Mainland China Sponsorship

[chilton]

Here is a quick background of my case and then I have some specific question I would really appreciate help with.

I am Canadian born man and have lived in China for 9 years. Met my wife in 2006 while were both students, we dated for 3 years and got our marriage certificate in 2009. We had our official wedding ceremony in summer 2010, where many of my Canadian family and friends came. At that time I had also just graduated my master degree. Since summer 2010, I have been working in Fuzhou, Fujian province and my wife's HUKOU is in her hometown Kaifeng, Henan Province. Fall of 2011 my wife and I returned to Canada to attend my brothers wedding, it was her first time and she was on a visiting relatives visa.

We are now starting the immigration process as we would like to move back to Canada together. I have gotten through most of it no problem, but do have a few question I really need help with:

1. As sponsor I need proof I will return to Canada with her. I currently have a notarized letter from my Mother, saying she knows of the intention and her willingness to give us a place to stay as we find our own place. I also have a letter from my current employer stating that my contract ends and in July and they know and support my intention to return to Canada with my wife. Is this enough proof? What else could I include??

2. Form 3903e, Appendix C, for medical check ups states "You and all your family members who are not already Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents must fill out Appendix C and undergo and pass a medical examination, whether they will be joining you in Canada or not". Would my wife's parents have to take the test? Or is it only for family dependents?

3. We reside in Fujian right now. Her HUKOU is in Henan. Can we put Beijing as the VISA office that will process her file? I know Hong Kong can process immigration visa for Fujjian, but we would rather Beijing.

4. Final question and the one I am most clueless about. We send the package first to the CPC in Mississauga and then it goes to the VISA office in China. Who do I pay? How do I pay? I am completely lost on how to give my application fee and worried about sending it to the wrong place....

If you can answer those questions, or give any more pertinent information you think is relevant, please do. Your help is so greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Fencesitter]

1. A letter from your parents / family (whether notarized or not) is good to include. The letter from your employer is also good. However, you need to write a detailed account on how you plan to cut ties with China and re-establish in Canada (mine was about 4 pages - single space on A4 paper). A job offer in Canada or your employment plans would be good to include. Just provide as much detail as you can with evidence to back it up.

2. If you are only sponsoring your wife, then she is the only one who is required to do the medical.

3. The best way to pay is online. Pay the full amount including $490 right of permanent residence fee. Once payment is successful, fill out the information on the receipt (they will send to your e-mail) with your (the sponsor's) information (your address in China). Once the receipt has been filled, include it with your application (follow the document checklist order), but make sure to keep a copy for yourself (should be in your e-mail). You can go to the official CIC website to pay online. Both the sponsor and applicant packages go to CIC-M (Mississauga) initially. Once you have been approved as the sponsor, CIC-M will transfer both packages to the visa office. Since your wife's hukou is in Henan, she should put down Beijing as the visa office...though I am not entirely sure, since you are both currently working in Fujian (but my guess is Beijing).

Since your wife was granted a visitor visa, she shouldn't have any difficulty obtaining PR status as long as you have completed all IMM forms correctly and supplied sufficient proof as to the genuineness of your relationship.

Good luck!

FS

 

[chilton]

Fencesitter,

Thanks so much for your information! Very helpful!

I'm wondering if you could expand a little bit on the letter you mentioned, describing how you intend to cut ties with China; what kind of information did you include in there?

You also said their should be no problem if we have enough proof of the genuineness of our relationship. For this I have years of photos, from different places, different hairstyles etc as we aged, also with different extended family members. I also have correspondence between my wife and my mother. And then there are different "love letters" I wrote to my wife through the years. What else would you recommend adding? Would this be enough?

Finally, just wondering, do you think our situation would merit an interview??

Thanks again for you help!!!

 

[Fencesitter]

Cutting ties with China: just explain what you will need to do - cancel bank accounts, phone, cell phone, Internet, etc. What documents you will need to have notarized and translated for use in Canada. Just basic stuff like that...

Proof of relationship: photos, e-mails, chats, rental contracts, joint accounts, rental contracts, health insurance, cards / letters, letters from friends and family, any e-mail or letters between your wife and your family in Canada, etc. Just make sure to include enough proof to satisfy the VO. We included all the above, but we also have a 6-month old son together, so for our case, there won't be a question as to the genuineness of our relationship. We are moving to Canada mainly for our son's future, but also because I have a great job offer...plus we both (even my wife, who is Chinese) strongly dislike living in mainland China - pollution, overcrowded, horrible banking, difficulty in getting things done efficiently, lack of quality education, cost of living increasing, purchasing an apartment in a nice area is prohibitively expensive and it's only a long lease, etc...etc....

Your case, depending on how well you prepare your applications, shouldn't require an interview. Note that interviews are the exception, not the rule. We are 99.9% sure that we won't need to attend an interview. Interviews are mainly because the VO doubts the genuineness of the marriage...and like I said above, we have a son, so there won't be a doubt...plus we have prepared a very detailed application...

Good luck!

FS

 

[chilton]

Thanks again for your help FS!

I've got my package all ready to go, I've been checking and re-checking every little detail, a little nerve racking I'm sure you know!

I'm wondering what was the exact address you sent it to, and which service in China did you use? EMS? Did you have them sign for it at the CPC?

Also what about staples and paper clips in the application file...did you use them? I might be loosing my mind but I thought I read somewhere you should...any advice would help!!

Thanks a lot!

Chilton

 

[Fencesitter]

DO NOT send it via UPS! I'd go for DHL or FedEx. I chose UPS, and although it arrived only a day late, I would never use their 'service' again!

NO STAPLES! Some say that paperclips are okay to use, however, I disagree. I used plastic sleeves that open from the side (not the kind that can fit inside a binder). Everything is still kept together and organized (all sleeves were placed in the appropriate envelope)...I was told that CIC prefers everything to be loose...so that's what I did...the sleeves are only to keep the documents together, but when they start processing my file, they can easily discard them.

I sent mine to the courier address. You can find it by visiting the CIC website. It's something like 'Robert Speck Parkway'...you'll see it on their website...go with the official website to eliminate any mistakes.

Yes, when UPS dropped of my package, "KIM" in the mail room signed for it. I have a record of it in my e-mail...just in case CIC were to say they didn't receive it...which I really hope doesn't happen!

Good luck!

FS

 

[chilton]

My last stupid question then I'm sending the application; on the online payment receipt that CIC sends to you, it has blank spaces for you to fill in "name" "client date of birth" "address" "client ID" "phone number".

The question that has been tearing at me is:

Who's name do I put? Sponsors, applicant, or name from credit card?

Same with address???

and what about client ID?

Any and all information would help! Thanks

 

[Fencesitter]

Put the sponsor's information, including the mailing address you entered on the IMM forms.

If you have never dealt with CIC before, you won't have a client ID number; leave it blank.

My dad helped to pay the fee with his credit card, no problem. I entered my information and that's it...

As long as they have received payment, you're good to go.

Good luck with it and I wish you a quick journey through the land of red tape.

FS