Immigration Consultation - ?

[nyssa]

Based on someone's response to another thread of mine, I'm looking into this.

I noticed David Cohen on this website gives a half an hour consultation fee for $100 USD.

In my case, my husband-to-be was illegal in the US for ten years, but he was a minor for most of it. The whole situation wasn't up to him up until 18, and even by then, his life was so set here, he didn't even know what to do from that point. I'm not terribly worried about filling out the forms. I have a few questions, but I think for the most part I understand.

It's just everything involving taxes for him I'm confused on. I'm sure if I attach a letter where the Option C printout would be explaining the situation, and THEN giving them his current employer's letter and all that would work, because it's the truth. But I wonder if I should contact an immigration lawyer just to confirm that, AND how to organize and ship the documents. (I understand the order and the paperclips, but what kind of envelope?? And do I put all the documents and forms and pictures and all of it just loosely in there and papercliped or...?)

What have been your experiences? Does my idea sound like a good one? That tax issue is just creeping up on me painfully.

Thank you all so very very much.

 

[Boncuk]

You really don't need to get an immigration lawyer to help you with that. The option C printout is just standard as it shows he didnt receive social assistance and didnt declare bankruptcy. Showing and employer letter and pay stubs is sufficient enough.. It's been done many times successfully.

Just get a nice sturdy envelope that can hold the bulk of your application. You can organise them with dividers or file folders or just seperate envelopes.. one for the sponsor one for the applicant and one for supporting documents.. The pictures need to have names of the ppl in the picture and and location on the back of each one to make it easy for them and put them loosely in their own envelope.. Office Depot is your friend ) Keep in mind they will probably mess it all up when they get it and put it in their own order lol..
Again don't worry take a deep breath.. your issue is not that big of a deal. He is a canadian citizen , working , paying his taxes..etc..
Do what you think is best for presentation following their guidelines

 

[nyssa]

*SIGH* :-D

You are a huge help. I just ran over to my mom saying, "Okay! I was told to relax and take a deep breath!" Hehe. It's hard when you begin to immerse yourself in this whole process... I've learned it starts to make more sense and get more complicated at the same time.

Here's an odd question. For the explinations, should they be hand-written and signed (and does it matter if it's me or the sponsor?) or typed up and signed? Does that matter? Tiny detail, I'm sure...

I'm narrowing down my list of questions finally!!! *happy dance*

 

[rjessome]

Hi nyssa,

Your question is a good one. Personally, these are your LIFE matters so they are serious and I believe you have to do whatever will make you comfortable. However, as far as your husband is concerned, there is no minimum income requirements for spousal sponsorship. Your husband can call Revenue Canada and ask them to provide a letter saying that there is no Option C printout available. Then he can add a letter stating that he was not a resident in Canada for the past 3 years and the date that he moved back to Canada. He can state in this letter that he is now employed and include copies of his most recent paystubs and/or letter from his employer. That should be sufficient.

In order to be eligible to sponsor, your husband must not be on social assistance at the time he applies to sponsor and cannot be in an undischarged bankruptcy. Being illegally present in another country for a period of time in his past is not a bar to sponsor. There are other criminal issues that can prevent sponsorship eligibility but they have to do with being convicted of assaulting family members and other, extremely serious violent crimes that are not an issue in your case.

Good luck and do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

 

[rjessome]

Typed up and signed is fine. LOL, good advice from Boncuk and glad it made you relax.

 

[Boncuk]

lol does the happy dance for you!
Well I did our forms and extra stuff all on the computer as I didnt want to take the risk them not uunderstanding our handwriting or something silly like that.. I have seen some sign it etc.. I personally didn't and I was approved as a sponsor. I just labeled each page as to what question and what form it was a continuation of. I'm sure others have great ideas as well. I also made a note on the original form that there is a continuation on page such and such.
It does get overwhelming because you don't want to screw up a minor detail and have it returned back to you.. believe me .. many of us went through the same anxiety.. one minute you think.. god this has to be simple.. then a question makes you raise your eyebrows and panic thinking is this right? am I doing this right? lol I had many sleepless nights worrying..

 

[nyssa]

rjessome - GREAT idea on him calling Revenue Canada! I never would have thought of that. I will let him know immediately.

And to both of you, thanks again. Yes, this is one of the most if not THE most important undertaking in our lives. I'm so afraid of the worst case scenerio: "One box I didn't check or one thing I could have worded better and suddenly my life is in shambles". I figure... I'm going to try this alone. I think I have a pretty decent understanding of what I'm supposed to do.

My husband-to-be is busy finding a job and settling in Canada and since I'm better with organizing, I'm handling most of it!! He's very very thankful and proud of me for it. :-D

Both of us have clean backgrounds, good morals, a love with fighting for (and should have NO problem proving as geniune!) and overall nothing to hide whatsoever. I hope that takes us to the point of approval.

All other help is welcome, I could sure use it!!! Your support on this forum has been keeping my fiancee and I strong. Best of luck to all of you.

 

[rjessome]

Sounds like you are on the right track now. Why don't you try to relax a little and enjoy your upcoming wedding! Don't jump the gun too much as you also need your marriage certificate as well as well organized pictures and other proof of your relationship. You will be fine. I wish you lots of luck.

 

[MARLENA]

Don't forget to register a marriage it took almost 10 weeks from the date of the wedding. Also it took 12 weeks to receive it. You can provide record of marriage and don't forget to explain when you send your application.

 

[nyssa]

Marlena - Do you mean register for the marriage liscense? I was under the impression (maybe naively) that you got the liscense within a day or two. Hmmm... perhaps I forgot the most important detail??

Okay, I think I see... we have to obtain our marriage license, and we can do this and I believe recieve that right away, and then THEY send it to the Office of the Registrar... it looks like we can have that expedited though. And if that's the case, we'll just do it that way. So we can still send out our PR application by the end of my visit.

 

[Boncuk]

Register your marriage? huh.. now I'm confused ) How long have you been married nyssa?
Marlena you got married in Canada or Lebanon? and if you did get married in Canada why did it take so long to get your marriage registered??

 

[fpc]

Marlena - Do you mean register for the marriage liscense? I was under the impression (maybe naively) that you got the liscense within a day or two. Hmmm... perhaps I forgot the most important detail??

You aren't married yet, is that right? So the Marriage License comes out in the same day, I'm pretty sure. You have to go in person with your fiance, you both fill the paper, and that's it. But after you get married, you have to wait about 8 weeks, and then you can apply for the Marriage Certificate, you can do that online. That takes another 6 weeks or so and comes in your mail.

 

[Boncuk]

Wow not being married in Canada.. thats a long process We got ours the same or next day cant remember.. I figured you get the marriage license on the spot but after getting married why do you have to wait 8 weeks to apply for Marriage Certificate.. is it for chance of anulment or something? I'm pretty clueless about getting married in Canada lol as you can tell.

 

[MARLENA]

Yes boncuk I guess 90 days is applicable for anulment. That's why I was so upset. I thought civil marriage shouldn't take that long to be register. When I phoned the office of Registrar and explained if they can expedited they confirmed only if Immigration would send an official letter and requested otherwise I have to wait about 10 weeks. That's why I only sent record of marriage but I explained the reason why I couldn't provide them with the marriage certificate.
Since in Lebanon they don't recognize civil marriage and therefore he can't register me as his wife that's why i'm having the other ceremony with my husband family.

 

[Boncuk]

Wow.. interesting.. why dont they recognise civil marriages there?