I've gotten some good information from this forum, so I thought I would contribute.
I'm not in the spreadsheet, but I applied back in July of 14, my wife had to send in an additional tax document, our app was then officially listed as received in Oct and we got approval in January of this year. (US citizen sponsored by CA wife)
IF YOU HAVEN'T SENT IN YOUR APP YET
In addition to the marriage certificate, etc, I sent what I thought was going to be all that was needed as proof of relationship: photos from the last SEVEN YEARS that were linked to copies of visa stamps in my passport, that showed my wife and her two girls and I together in Canada, down here with my family in the US, her two girls down here with us and my family, right up to our family trip together to Orlando last February and on to the two of us getting married last year in Vegas in May. Photos from every year (you basically see the girls grow up in the photos), travel stamps at least twice a year back and forth.
Today, April 7, I get an email requesting:
1) a tax assessment form for my wife, from the most recent taxation year. (she sent in this same form for the 2013 tax year, so I assume they want one from 2014)
and
2) Additional proof of relationship: document proving your ongoing relationship with your sponsor ____. This may include but is not limited to: e-mails exchanges, cards, joint bank account statements, insurance policies or anything naming your spouse as beneficiary.
We don't email, why would we? I'm up there or she is down here almost 6 months total out of the year (lots and lots of back and forth travel). I'm not a card keeper. I didn't think I could have a bank account in Canada before I got my PPR....
So, I'm going to print some additional photos from after sending in the application, get a letter or two from friends in Canada we spend a lot of time with, screen capture some Skype chats (selected portions, of course
) send a copy of a small insurance policy, etc. Point is, I thought I had it covered with the photos and I didn't want to go overboard. My advice? GO OVERBOARD WITH YOUR APPLICATION! I can't imagine what they want from a couple who has only been together a short time.
IF YOU HAVE SENT IN YOUR APP
As a data point for those who put their application in last year, my app is obviously in process since they sent me this email for additional info, but the online status still shows just Application Received and medicals received. So like many have said, don't put your eggs in that basket, it's not accurate.
Also, I was concerned about my FBI letter, and I still am since Additional documents may be requested by the Visa Officer upon the complete assessment of your application. My letter was at one day prior to the limit of 90 days when the app was initially received in July. So, I'm just waiting now to see if they don't take that into consideration and instead look at it as being received in October, and then, well I don't even want to think about that delay. I may just go down and get my prints taken, again, and get a letter for the 3rd time, since we had a few stops and starts on our actual wedding date, and send it off as a precaution.
Best of luck to everyone applying and everyone waiting. I'm bummed about the additional documents and the delay it will cause, but at least I see light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm not in the spreadsheet, but I applied back in July of 14, my wife had to send in an additional tax document, our app was then officially listed as received in Oct and we got approval in January of this year. (US citizen sponsored by CA wife)
IF YOU HAVEN'T SENT IN YOUR APP YET
In addition to the marriage certificate, etc, I sent what I thought was going to be all that was needed as proof of relationship: photos from the last SEVEN YEARS that were linked to copies of visa stamps in my passport, that showed my wife and her two girls and I together in Canada, down here with my family in the US, her two girls down here with us and my family, right up to our family trip together to Orlando last February and on to the two of us getting married last year in Vegas in May. Photos from every year (you basically see the girls grow up in the photos), travel stamps at least twice a year back and forth.
Today, April 7, I get an email requesting:
1) a tax assessment form for my wife, from the most recent taxation year. (she sent in this same form for the 2013 tax year, so I assume they want one from 2014)
and
2) Additional proof of relationship: document proving your ongoing relationship with your sponsor ____. This may include but is not limited to: e-mails exchanges, cards, joint bank account statements, insurance policies or anything naming your spouse as beneficiary.
We don't email, why would we? I'm up there or she is down here almost 6 months total out of the year (lots and lots of back and forth travel). I'm not a card keeper. I didn't think I could have a bank account in Canada before I got my PPR....
So, I'm going to print some additional photos from after sending in the application, get a letter or two from friends in Canada we spend a lot of time with, screen capture some Skype chats (selected portions, of course
) send a copy of a small insurance policy, etc. Point is, I thought I had it covered with the photos and I didn't want to go overboard. My advice? GO OVERBOARD WITH YOUR APPLICATION! I can't imagine what they want from a couple who has only been together a short time.IF YOU HAVE SENT IN YOUR APP
As a data point for those who put their application in last year, my app is obviously in process since they sent me this email for additional info, but the online status still shows just Application Received and medicals received. So like many have said, don't put your eggs in that basket, it's not accurate.
Also, I was concerned about my FBI letter, and I still am since Additional documents may be requested by the Visa Officer upon the complete assessment of your application. My letter was at one day prior to the limit of 90 days when the app was initially received in July. So, I'm just waiting now to see if they don't take that into consideration and instead look at it as being received in October, and then, well I don't even want to think about that delay. I may just go down and get my prints taken, again, and get a letter for the 3rd time, since we had a few stops and starts on our actual wedding date, and send it off as a precaution.
Best of luck to everyone applying and everyone waiting. I'm bummed about the additional documents and the delay it will cause, but at least I see light at the end of the tunnel.