot of pictures? We have pictures of us together at events such as family weddings and vacations to Niagara Falls, but not a whole lot of just random "us together" photos. Neither of us use facebook, and we're more happy to spend time playing games together or taking long bike rides than posing for selfies.

I just want to make sure everything looks good and in order before we proceed, as like all people going through this we want to encounter as little delay as possible!

Also, in my application, should I provide a letter detailing our plan for immigration? i.e after landing formalities, I plan on staying with my family in America for a year + a couple of months while still working full time before moving to Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

r job. I - the American applicant - will be the one managing all of our documents, making sure everything is in order and that we each have a full copy of the application, and mailing it off to Ottawa.

the initial package gets sent to Mississauga for sponsor evaluation, then once approved, CIC will forward the application to the visa office in Ottawa. The instruction guide will give you the proper address to send the applications to.

We will go through the outland process, and after landing formalities are over, I will probably remain in America with my family for a little over a year before moving to Canada with my partner (making sure to satisfy the required 730 days within Canada with my partner within the first 5 years). During my time in America I will be working full time. Once we come close to the time I need to actually move to Canada, his parents have agreed to house me until I get solid work and an apartment with my partner (assuming arrangements weren't put in order ahead of time). We plan on splitting the rent 3 ways between my partner and I and a good friend of ours.

Also, in my application, should I provide a letter detailing our plan for immigration? i.e after landing formalities, I plan on staying with my family in America for a year + a couple of months while still working full time before moving to Canada.

Just an FYI... your plan does NOT follow the residency requirements for PR. If you don't intend to move and cohabitate with your partner for more than a year, then there's no point in applying for pr until you are ready. The residency requirement specifies that in order for days outside of canada to count, the sponsor and PR MUST be living together, no matter where in the world they are. That means your spouse can not maintain residence in canada while you live and work in the states. If your spouse intends to live WITH you in the states during that time, that is fine and meets the requirement.

Because of this, it's not recommened to mention this plan in your application either, as they tend to ask for proof you and your sponsor intend to move back to canada upon approval. If they read you don't intend to move to canada right away, or continue cohabiting with your partner after being approved, i suspect that will be a problem for CIC.

 

[gooh]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

the initial package gets sent to Mississauga for sponsor evaluation, then once approved, CIC will forward the application to the visa office in Ottawa. The instruction guide will give you the proper address to send the applications to.

Just an FYI... your plan does NOT follow the residency requirements for PR. If you don't intend to move and cohabitate with your partner for more than a year, then there's no point in applying for pr until you are ready. The residency requirement specifies that in order for days outside of canada to count, the sponsor and PR MUST be living together, no matter where in the world they are. That means your spouse can not maintain residence in canada while you live and work in the states. If your spouse intends to live WITH you in the states during that time, that is fine and meets the requirement.

Because of this, it's not recommened to mention this plan in your application either, as they tend to ask for proof you and your sponsor intend to move back to canada upon approval. If they read you don't intend to move to canada right away, or continue cohabiting with your partner after being approved, i suspect that will be a problem for CIC.

Oh? I was unaware. The only reason I planned on staying for a bit longer was because I was told, as long as I satisfy the requirements of 730 days in Canada with my spouse for the first 5 years, I could move to Canada at my convenience. If that is not the case I will follow regulation and just move with my partner. Other than that, do the documents I've listed look in order?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

Oh? I was unaware. The only reason I planned on staying for a bit longer was because I was told, as long as I satisfy the requirements of 730 days in Canada with my spouse for the first 5 years, I could move to Canada at my convenience. If that is not the case I will follow regulation and just move with my partner. Other than that, do the documents I've listed look in order?

that is only part of it. you have to actually live with your spouse for that time, whether in canada or another country. a couple can not maintain separate residences during this time. they can travel separately only for short term trips for pleasure or work.

 

[gooh]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

that is only part of it. you have to actually live with your spouse for that time, whether in canada or another country. a couple can not maintain separate residences during this time. they can travel separately only for short term trips for pleasure or work.

All right, I'll make sure I understand the regulations.

But again..are the documents I've listed seem fine?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

i see you have a notice of assessment listed for the sponsor? is there a reason for this? The correct form is called an "option c" form. This is NOT a notice of assessment, and needs to be requested directly from CRA by calling them. As long as taxes are filed, it takes about 10-14 days to receive it in the mail. CIC requests ONLY the original mailed copy, not the online version. The NOA will not show CIC the information they are looking for. They use the option c to verify social welfare use. If an option c is not sent, the other alternative is 12 months of paystubs and a letter of explanation. A NOA is NOT a substitute.

 

[gooh]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

i see you have a notice of assessment listed for the sponsor? is there a reason for this? The correct form is called an "option c" form. This is NOT a notice of assessment, and needs to be requested directly from CRA by calling them. As long as taxes are filed, it takes about 10-14 days to receive it in the mail. CIC requests ONLY the original mailed copy, not the online version. The NOA will not show CIC the information they are looking for. They use the option c to verify social welfare use. If an option c is not sent, the other alternative is 12 months of paystubs and a letter of explanation. A NOA is NOT a substitute.

Yes the Notice of Assessment was a mistake I have already corrected but forgot to remove from the list. He was unemployed during 2013 and as such we are providing the necessary letter of explanation from him as to why we will not be including an Option C in our Application, along with the other required letters and information showing our ability to be supported financially without any need for welfare or government aid.

I was also wondering, when it comes to photocopies of travel documents, can I just use my passport card? Or do I need to send in a photocopy of every travel document I've gotten while traveling to and from Canada?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

Yes the Notice of Assessment was a mistake I have already corrected but forgot to remove from the list. He was unemployed during 2013 and as such we are providing the necessary letter of explanation from him as to why we will not be including an Option C in our Application, along with the other required letters and information showing our ability to be supported financially without any need for welfare or government aid.

I was also wondering, when it comes to photocopies of travel documents, can I just use my passport card? Or do I need to send in a photocopy of every travel document I've gotten while traveling to and from Canada?

travel document? not sure what you mean? all you need is a copy of your passport. the option c will still be available even if he was unemployed. if he filed his taxes, it will be available. it has nothing to do with unemployment. there is no income requirement for spousal sponsorship, so whether it shows low or no income isn't the issue. it's whether he used social welfare at all. UI doesn't count against the sponsor.

 

[gooh]

Re: Document Sanity Check!

travel document? not sure what you mean? all you need is a copy of your passport. the option c will still be available even if he was unemployed. if he filed his taxes, it will be available. it has nothing to do with unemployment. there is no income requirement for spousal sponsorship, so whether it shows low or no income isn't the issue. it's whether he used social welfare at all. UI doesn't count against the sponsor.

Okay, thank you for clearing that up for me. I'll make sure to include an Option C for him in our application.

Also, during my last visit in Canada, my visitor extension had been submitted a little too late, and I was sent a refusal letter based on that fact, so I had to leave. I was unable to leave immediately, as the only person who could come get me and my things was my Father, who couldn't take time off from work to do so. My family instead came up to Canada on my father's vacation time for a week. We spent it together and I returned home with my family, which resulted in a 2.5 month overstay, resolved when I left Canada. Do I need to provide this information in, say, my Relationship Timeline letter? Where would I provide that information, if I need to, in my application?

 

[gooh]

Bump ^ ^

 

[Malinka]

Okay, thank you for clearing that up for me. I'll make sure to include an Option C for him in our application.

Also, during my last visit in Canada, my visitor extension had been submitted a little too late, and I was sent a refusal letter based on that fact, so I had to leave. I was unable to leave immediately, as the only person who could come get me and my things was my Father, who couldn't take time off from work to do so. My family instead came up to Canada on my father's vacation time for a week. We spent it together and I returned home with my family, which resulted in a 2.5 month overstay, resolved when I left Canada. Do I need to provide this information in, say, my Relationship Timeline letter? Where would I provide that information, if I need to, in my application?

Hey, if I were you I would include that information in the form IMM5669 Shedule A Backgroud Declaration Question 6 where it asks if you have ever been refused visas or admission. I had a situation which didn't fall percisely under any of those subsections, but in the space provided I wrote an explanation of what happened and attached separate pages with documentary evidence (letter of refusal, any stamps in passport when crossing border, etc.). If I am wrong hope someone corrects me, but that is what I did. Hope it helps.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hey, if I were you I would include that information in the form IMM5669 Shedule A Backgroud Declaration Question 6 where it asks if you have ever been refused visas or admission. I had a situation which didn't fall percisely under any of those subsections, but in the space provided I wrote an explanation of what happened and attached separate pages with documentary evidence (letter of refusal, any stamps in passport when crossing border, etc.). If I am wrong hope someone corrects me, but that is what I did. Hope it helps.

this does NOT apply to the Original Poster, because she was never DENIED entry INTO canada. She merely stayed over the time allowed. One has nothing to do with the other. They are separate from eachother.

Being denied entry means that if she showed up at the border and they told her she could not come in because of a certain reason. THIS NEVER HAPPENED! To say it did when it didn't is not going to help the application. If she can go back into canada with no problem, there is NO point in answering yes to this question!!!!!!!

 

[Malinka]

this does NOT apply to the Original Poster, because she was never DENIED entry INTO canada. She merely stayed over the time allowed. One has nothing to do with the other. They are separate from eachother.

Being denied entry means that if she showed up at the border and they told her she could not come in because of a certain reason. THIS NEVER HAPPENED! To say it did when it didn't is not going to help the application. If she can go back into canada with no problem, there is NO point in answering yes to this question!!!!!!!

Thanks for your correction rhcohen,
If you read my post you will notice I never said they should answer yes to those questions. I was never denied either and answered no to all but below explained the issue I had. What I suggested is in the space provided explain while they never got denied entry or been refused a visa, they were refused a visitor extention and overstayed. As I said, I might be wrong whether its a good place for explaining the situation or not, but it seems logical to explain the issue there or attach additional page to the form explaining what happened with evidence. Just wanted to point out I never suggested they should say YES to the question. But I do think they should explain it somehow, It seems with CIC its better to overshare info about your past than not mention something because it seems insignificant.

 

[gooh]

this does NOT apply to the Original Poster, because she was never DENIED entry INTO canada. She merely stayed over the time allowed. One has nothing to do with the other. They are separate from eachother.

Being denied entry means that if she showed up at the border and they told her she could not come in because of a certain reason. THIS NEVER HAPPENED! To say it did when it didn't is not going to help the application. If she can go back into canada with no problem, there is NO point in answering yes to this question!!!!!!!

So should I not mention the overstay at all then?

 

[rhcohen2014]

So should I not mention the overstay at all then?

i think best course of action is to write the dates, and under the explanation, write that you were denied an extension and left. I don't think it necessarily needs to be in that specific question, and as long as it's mentioned in the timeline of your relationship, it won't be "omitting" anything. either way, the overstay is not going to be an issue on the application, since you left on your own. personally, i wouldn't use the words "overstay" in the application. i would only provide the facts of the situation, which are the dates, and that you were not able to extend your visit.

another question would be, did you leave as soon as you got the denial? if so, technically then you wouldn't have "overstayed" if you were waiting for a decision during that time. you would have implied status during the time between when you applied for the extension and received the denial.