New spousal sponsorship checklist..less to choose from?!?!?

[jlanzone95]

Hi everyone,
to keep it simple, my husband and I are applying for permanent residence via the spousal sponsorship class.
We did it over the summer, but it was returned due to a missing document. We are now finally attempting to resubmit, but we are running into a few issues, as it seems they have changed the checklist quite a bit.
The biggest issue we have is with the 'Proof of relationship to sponsor' section.
They ask if you're living together, which we are, and we have the lease, and joint bank account they ask for, ok perfect next....
They then ask if you don't answer 4 questions with 'YES' then provide more proof, and because we haven't been married for more than 2 years, this applies to us. They ask for 20 photos which is totally fine I take pictures of us together all the time... But then they want 2 of the following bullets...

- Important documents for you and your spouse showing that you are recognized as each other's spouse (such as employment or insurance benefits)
- Documentary evidence of financial support between you and your sponsor, and/or shared expenses.
- Other proof that your relationship is recognized by your friends and/or family (e.g. Letters from friends/family, social media information showing a public relationship, etc.).

That's all they give you for the supplementary proof they're making us provide.
The 'Other proof' I'm going to use letters from both our parents, and social media print outs of posts and what not.. but the other one I'm having difficulty with. We don't have insurance benefits, so that's out.
But what exactly would 'documentary proof of financial support/shared expenses' be? A bank statement? Because I'm already giving them that for the first section of proof.
Also, would opening up a life insurance policy on my husband with myself as the beneficiary be sufficient? Or would it seem suspicious?
Sorry for the novel. If you have any input at all, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Hi everyone,
to keep it simple, my husband and I are applying for permanent residence via the spousal sponsorship class.
We did it over the summer, but it was returned due to a missing document. We are now finally attempting to resubmit, but we are running into a few issues, as it seems they have changed the checklist quite a bit.
The biggest issue we have is with the 'Proof of relationship to sponsor' section.
They ask if you're living together, which we are, and we have the lease, and joint bank account they ask for, ok perfect next....
They then ask if you don't answer 4 questions with 'YES' then provide more proof, and because we haven't been married for more than 2 years, this applies to us. They ask for 20 photos which is totally fine I take pictures of us together all the time... But then they want 2 of the following bullets...

- Important documents for you and your spouse showing that you are recognized as each other's spouse (such as employment or insurance benefits)
- Documentary evidence of financial support between you and your sponsor, and/or shared expenses.
- Other proof that your relationship is recognized by your friends and/or family (e.g. Letters from friends/family, social media information showing a public relationship, etc.).

That's all they give you for the supplementary proof they're making us provide.
The 'Other proof' I'm going to use letters from both our parents, and social media print outs of posts and what not.. but the other one I'm having difficulty with. We don't have insurance benefits, so that's out.
But what exactly would 'documentary proof of financial support/shared expenses' be? A bank statement? Because I'm already giving them that for the first section of proof.
Also, would opening up a life insurance policy on my husband with myself as the beneficiary be sufficient? Or would it seem suspicious?
Sorry for the novel. If you have any input at all, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

This was a tricky one for us also... Some things you may not have thought of..

- Costco membership (yep really!)
- Joint gym membership (we have a joint membership which my partner has always paid for with his credit card). The gym owner is actually a friend of ours so he wrote confirming the membership from my partners account and that he knew us as a couple..i know that that is a unique situation though!
- A joint credit card? Or are one of you an authorized user on the others card?
- CRA (or other tax) documents showing you as married (i included our tax summary sheets for the past 4 years or so...im named on his, he is named on mine as common law partner)
- E-transfers between you both
- Did one of you pay for a trip that you have booking confirmation for showing both your names as "guests"
- Does one of you pay something for the other?

For the section that you using the bank statements...can you fulfil the other choices and use the bank statements for the above option you are struggling with?

We dont have insurances with the other named as beneficiary nor do we have utility bills (our rent is all inclusive) so the finances part was tricky for us too.

Give what you can and anything you cant, you can put in an explanation sheet. You can only give what you've got!

 

[Jaywill]

Hi everyone,
to keep it simple, my husband and I are applying for permanent residence via the spousal sponsorship class.
We did it over the summer, but it was returned due to a missing document. We are now finally attempting to resubmit, but we are running into a few issues, as it seems they have changed the checklist quite a bit.
The biggest issue we have is with the 'Proof of relationship to sponsor' section.
They ask if you're living together, which we are, and we have the lease, and joint bank account they ask for, ok perfect next....
They then ask if you don't answer 4 questions with 'YES' then provide more proof, and because we haven't been married for more than 2 years, this applies to us. They ask for 20 photos which is totally fine I take pictures of us together all the time... But then they want 2 of the following bullets...

- Important documents for you and your spouse showing that you are recognized as each other's spouse (such as employment or insurance benefits)
- Documentary evidence of financial support between you and your sponsor, and/or shared expenses.
- Other proof that your relationship is recognized by your friends and/or family (e.g. Letters from friends/family, social media information showing a public relationship, etc.).

That's all they give you for the supplementary proof they're making us provide.
The 'Other proof' I'm going to use letters from both our parents, and social media print outs of posts and what not.. but the other one I'm having difficulty with. We don't have insurance benefits, so that's out.
But what exactly would 'documentary proof of financial support/shared expenses' be? A bank statement? Because I'm already giving them that for the first section of proof.
Also, would opening up a life insurance policy on my husband with myself as the beneficiary be sufficient? Or would it seem suspicious?
Sorry for the novel. If you have any input at all, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Life insurance works. Also if there are wire transfers, emt, western union, moneygram transfers.

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Hi everyone,
to keep it simple, my husband and I are applying for permanent residence via the spousal sponsorship class.
We did it over the summer, but it was returned due to a missing document. We are now finally attempting to resubmit, but we are running into a few issues, as it seems they have changed the checklist quite a bit.
The biggest issue we have is with the 'Proof of relationship to sponsor' section.
They ask if you're living together, which we are, and we have the lease, and joint bank account they ask for, ok perfect next....
They then ask if you don't answer 4 questions with 'YES' then provide more proof, and because we haven't been married for more than 2 years, this applies to us. They ask for 20 photos which is totally fine I take pictures of us together all the time... But then they want 2 of the following bullets...

- Important documents for you and your spouse showing that you are recognized as each other's spouse (such as employment or insurance benefits)
- Documentary evidence of financial support between you and your sponsor, and/or shared expenses.
- Other proof that your relationship is recognized by your friends and/or family (e.g. Letters from friends/family, social media information showing a public relationship, etc.).

That's all they give you for the supplementary proof they're making us provide.
The 'Other proof' I'm going to use letters from both our parents, and social media print outs of posts and what not.. but the other one I'm having difficulty with. We don't have insurance benefits, so that's out.
But what exactly would 'documentary proof of financial support/shared expenses' be? A bank statement? Because I'm already giving them that for the first section of proof.
Also, would opening up a life insurance policy on my husband with myself as the beneficiary be sufficient? Or would it seem suspicious?
Sorry for the novel. If you have any input at all, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Also...make sure you are using the checklist dated October 2017.

 

[jlanzone95]

This was a tricky one for us also... Some things you may not have thought of..

- Costco membership (yep really!)
- Joint gym membership (we have a joint membership which my partner has always paid for with his credit card). The gym owner is actually a friend of ours so he wrote confirming the membership from my partners account and that he knew us as a couple..i know that that is a unique situation though!
- A joint credit card? Or are one of you an authorized user on the others card?
- CRA (or other tax) documents showing you as married (i included our tax summary sheets for the past 4 years or so...im named on his, he is named on mine as common law partner)
- E-transfers between you both
- Did one of you pay for a trip that you have booking confirmation for showing both your names as "guests"
- Does one of you pay something for the other?

For the section that you using the bank statements...can you fulfil the other choices and use the bank statements for the above option you are struggling with?

We dont have insurances with the other named as beneficiary nor do we have utility bills (our rent is all inclusive) so the finances part was tricky for us too.

Give what you can and anything you cant, you can put in an explanation sheet. You can only give what you've got!

Huh, I never thought of the majority of those. That actually really helped. I think I actually can use the joint bank account as the documentary proof of financial support/shared expenses, and then use something like our joint cell phone account as proof for the first set. Thank you!
Also, I made sure to re-download everything from the CIC website because I know they change the forms all the time. Thanks!

 

[jlanzone95]

Life insurance works. Also if there are wire transfers, emt, western union, moneygram transfers.

There were no money transfers of any kind because when we met, because we were both financially independent. I was working in the states and he was working here in Canada. Then when I moved here and we started to living together, we just used the same bank account. Then we got married and opened a joint account that has since become our primary chequing account.

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Huh, I never thought of the majority of those. That actually really helped. I think I actually can use the joint bank account as the documentary proof of financial support/shared expenses, and then use something like our joint cell phone account as proof for the first set. Thank you!
Also, I made sure to re-download everything from the CIC website because I know they change the forms all the time. Thanks!

Happy to have been of help!

Sounds like you have more joint things than my partner and i have and we managed to meet the checklists asks!

I mention that about the checklist because someone yesterday said that the "PR sponsorship application package" was still giving the old checklist (June date i think) so they had to go to the "all forms section" and download the checklist from there.

 

[jlanzone95]

Happy to have been of help!

Sounds like you have more joint things than my partner and i have and we managed to meet the checklists asks!

I mention that about the checklist because someone yesterday said that the "PR sponsorship application package" was still giving the old checklist (June date i think) so they had to go to the "all forms section" and download the checklist from there.

I really hope we get this right the first time, I appreciate your help!
Oh! Okay, well thanks for the heads up!

 

[lea1113]

Also...make sure you are using the checklist dated October 2017.

Sorry to butt in here.. But what's the difference with this checklist?

I ask because I printed out all the paper work I believe end of September. (May be I even printed it out start of October) We filled everything out and mailed it November 7th I believe. So I never thought to recheck everything
But now I am slightly panicked and I can't download the form with my laptop, some software requirement that I don't have.

I am just getting nervous as I wait for some reply. I'm rethinking in my mind if I did enough and if I triple checked it enough. So stressful and it's just the beginning

 

[starnaenae]

Sorry to butt in here.. But what's the difference with this checklist?

I ask because I printed out all the paper work I believe end of September. (May be I even printed it out start of October) We filled everything out and mailed it November 7th I believe. So I never thought to recheck everything
But now I am slightly panicked and I can't download the form with my laptop, some software requirement that I don't have.

I am just getting nervous as I wait for some reply. I'm rethinking in my mind if I did enough and if I triple checked it enough. So stressful and it's just the beginning

Every so often form versions are updated - new items could be added, things remived, chaned wordimg, etc. Hopefully they will accept your app but there have been instances of the app returned due to outdated forms. For now, try not to panic and wait for the aor. Stay positive!!

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Sorry to butt in here.. But what's the difference with this checklist?

I ask because I printed out all the paper work I believe end of September. (May be I even printed it out start of October) We filled everything out and mailed it November 7th I believe. So I never thought to recheck everything
But now I am slightly panicked and I can't download the form with my laptop, some software requirement that I don't have.

I am just getting nervous as I wait for some reply. I'm rethinking in my mind if I did enough and if I triple checked it enough. So stressful and it's just the beginning

The new checklist (Oct 207) version was in effect and available from 24th Oct (i know the exact date because its the day i sent my app). I posted a thread on it that day to alert people.

There was another form that was also updated the same day.

The changes were minimal, barely even noticeable, but changes none the less. Its not whether the contents of the checklist changed/affected your package but that the previous form was technically out of date the minute a new one goes live.

Some people do talk of a "grace period" where the old forms are still accepted but there is no public knowledge of this and nothing official on it.

 

[lea1113]

Every so often form versions are updated - new items could be added, things remived, chaned wordimg, etc. Hopefully they will accept your app but there have been instances of the app returned due to outdated forms. For now, try not to panic and wait for the aor. Stay positive!!

thank you for the reply..
I guess we will see what happens. I didn't even think to check plus I was in India with my spouse at that time.
Most forms we did download and fill out then print. But it was all before this October 24th when these new forms came in affect..
Lets see.

 

[lea1113]

The new checklist (Oct 207) version was in effect and available from 24th Oct (i know the exact date because its the day i sent my app). I posted a thread on it that day to alert people.

There was another form that was also updated the same day.

The changes were minimal, barely even noticeable, but changes none the less. Its not whether the contents of the checklist changed/affected your package but that the previous form was technically out of date the minute a new one goes live.

Some people do talk of a "grace period" where the old forms are still accepted but there is no public knowledge of this and nothing official on it.

Thank you for your reply..
I just checked and there was 2 forms plus the document checklist updated October..
I guess we will see what happens. I really didn't even think to look again. I mean we checked and made sure we had the country requirements so i was online on cic. But I just didn't notice those forms were updated.

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Thank you for your reply..
I just checked and there was 2 forms plus the document checklist updated October..
I guess we will see what happens. I really didn't even think to look again. I mean we checked and made sure we had the country requirements so i was online on cic. But I just didn't notice those forms were updated.

I was literally on my way to Purolator to post my application and wanted to check something on a form i had a last minute panic about. I pull up the forms and i see they'd been updated somewhere in that 3 hour window.. Because i did a form date check that morning as my final step.

They like to keep you on your toes that for sure!

 

[lea1113]

I was literally on my way to Purolator to post my application and wanted to check something on a form i had a last minute panic about. I pull up the forms and i see they'd been updated somewhere in that 3 hour window.. Because i did a form date check that morning as my final step.

They like to keep you on your toes that for sure!

I mean even if I did notice once I was back in Canada.. I would have to take his signature for him because he isn't on Canada.

I am going to stress about this until I here from them or get the package back...

They really do like to keep people on their toes. As if this process isn't hard enough.
I even triple checked everything. Was online checking... Oh my goodness... I am so upset with myself.
I mean it's only a 2 week time frame.. So fingers crossed. Maybe ill call cic on Monday to just ask..