Hi,
So my package for sponsoring my wife is ready. I will be sending to CIC on Friday/Monday. It will be wait and watch game for us. This is how i initially arranged documents. It was easy for us to put documents in respective folders:
http://imgur.com/Exi2GBk
We then rearranged the documents as per CIC guidelines:
Basically, we created a word document and explained the following and this document was placed at top of application. Note that I was working in US, and moved to Canada only this year, although i was PR from Sept 2015. I am sponsoring my wife who is from Mexico City.
STATUS OF APPLICANT
<Status of sponsor in Canada;
Status of my wife in Mexico;>
RELATIONSHIP OF SPONSOR AND SPOUSE
<I explained in detail our history - around 10 lines>
FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY
<I explained my ( sponsor's ) salary details ( projected ) for next 1 year, and my occupation for previous 1 year >
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
SPONSOR
Document Checklist -- Sponsor;
FORMS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
1. Receipt for $1040.00 CDN representing Sponsor’s Fee, Processing Fee and Right of Permanent Residence Fee for <spouse>;
2. Document Checklist for <sponsor>;
3. Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking Form of <sponsor> and <spouse>;
4. Sponsorship Evaluation Form of <sponsor>;
5. Use of Representative Form of <sponsor>;
6. Sponsor Questionnaire of <sponsor>;
7. Photocopy of the front and back of the Canadian Permanent Resident Card of <sponsor>;
8. Original letter from <sponsor> explaining the absence of a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment, as well as proof he filed taxes in the US for the 2015 taxation year;
9. Documentation confirming the self-employment of <sponsor>;
IMMIGRANT
Appendix A – Document Checklist --Immigrant;
FORMS AND STATEMENTS
10. Generic Application Form for Canada of <spouse>;
11. Schedule A: Background Declaration Form of <spouse>;
12. Sponsored Spouse/Partner Questionnaire Form of <spouse>;
13. Sponsor Questionnaire of <sponsor>;
14. Additional Family Information Form of <spouse>;
15. Use of Representative Form of <spouse>;
IDENTITY AND CIVIL STATUS DOCUMENTS
16. Birth certificate of <spouse>;
CHILDREN’S INFORMATION
17. N/A
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND PASSPORTS
18. Photocopy of the Mexican passport of <spouse>;
PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP TO SPONSOR
19. Marriage certificate of <spouse> and <sponsor>;
20. Wedding, vacation, and social photos of <spouse> and <sponsor>;
21. Documents pertaining to trips taken by <spouse> and <sponsor>;
22. Documents pertaining to the wedding of <spouse> and <sponsor>;
23. Joint statements of <spouse> and <sponsor>;
24. Receipts for gifts exchanged between <spouse> and <sponsor>;
25. E-mails, Messages, and Cards exchanged between <spouse> and <sponsor>;
26. Documentation confirming funds transferred between <spouse> and <sponsor>;
PROOF OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
27. Original eMedical Information Sheet of <spouse>;
POLICE CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES
28. Mexican police certificate of <spouse> will be provided upon request;
PHOTOS
Eight ( 8 ) photographs of <spouse> attached to the last page of the Generic Application Form for Canada of <spouse>;
Hope this helps others. I also hope these documents would suffice, to avoid red flags ( husband-wife from 2 countries, 2 different religions etc ).