IMM 5562 - Travel History Gaps - file now w/LOE or wait for FOIA (USA) Response?

[nctobc]

Hi,

All the paperwork is ready and just waiting to click "submit" for an outland spousal sponsorship application from the USA. Only thing is there might be a couple of missing gaps in the travel record because of land crossings which have no stamp and lack a reasonable paper tail the further you go into the past. I have submitted a (Freedom of Information Act) FOIA request with US Customs and Border Patrol for travel details that should conclusively fill in any missing travel.

If you were me, would you:
- Submit as you've got it now - IRCC knows you're "trying your best" ... I think this is the WRONG approach. ;-)
- Submit with an LOE, explaining the situation and that you will follow-up with any gaps when the FOIA request is returned
- Wait (up to another 2 weeks) for the FOIA request to be returned, and submit then.

 

[armoured]

- Submit with an LOE, explaining the situation and that you will follow-up with any gaps when the FOIA request is returned

[I assume this is not related to residency obligations of the sponsor - just checking.]

I would do this but WITHOUT any promise to update further when you get the additional info. (They will ask if they want it). Just disclose you believe you may have missed a few trips on land between USA and Canada. BUT: if and only if my point is true about the trips being between USA and Canada (of course, don't say untrue stuff).

Background: not all nationalities have to provide travel history. If your PA is residing in the USA (recently at least) and these are the trips that might be missing, they are mostly NOT concerned about trips within North America. Information sharing/criminal and security stuff between Canada and USA is good. They're going to have all the info they want, and they don't much care about trips between USA and Canada. The PA is already in all the databases and they can get access quickly.

 

[armoured]

All the paperwork is ready and just waiting to click "submit" for an outland spousal sponsorship application from the USA.

I only now looked at the username - if your spouse is American, are you sure you need the supplmentary travels form?

If they don't specifically require it, don't submit it, nor any letter of explanation about the form (that wasn't required). And my quick check right now says, not required for US citizens.

 

[nctobc]

I only now looked at the username - if your spouse is American, are you sure you need the supplmentary travels form?

If they don't specifically require it, don't submit it, nor any letter of explanation about the form (that wasn't required). And my quick check right now says, not required for US citizens.

Thanks. My spouse (Primary Applicant) is indeed an American citizen living in the USA. The IMM 5562 is under the "Please fill out these digital forms online directly in the Portal." but it doesn't have a specific red asterisk * or the word (Required) next to the form number. That said, I haven't found any conclusive information one way or the other about its been a required for or not. I'll do another double-check myself and report back.

The hangup is trying to parse the results from the Get Your Checklist, Forms, & Instructions web page filled out for a PA that is a US Citizen living in the USA:

The principal applicant must fill out these digital forms online:

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669) – You must fill out this form for yourself, and on behalf of any family members who are 18 or older.
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM 5562), if it applies

I highlighted the part that's tripping me up, "must fill out these digital forms" and "if it applies"...

 

[armoured]

I highlighted the part that's tripping me up, "if it applies"...

The 'if it applies' is answered by the box below, which reads (for a US citizen):
"United States of America - Additional forms for residents

• There are no extra forms for this country."

The 'extra forms' means, amongst others, the travel history form 5562.

So go ahead and click submit! (Actually: go through and check everything carefully a few more times, no advantage of submitting friday evening anyway).

Note: for those who are US residents AND have been residents/citizens of other countries, they'd have to check the results for the other countries (that they should have selected as the second country).

 

[nctobc]

The 'if it applies' is answered by the box below, which reads (for a US citizen):
"United States of America - Additional forms for residents

• There are no extra forms for this country."

The 'extra forms' means the travel history form 5562.

Note: for those who are US residents AND have been residents/citizens of other countries, they'd have to check the results for the other countries (that they should have selected as the second country).

Ok, got it! I might suggest a bit of a UI enhancement like "if it applies [per additional forms below]" but I'm grateful for your answer here!

 

[armoured]

Ok, got it! I might suggest a bit of a UI enhancement like "if it applies [per additional forms below]" but I'm grateful for your answer here!

Go ahead and suggest it. I think that goes to the Permanent Committee for Applicant Discombobulation, Obfuscation and Intentional Ambiguity.

Note I edited a bit above, don't think anhthing important, except to say go through your application and check it carefully a couple more times before submitting.

 

[thanhtam23]

IMM5562 is also not required for me but I just filled in to the best that I can.
Don't think they will vet it to the tiniest details so you should be good to submit (if you have verified all other forms/documents).
Good luck!

 

[nctobc]

IMM5562 is also not required for me but I just filled in to the best that I can.
Don't think they will vet it to the tiniest details so you should be good to submit (if you have verified all other forms/documents).
Good luck!

Thanks! I'm going to go with the "they didn't ask for it, don't give it to them" camp. Hope we're both equally successful! Canada, here we come!