IMM 5285 Question

[chrismgallen]

Hi all,

After much time preparing our application, we're pretty much done - except for one thing - we're a little stick on IMM 5285 (Questionnaire) Question 5: Are you in a common-law relationship… if yes, provide written and documentary evidence etc...

The form specifies certain examples, such as bank statements etc, but obviously for our application we've gathered a ton more than just that - communications, letters from family, bills showing communication, photographs etc etc - do we need to list all of those under this question to be prudent, or is it better just to list the examples that they ask for and list everything else on a separate sheet?

I appreciate this might be a stupid question - but having gathered about 100 odd pieces of evidence and another 100 odd photos, I'm just scared of doing it "wrong" and being asked for all this information again.

My personal assumption was list everything under that question as it's asking for proof of common-law (i.e. living together) AND relationship (i.e. that you're in one) but I might be mis-reading it.

Thank you!

 

[Mapleson]

There are two schools of thought on application size: bigger is better or just enough. I believe the bigger is better. Include all the types of supporting evidence that you can. Note that while you might provide a summary list as well, you want to be including the actual evidence like the paper statement from the bank or your land lord, etc. At worst, they’ll ask for supplemental information, before rejecting you outright.

 

[Ponga]

This is probably the biggest piece of the puzzle for a Common-Law couple.

Hopefully, you are assembling your application package into three parts:

1. Sponsor's forms and required documentation.

2. Applicant's forms and required documentation.

3. Evidence of your relationship (including PROOF of cohabiting for at least one full year).

So, for that question (and any other question in any other form that asks about the relationship), you can simply write "Please see Evidence of Relationship documents" (or similar).

 

[chrismgallen]

There are two schools of thought on application size: bigger is better or just enough. I believe the bigger is better. Include all the types of supporting evidence that you can. Note that while you might provide a summary list as well, you want to be including the actual evidence like the paper statement from the bank or your land lord, etc. At worst, they'll ask for supplemental information, before rejecting you outright.

Well we were planning on including as much as possible - even stuff that's only loosely relevant! It's good to know that they'll just reach out if they're in need of more information - with the current long timeframes just want to avoid delaying things any more!

This is probably the biggest piece of the puzzle for a Common-Law couple.

Hopefully, you are assembling your application package into three parts:

1. Sponsor's forms and required documentation.

2. Applicant's forms and required documentation.

3. Evidence of your relationship (including PROOF of cohabiting for at least one full year).

So, for that question (and any other question in any other form that asks about the relationship), you can simply write "Please see Evidence of Relationship documents" (or similar).

Cheers Ponga, just putting "please see evidence" would certainly slim down our continuation page for IMM 5285 - it's currently around 60 pages because we included a table of evidence but I might just print that and bundle it with the actual evidence itself.