IMM 5490- qns 24 and 24 Maintaining contact

[vinjovi555]

Hi All.. pleasure to receive replies from you all..

I m sponsoring my wife for her canadian PR who is currently in India. She is right now filling her application and there are couple of questions popped up while we are filling it..

IMM 5490 questions 24 and 25- Maintaining the contact:

24. Has your sponsor visited you during the period of your relationship?

No--> explain why?
Yes--> Indicate Number, dates and length of visits and if you stayed together at the same location during the visit...

25. Have you visited your sponsor during the period of your relationship..

No--> explain why?
Yes--> Indicate Number, dates and length of visits and if you stayed together at the same location during the visit...

Background: I had obtained my canadian PR in June 2009. I never lived in canada before (I had applied for my PR from Germany where I lived before for 7 years FROM 2002-2008) I returned back to my home country in Dec 2008 and since then I m working here for an IT organization. I went to canada, Toronto to collect mY PR for 10 days in June 09 and returned back to my country and continued working here. I got married in July 2009 and it is an arranged marriage (I had applied as a single, collected my PR in June 09 and got married in July 09). Since then we have been staying together in India. I will soon be leaving to Canada in July 1st week representing my organization for 2 years. I would like to sponsor for her PR while im in canada.


So guys pls help me out what to fill in 24 and 25?
Look to hear from you all

Best wishes

V

 

[canadianwoman]

So since the date of your marriage until now you and your wife have been living together in India? If that is true, I would say 'no' to both questions, and write an explanation - the same explanation for both questions. That is, that you and your wife have been living together in India since the day you got married until you submitted the application, and that you will be staying with her until you leave for Canada on July 1, 2010. Then provide evidence that this is true.

 

[vinjovi555]

Thanks so much canadianwomen.. How can I prove that we have been living together in India since our marriage? perhaps my job in India? and how can I prove that I m leaving to canada on July 1st? May be my offer letter in Canada and the flight tickets?


Look to hear from you. Best wishes

V

 

[canadianwoman]

Proof you are living together: it depends on your living arrangements. If you are renting a house or apartment together and both your names are on the lease, show that. If only one name is on the lease, get a letter or affidavit from your landlord. If you are living with relatives, get a letter or affidavit from them stating that you and your wife are living together in their home. Any mail that is delivered to your home with your name and her name on it, or mail addressed to just one of you but at the same address, can be used. Same with the utility bills - if both your names are on them, use them. You could also get a letter or email from neighbours saying they know you and your wife are living together at address xyz. Some of the photos you submit should be shots of you and your wife in your home.

Proof you are going to Canada on July 1: your flight tickets and your job offer letter are good.

 

[vinjovi555]

Hi Canadianwomen thanks a lot for your response and your valuable suggestions.

In question 30 in IMM 5490--> Do you receive financial support from your sponsor? what do you think she can write here?

Background: She has her job in India currently and can be independent and doesnt need my support as of now. also I will be going to Canada only on July 2nd and I will be submitting the application probably by 2nd or 3rd week before I receive my pay and get settled there.

So is it fine if she says" NO. I have my own job in Bangalore, India. I work for an IT company as a Software engineer and earn enough for my living. Also, considering that my husband is still in his early days in Canada, he need time and money to settle for himself before extendind his support to me"

Is it ok if she write like this with a NO?

question 2: Regarding the date of her applications: I m planning to carry the applications what ever she had filled along with me(is it fine?). I will submit them probably by second week of July. Is it ok to have the date like 30 June in the application or does she need to write a day close to the application submission? e.g. July 10th or so?

Question 3: Can I give my employer(official) address as mailing address in my sponsor application or do I need to mandatorily give the residential address?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Best wishes

V

 

[canadianwoman]

In question 30 in IMM 5490--> Do you receive financial support from your sponsor? what do you think she can write here?

Background: She has her job in India currently and can be independent and doesnt need my support as of now. also I will be going to Canada only on July 2nd and I will be submitting the application probably by 2nd or 3rd week before I receive my pay and get settled there.

So is it fine if she says" NO. I have my own job in Bangalore, India. I work for an IT company as a Software engineer and earn enough for my living. Also, considering that my husband is still in his early days in Canada, he need time and money to settle for himself before extendind his support to me"

Is it ok if she write like this with a NO?

'No' is fine, plus the explanation.
One thing: you and your wife have been living together. One thing the CIC likes to see as proof of a genuine relationship is that the couple has joined or intermingled their finances together. So in your application somewhere should be evidence that you and your wife have a joint bank account, and are both responsible for household expenses.

question 2: Regarding the date of her applications: I m planning to carry the applications what ever she had filled along with me(is it fine?). I will submit them probably by second week of July. Is it ok to have the date like 30 June in the application or does she need to write a day close to the application submission? e.g. July 10th or so?

It is OK to take the application and supporting documents with you. She should date the application forms the day she signed them.

Question 3: Can I give my employer(official) address as mailing address in my sponsor application or do I need to mandatorily give the residential address?

You can use any address for the mailing address. When they ask for your residential address, though, make sure you put where you actually live or were living.

 

[vinjovi555]

Hi Canadianwomen thanks for the response.

reg question 1, we actually dont have any joint account unfortunately. We just manage our finances in an informal way. for ex. I pay for the rent, she pays for the house hold expenses and so on. we never had any agreement that I should pay for this and she should pay for that. May be I can just include a copy of her cheque book history showing the cheques she had issued for our apartment maintenance and for paying Internet Bills. However they were just written for our reference at the back of the cheque book.. can we provide the same.. Alternatively can you suggest us somehting in this regard? Can we open a joint account now?

Best wishes

V

 

[canadianwoman]

You don't actually have to mention your finances, if you don't think it will help. But in the letter people write about their relationship, you could include the kind of information you wrote above: that you pay for the rent, and your wife pays for the household expenses, utilities, etc. You could prove this by your chequebook, cancelled cheques, and the bills.

 

[vinjovi555]

Hi Canadianwomen thanks for the response. I have my bank statements which shows the money I have transferred towards the monthly rent and we have some household bills (e.g. groceries, cooking gas etc) paid by mife which are in her name. I hope that is alright..

regarding the additional sheets which we write when the space is not sufficient in the application, can I just staple the additional sheet to the respective forms? how about the photos? how many do you think I can enclose the photos for each proof (e.g. reception, engagement, wedding, honeymoon etc) Also, can I staple the photos or how to arrange them in the application?

Look to hear from you

Thanks as always

V

 

[canadianwoman]

I have my bank statements which shows the money I have transferred towards the monthly rent and we have some household bills (e.g. groceries, cooking gas etc) paid by mife which are in her name.

This sounds fine.

regarding the additional sheets which we write when the space is not sufficient in the application, can I just staple the additional sheet to the respective forms?

Yes, I would staple it to the form. Make sure you also include your name, the form number, and the number of the question you are answering, in case the extra page is mislaid.

how about the photos? how many do you think I can enclose the photos for each proof (e.g. reception, engagement, wedding, honeymoon etc) Also, can I staple the photos or how to arrange them in the application?

People vary a lot in how many photos they include - I've seen people get accepted with 10; bobshynoswife sent 215. You have been living with your wife, and have a lot of proof, so fewer photos are necessary. Still, it is better to send too many than too few. Document the reception, engagement, wedding and honeymoon well. If you claim to have a certain number of guests at the wedding, try to show in photos that that number is in fact true. For example, if 300 guests attended your wedding, try to get a shot of the whole crowd. Failing that, several shots of large groups. Also include non-wedding-related photos: some of the two of you on outings or trips, some of you two at home, some with each other's families and friends.
Do not staple the photos. You can leave them loose, but in the envelope you get when you get them printed. Write on the back who is in each photo and what the occasion was, in that case. Some people get their photos printed two to a page (regular A4 size paper) using Word, and then write a more detailed explanation right next to the photo. This is easier for the visa officer, in my opinion.

 

[vinjovi555]

Hi Canadianwomen thanks for the response.

People vary a lot in how many photos they include - I've seen people get accepted with 10; bobshynoswife sent 215. You have been living with your wife, and have a lot of proof, so fewer photos are necessary. Still, it is better to send too many than too few.

V--> I have around 45 photos altogether.. this includes wedding, reception, honeymoon and other family gathering pics. I hope it is fine..


Document the reception, engagement, wedding and honeymoon well. If you claim to have a certain number of guests at the wedding, try to show in photos that that number is in fact true. For example, if 300 guests attended your wedding, try to get a shot of the whole crowd. Failing that, several shots of large groups.

V--> you are absolutely right. I tried to get the best possible photos I can.. There were couple of pictures which covers only the crowd. But the most of the other ones there were around 15-20 people around us greeting/blessing us.. Hope it is fine..

Also include non-wedding-related photos: some of the two of you on outings or trips, some of you two at home, some with each other's families and friends.

V--Sure.. I have some other pics of us in trips/ outings, weekend rides/visits etc.

Do not staple the photos. You can leave them loose, but in the envelope you get when you get them printed. Write on the back who is in each photo and what the occasion was, in that case. Some people get their photos printed two to a page (regular A4 size paper) using Word, and then write a more detailed explanation right next to the photo. This is easier for the visa officer, in my opinion.

V-- Thats a good tip. thanks. I have printed them in 4x6 format. I think I will have sufficient space to provide explanation. I think any one of us can write the explanation at the back of the photos right? do we need to write names on it or provide signatures? also in the additional sheets, do we need to provide our signatures?

 

[canadianwoman]

Thats a good tip. thanks. I have printed them in 4x6 format. I think I will have sufficient space to provide explanation. I think any one of us can write the explanation at the back of the photos right? do we need to write names on it or provide signatures? also in the additional sheets, do we need to provide our signatures?

The explanation on the backs of the photos can be written by you or your wife; you don't need to sign them or put your name.

The additional sheets: if they are stapled into the form, I don't think they have to be signed.

But each of you should also write an essay about your relationship. This is what is asked for at the end of the 'Sponsored Spouse / Partner Questionnaire' and the 'Sponsor Questionnaire' where it says 'On a separate sheet of paper, provide any additional details of your current relationship that you believe would help to prove your relationship is genuine and continuing.' You should definitely sign and date these papers.

 

[vinjovi555]

Thanks canadian women..

Can I type my explanations in MS word (for the additional sheets) and print them or do they have to be hand written?

so the last question.. "please provide any additional details.." --> both of us should write here in this case? or one either from my wife or from me is sufficient?

 

[vinjovi555]

canadianwomen.. on this last question " please provide additional details..." What do you think can we write here? do we need to explain everything from the time we met or just info about where and how we have been living together post marriage? could you please provide us some tips?

thanks in advance

v

 

[canadianwoman]

Can I type my explanations in MS word (for the additional sheets) and print them or do they have to be hand written?

They can be typed or handwritten. I suggest typed so they will be easier to read.

so the last question.. "please provide any additional details.." --> both of us should write here in this case? or one either from my wife or from me is sufficient?

One from you and one from your wife is best. Both the Sponsor Questionnaire and the Sponsored Spouse / Partner Questionnaire ask for them.