I would appreciate some help/advice concerning Form IMM 5406 (Additional Family Information). I apologize in advance for the length of this question. I am an outland applicant applying for permanent residence status as the common law partner of long standing (15 years) of a Canadian citizen who lives with me in the UK and wishes to return (with me) to Canada to live. She is sponsoring me. Our applications (to sponsor and to apply for residency respectively) were sent off to Mississauga earlier this month. Today an email was received by my sponsor, the material part of which reads <You must provide a completed and signed Additional Family Information (IMM 5406) for the principal applicant (regardless of age) and every dependent 18 and over that is listed on the IMM 0008 form. Refer to the CIC website [link] for further instructions.>
The first difficulty is that once you click on the link you get a message to the effect that you may not be able to access the document and referring you to Adobe Reader. I have the latest version of Adobe Reader on my computer already and if one opens the link via Adobe Reader one gets simply a copy of Form 5406 to complete ie no instructions. There are instructions in the guide for completing IMM 0008 and 5669 at page 11 though the number of the form there described as Additional Dependents Declaration Form is IMM 0008DEP and not IMM 5406. Moreover those instructions say nothing about the form having to be completed for the principal applicant (me). That is mystery number one (albeit a minor mystery)..
My primary difficulty however is with form 5406 itself. It contains 3 sections. Section A requires details of the applicant (me), which causes no problem, the second line requires details of spouse or common law partner and adds in the second box < See note 1>. There is no note 1 anywhere to be seen: the form is one page and contains no notes. Nor does the guide contain any note 1. Does anyone know where I can find this alleged note? Anyway, I have the greatest of difficulty in understanding what is required by 'spouse or common law partner' I happen to have both: my wife from whom I am judicially separated and the sponsor, who is my common law partner. So who do I refer to here? In the form IMM 0008 I sent to Mississauga I gave details of my judicially separated wife but added a note (and supplementary documents) to show that she was not a dependant. Apparently that was not acceptable.
I also have difficulty with Section B. The email referred to above requires details of <every dependent 18 and over that is listed on ...IMM0008> I have 3 children, the youngest of whom is 42 and the two others are over 50, all of them are married and independent, and none of them was listed on IMM 0008. None of them are dependants. However Section B of Form 5406 requires me to <include ALL [in capitals] sons and daughters ..regardless of age or place of residence> and contains a note to see Note 2 - as in the case of Note 1 that does not appear anywhere - and then states that if no children are listed in section B, I must certify that I have no <children either natural or adopted>. This certificate, which I cannot possibly truthfully sign (because I have 3 children) , makes no reference to the dependent status of those children. So what do I do? Complete the section with the names etc of my 3 independent middle aged children? Alter the certificate and certify that I have no dependent children?
I can complete Section C which requires details of brothers and sisters. There are 2 of them, one is 69 and the other over 70 and neither of them is a dependent. But I suppose I must list them! For what purpose other than bureaucracy I really cannot say!
Any thoughts by suitably qualified persons to give advice? And please dont tell me to see a lawyer. I have been a lawyer myself for over 50 years and am well qualified to look after my own legal interests! The problem is these very poorly drafted forms, completing which is something like tackling the Times crossword. If no one on this forum can help am I likely to get any help if I telephone the High Commission? Does anyone know the appropriate number?
The first difficulty is that once you click on the link you get a message to the effect that you may not be able to access the document and referring you to Adobe Reader. I have the latest version of Adobe Reader on my computer already and if one opens the link via Adobe Reader one gets simply a copy of Form 5406 to complete ie no instructions. There are instructions in the guide for completing IMM 0008 and 5669 at page 11 though the number of the form there described as Additional Dependents Declaration Form is IMM 0008DEP and not IMM 5406. Moreover those instructions say nothing about the form having to be completed for the principal applicant (me). That is mystery number one (albeit a minor mystery)..
My primary difficulty however is with form 5406 itself. It contains 3 sections. Section A requires details of the applicant (me), which causes no problem, the second line requires details of spouse or common law partner and adds in the second box < See note 1>. There is no note 1 anywhere to be seen: the form is one page and contains no notes. Nor does the guide contain any note 1. Does anyone know where I can find this alleged note? Anyway, I have the greatest of difficulty in understanding what is required by 'spouse or common law partner' I happen to have both: my wife from whom I am judicially separated and the sponsor, who is my common law partner. So who do I refer to here? In the form IMM 0008 I sent to Mississauga I gave details of my judicially separated wife but added a note (and supplementary documents) to show that she was not a dependant. Apparently that was not acceptable.
I also have difficulty with Section B. The email referred to above requires details of <every dependent 18 and over that is listed on ...IMM0008> I have 3 children, the youngest of whom is 42 and the two others are over 50, all of them are married and independent, and none of them was listed on IMM 0008. None of them are dependants. However Section B of Form 5406 requires me to <include ALL [in capitals] sons and daughters ..regardless of age or place of residence> and contains a note to see Note 2 - as in the case of Note 1 that does not appear anywhere - and then states that if no children are listed in section B, I must certify that I have no <children either natural or adopted>. This certificate, which I cannot possibly truthfully sign (because I have 3 children) , makes no reference to the dependent status of those children. So what do I do? Complete the section with the names etc of my 3 independent middle aged children? Alter the certificate and certify that I have no dependent children?
I can complete Section C which requires details of brothers and sisters. There are 2 of them, one is 69 and the other over 70 and neither of them is a dependent. But I suppose I must list them! For what purpose other than bureaucracy I really cannot say!
Any thoughts by suitably qualified persons to give advice? And please dont tell me to see a lawyer. I have been a lawyer myself for over 50 years and am well qualified to look after my own legal interests! The problem is these very poorly drafted forms, completing which is something like tackling the Times crossword. If no one on this forum can help am I likely to get any help if I telephone the High Commission? Does anyone know the appropriate number?
