Help clearifying some questions on Background Decliration [IMM5669]

[IceEye]

Hello, quick context: My wife is a Canadian citizen by birth and I am an Unites States citizen by birth.

Just got around to filling out the paperwork for Sponsorship and we both have a tendency to over analyze things so the questions can get a bit confusing. Basically we're stuck on question 12 because we can't decided if my visitor status in Alberta would be considered an "Address that I have lived at since the age of 18". Our confusion comes from the Generic Application Form [IMM 0008]. Question 10 section 2 "Personal Details" asked for current country of residence and allowed me to choose Canada with the status of visitor.

So we don't really know if we should place her current address as a place that I have lived?

Also, we've chosen to apply Inbound after meeting with an immigration consultant. However we can only find one set of forms for family sponsorship, and can't determine if there are different forms for outbound and inbound or if they are the same and we just submit them differently?

Finally, how should I write down time frames that have no set end date? For example: If your current address is somewhere that you have no plans on moving from.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Omegabyte]

First, I'm going to very strongly suggest you apply outland, not inland. Your consultant isn't giving you the whole picture - and I'm not the only one that will tell you that. There are some horrible stories on this forum from folks that followed the recommendation of an "immigration consultant".

For US to Canada PR, most of us are getting our CoPR within 3-4 months applying Outland. It's very easy - US citizens have the lowest burden of proof of any country. Very few, if any, have issues if they file a complete application including upfront medical, FBI background check, and RPRF. You can apply Outland while visiting your wife in Canada. That's exactly what I'm doing.

If you apply Inland, you can get an open work permit at around the 4-5 month point, but your PR application could (and would possibly) take 18-26 months. It's not recommended that you leave Canada at any point during that Inland app processing time. Since every re-entry is at the discretion of CBSA, if you leave Canada for any reason, you might not get back in. If that happens, your Inland application will be cancelled, and you cannot appeal that decision. You would then have to re-apply and file Outland. The OWP IS NOT a free pass back into Canada.

As far as the IMM5669, you would include your address in Canada.

Inland and Outland have a few different forms, and you would send them to different addresses in Mississauga.

For those "no set end" dates, use the day you print and sign the application. CIC will figure things out from there.

Outland: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp + US Region Specific Info Guide: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/3910e.pdf

Inland: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp

Again, its far, far better as a US citizen applying for PR to apply OUTLAND!!!

 

[IceEye]

First, I'm going to very strongly suggest you apply outland, not inland. Your consultant isn't giving you the whole picture - and I'm not the only one that will tell you that. There are some horrible stories on this forum from folks that followed the recommendation of an "immigration consultant".

For US to Canada PR, most of us are getting our CoPR within 3-4 months applying Outland. It's very easy - US citizens have the lowest burden of proof of any country. Very few, if any, have issues if they file a complete application including upfront medical, FBI background check, and RPRF. You can apply Outland while visiting your wife in Canada. That's exactly what I'm doing.

If you apply Inland, you can get an open work permit at around the 4 month point, but your PR application could (and would probably) take 18-26 months. It's not recommended that you leave Canada at any point during that Inland app processing time. Since every re-entry is at the discretion of CBSA, if you leave Canada for any reason, you might not get back in. If that happens, your Inland application will be cancelled, and you cannot appeal that decision. You would then have to re-apply and file Outland.

As far as the IMM5669, you would include your address in Canada.

Inland and Outland have a few different forms, and you would send them to different addresses in Mississauga.

For those "no set end" dates, use the day you print and sign the application. CIC will figure things out from there.

Again, its far, far better as a US citizen applying for PR to apply OUTLAND!!!

Okay, thank you for the help. Good news, realized I was filling out the outland application on accident anyway! Thanks for elaborating on why inland is so awful, I've heard outland recommended a lot and didn't really understand why. So when the consultant suggested inland we just decided to go with it.

To be honest It wasn't hard to change my mind to Outland, considering the consultant was set up in a single booth in the middle of a Chinese mall. Kinda sketchy, highly recommended, but still sketch.

 

[IceEye]

Also, would you know anyone here on the forums that would mind reviewing our forms? I'd be willing to pay if desired. Nothing too intensive, just to see if we've made any huge errors.

 

[Omegabyte]

To be honest It wasn't hard to change my mind to Outland, considering the consultant was set up in a single booth in the middle of a Chinese mall. Kinda sketchy, highly recommended, but still sketch.

Wow... Yep, I agree, kinda sketchy.

What's worse are those that have friends (or family), "that know how to do this". Or have a friend of a friend.... You get the picture... By the time they realize that they didn't know the first thing about PR, it's a terrible mess.

Let me know if we can be any help. We live in Lethbridge, and have family near Edmonton and Elk Point. We'd be happy to give everything a once-over before you send it.

 

[IceEye]

Wow... Yep, I agree, kinda sketchy.

What's worse are those that have friends (or family), "that know how to do this". Or have a friend of a friend.... You get the picture... By the time they realize that they didn't know the first thing about PR, it's a terrible mess.

Let me know if we can be any help. We live in Lethbridge, and have family near Edmonton and Elk Point. We'd be happy to give everything a once-over before you send it.

Hey again! not sure if you're still around but if have one last question for today if you don't mind. Do they want original documents when it comes to my birth certificate and marriage license? or are photo copies okay? The wording on the checklist is a bit oddly worded.

 

[Omegabyte]

Photocopies are just fine for those items.

The only original forms they require are the IMM#### forms, and the FBI report (usually printed on paper that shows copying).

IMM3910: "Send originals of the immigration forms (items 1 to 5 below) and police certificates. Send photocopies of all other documents, unless instructed otherwise."

 

[IceEye]

Photocopies are just fine for those items.

The only original forms they require are the IMM#### forms, and the FBI report (usually printed on paper that shows copying).

IMM3910: "Send originals of the immigration forms (items 1 to 5 below) and police certificates. Send photocopies of all other documents, unless instructed otherwise."

Okay thank you, thanks god because I left my birth certificate back home.

 

[IceEye]

Photocopies are just fine for those items.

The only original forms they require are the IMM#### forms, and the FBI report (usually printed on paper that shows copying).

IMM3910: "Send originals of the immigration forms (items 1 to 5 below) and police certificates. Send photocopies of all other documents, unless instructed otherwise."

Hello I know it's been a while, and sorry to bother you. I just had a quick question about background checks. I mailed in my fingerprints and the required forms with payment for a background check about two months ago and was just wondering if there was any way to check on it's status? or if it even arrived?

Sending important documents in the mail has always made me uneasy so I'm afraid it didn't make it, or the results didn't make it back. Thank you