I have no real idea what I'm doing aka sponsoring husband to move to Canada

[tnitnetny]

Hi Blake! I am American and my Husband is Canadian. As for the problems with the phone conversations, we do two things. The first is Skype. Skype is an amazing thing. If you download it on your cell phone and use the internet to call, Skype will keep a record of that call, just as if you called from your cell phone.

The second thing we do is I switched to Comcast for my house phone. Comcast allows free calls to Canada, Mexico, and Peurto Rico, just as if they were local calls. You can also print out a history up to 1 year of the calls.

As for the bank account, I just visited my husband in May and we opened a new joint account with RBC. They used my passport and my MD drivers license as proof of who I was. So don't let your bank just say no. Take a look at other options and the next time he visits, open one up.

 

[Blake42]

Hello all,

I'm resurrecting my post for a couple reasons.
First, thank you to everyone who's replied so far. Your advice and kind words helped me calm down immensely.
And second, I've got a new question! But this time with less hair pulling.
I just want to ask if anyone can tell me who's information we need to fill out page two of IMM 0008 - Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. It seems a little ambiguously worded so I want to check. Should I be filling in my own information and photo, or is it supposed to be his family members?
This is one of the last pieces we have to complete.

Thanks everyone!

Edit: So um... it looks like the form has changed? I think this renders my question moot, but I'd like to be sure.

 

[AnaMaria]

What about will and life insurance? If you have your spouse as beneficiary, I think it would be good strong evidence?

 

[Blake42]

AnaMaria, that's a good idea, not to mention a great reminder of something we really need to think about doing. At this point, I don't think we have the time to be able to do that, but yeah. It's something to put on our to do lists. Thanks!

Just wondering if someone can tell me if I need to have my official documents signed by a Public Notary or a Commissionaire of Oaths? I tried the call center today, but the lines were all busy and I'm hoping to take care of that stuff tomorrow.

 

[AnaMaria]

I'm on the same boat as you. As we are in very genuine relationship and we thought that's what matters. I didn't think we will be reviewed by someone else and by the evidence. So we did not have many evidences we would have included when we sent application. Now we are collecting more so that we can send them in at a later time. We will be finishing wills for each other this week, we opened a joint bank account, added my name to utility bills, taking pictures when we go out, etc. etc. My boyfriend gets sometimes frustrated with taking pictures.... Because we do that only for immigration officers to see. (We are not big FB fans!)

Good luck!

 

[firstladyking]

AnaMaria, that's a good idea, not to mention a great reminder of something we really need to think about doing. At this point, I don't think we have the time to be able to do that, but yeah. It's something to put on our to do lists. Thanks!

Just wondering if someone can tell me if I need to have my official documents signed by a Public Notary or a Commissionaire of Oaths? I tried the call center today, but the lines were all busy and I'm hoping to take care of that stuff tomorrow.

Good luck Blake, I know the process may seem overwhelming but take the advice of the others who have replied and do it one step at a time. You'll get through it all and soon enough be together forever. All the best to you.

 

[firstladyking]

One thing for sure, you have come to the right place for help.

 

[Blake42]

Firstladyking: I sure have come to the right place! Everyone's been great, very encouraging. And I'm almost done, just a few more pictures to print off and my documents to be signed. Oh, and I need to find a box for all the stuff so I can mail it.

Okay, so I finally got through to the call center, the lady told me to double check the application guide. So I do and it lists these options for verification of official documents:
a commissioner of oaths
a notary public
a justice of the peace

I figure I'm golden and I call AMA to ask if I can get my stuff signed there. And that lady promptly informs me that if the documents are leaving the province then they can not be signed by a commissioner of oaths and *must* be signed by a notary public.
This leads me to ask the question of, why is this information not stated in the official application guide? It would probably be very helpful for people to know this stuff.

 

[AAL1984]

Relax, you are making this harder than it needs to be. First of all as a US citizen it is highly unlikely your husband would marry to obtain Canadian PR status. Thus CiC wont doubt your marriage being real, thats for third world people. So you dont have to worry about all those chat logs, few wedding pics should be fine. Thats all I sent and it was ok, (wife from States, we did inland.)

 

[Blake42]

I'm a worrier by nature. It's a fault.
I guess I'd rather submit more than I need than find out I left out something I should have had. And I fretted about the chat logs because it's all I really have for proof of communication. But at this point, I'm kind of over that. I've got what I've got and it'll be enough. Venting here, getting the responses that I did and reading other threads really helped me realize that.
As for official documents, I'm just going along with what the guides and the lady at the call center said. Just a couple more things and we're done! It'll be nice to have it all mailed off.