Not enough?

[CaroM8]

Hello!

I've posted here a few times but just in case, here is some background info!

I am Canadian Citizen, my husband is from Guatemala. We were married last May in Canada. He has a TRV valid for another 2 years. Since the beginning of our relationship in 2014 we have been bouncing back and forth between Guatemala and Canada. But for the most part I have been living in Guatemala with him, for the simple reason that he cannot work in Canada, and well let's face it, the cost of living here in Guate is way cheaper.

So I've started printing all everything for our application, and I'm noticing that it doesn't seem to add up to that much.. I think once everything is printed and ready our entire application will be roughly 80 pages? It doesn't seem like enough, considering I've read of people here submitting hundreds of pages. Here is what we have, maybe someone can let me know if I should add something? In my opinion our application does not have any red flags.

1. All the forms from CIC, including a few additional sheets for details
2. Copy of marriage certificate
3. Letter and invoice from wedding venue
4. A copy of our menu from the wedding with our names on it
5. Police record things with their translation
6. Proof of medical exam
7. copy of passport for both of us, including entry/exit stamps and visas
8. Copy of birth certificate for both of us (his including a translation)
9. A 5 page letter than we wrote explaining our whole relationship
10. about 50 pictures (printed as actual pictures).. We have tons more but decide to focus more on quality of the pics rather than quantity.. Am I correct?
The pics are a mix of wedding pictures, honeymoon in Europe and misc family events or dates
11. A chronological timeline of our relationship with important events, dates and milestones
12. A list of "references" of people that can testify to our relationship
13. Multiple receipts from airlines and hotels from us traveling together, maybe a couple of boarding passes
14. Receipts and emails from when my father and sister came to Guatemala to visit us and meet my husbands family

Am I missing something crucial that could hinder our application? Thanks in advance!

**Note: I have not yet included chat logs as I am unsure yet how to approach that part of the application. Since we have been physically together for almost our entire relationship, our texts and chats don't contain anything substantial other than the mundane, day to day stuff that couples who live together text about.. You know, like : "Should I pick something up for dinner?" Haha... **

 

[Ponga]

One thing to add will be things to convince CIC that you will return to Canada when his PR is approved. This can be things like job offers, letter from family/friends stating that they will provide assistance (housing/money, if needed) until you can re-establish yourself in Canada, etc..

Many people (myself included) feel that they have to throw anything and everything at CIC in the hopes that it will be enough to convince the total stranger, that's looking at your `story', that it's a real story. In hindsight I sent waaaaay too much, but it's understandable since we only have one chance to get it right.

The truth is that if CIC needs more proof, they will ask for it at some point. Just send what you have and get the ball rolling ASAP.


Good luck!

 

[CaroM8]

One thing to add will be things to convince CIC that you will return to Canada when his PR is approved. This can be things like job offers, letter from family/friends stating that they will provide assistance (housing/money, if needed) until you can re-establish yourself in Canada, etc..

Ah yes the returning to Canada thing. This one is tough.. How can they expect me to have a job offer or lease agreement when we don't even know how long the process will take? I did explain that the whole purpose of us applying for PR was to start a life in Canada, I mean why else would we be doing this? We do want children in the near future and things like healthcare, education and overall personal safety are way better in Canada. Once PR is approved we are moving there, getting an apartment and finding jobs. I just don't have anything concrete to prove that.. That's basically what I explained concerning that part. What else can I say?

 

[CaroM8]

Any other thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[Omegabyte]

Even if the chat logs seem mundane to you, they are great evidence of a genuine relationship. You don't need to print out the whole thing. Just a few pages with samples from throughout your relationship will do.

I hate to bring this up, but CIC might not approve you if you don't show concrete plans to return to Canada. It's a catch-22, but they can be picky about it, since you have agreed in the application that you two have plans to return to Canada upon his PR. Anything can help, such as letters from family in Canada willing to put you up until you get on your feet here. Job search listings you've made, housing searches, anything that shows you've seriously made plans to return to Canada upon approval are necessary!

 

[Ponga]

Completely agree;especially point #2.

 

[CDNPR2014]

Ah yes the returning to Canada thing. This one is tough.. How can they expect me to have a job offer or lease agreement when we don't even know how long the process will take? I did explain that the whole purpose of us applying for PR was to start a life in Canada, I mean why else would we be doing this? We do want children in the near future and things like healthcare, education and overall personal safety are way better in Canada. Once PR is approved we are moving there, getting an apartment and finding jobs. I just don't have anything concrete to prove that.. That's basically what I explained concerning that part. What else can I say?

cic is not expecting a job offer or lease agreement. they are looking for a legitimate plan to resettle in canada. this can be done in many ways, as suggested by the poster above. explaining how you plan to settle and what you plan to do to support yourselves while you get on your feet is what they want to know. there are people who will apply for PR just for the status and really don't have intentions to settle in canada for months or years. this is why cic is strict about this in spousal sponsorship.

 

[canadianwoman]

7. copy of passport for both of us, including entry/exit stamps and visas
12. A list of "references" of people that can testify to our relationship
14. Receipts and emails from when my father and sister came to Guatemala to visit us and meet my husbands family

7. You could maybe have a page detailing your trips together or to see each other, listing the exit and entry stamps and where they can be found in your evidence.
12. This is OK, but the visa officer is not going to phone these people. I would keep it, but maybe see if you can get some letters or emails from these people, stating how they know you, when and where they met the husband or wife, and that they believe your relationship is genuine.
14. This is good, but I would also have your father and sister write letters as above.

 

[CaroM8]

Thank you for all your answers! Seems like I have a bit of work to do!

I'm still unsure about the coming back to Canada part. Should I be doing apartment/job searches and printing them even if I have no intention of going through with those particular jobs/apartments? I guess I will write an explanation of our plan? We both have substantial savings to support ourselves there even if we don't get a job right away but that's the plan.

 

[canadianwoman]

Yes, include a plan of your lives once you get back. Include proof of savings and investments. You can get family and friends to write letters stating they know of your intention to return. If your family will be helping you at first, have them include that in their letters.

 

[CaroM8]

Yes, include a plan of your lives once you get back. Include proof of savings and investments. You can get family and friends to write letters stating they know of your intention to return. If your family will be helping you at first, have them include that in their letters.

Thank you! I've started working on that

 

[CaroM8]

Ok we've been working real hard on everything that was suggested to us and are basically ready to submit in a couple of days...

All in all.. our application is just over 100 pages, which doesn't seem like a lot! I've read on some posts here of people having applications of several 100s pages!

Cue the mini panic attack!

I can't think of anything else that we can add that would be super relevant. I may have a few more outings receipts that I can add but not much more... Help!

 

[MelissaJohn]

Hello, I have been reading about the return to Canada proof, I have had the same issue as I was unemployed living in my husband's country during the process this is what I sent it might be long but may be able to give you ideas!

⦁ Letter Describing why sponsor wants to return to Canada
⦁ Letter describing plans of reestablishing in Canada
⦁ Notarized Letter of Residence to stay at upon return to Canada from Sponsors parents
⦁ Job Offers * If not job offers send job advertisements showing you are looking for work and planning ahead*
⦁ Chat history with Friends/family describing intent to return to Canada (I had FB chats with my sister and friends about making plans to go out for dinner and drinks and how we were excited for holidays)
⦁ House rental advertisements we have been looking into.




I also included my plan of reestablishing letter for you to view.

⦁ Upon approval of acceptance, we plan to return to Canada together on the same flight. The only reason we have yet to buy our plane tickets to return to Canada is because we do not want to guess the acceptance date of our application approval. Upon approval, we will then purchase both tickets for me and my husband to return to Canada together.
⦁ When we arrive in Canada we will be moving in with my parents, who agreed to let us stay with them free of charge until we re-establish ourselves. A notarized letter of their promise to house us is included.
⦁ I plan within the first two weeks of arrival to Canada to go back to work with one of the job offers I have.
⦁ I did not include any documents of college or educational institutions because I have previously finished my college education. This is one of the options of my job offers.
⦁ Principle applicant plans to pass out resumes to jobs dealing with his field of work.
⦁ I also have an opened bank account in Canada where I have money saved. I plan to add my husband to make a joint bank account in Canada so our savings can be placed there.
⦁ We have been saving money in my husband country and after we establish our jobs in Canada, we plan to continue saving money while living with my parents to be able to afford our own house or apartment to rent. We have been searching the prices for the last few months to get an idea of what we need to save and have been putting money aside for this. The reason we do not currently rent /own a dwelling of our own is because we are still currently in my husband's country. Upon our arrival, we will be staying at my parents home . We have been looking into the costs of renting in Canada. We have provided advertisements of houses in the area where we plan to live.
⦁ After we settle ourselves into a new home we plan to continue to work, to be able to start a family. We plan to start a family in the future and we want to wait until we are in our own home with both of us working to support each other. I want to be with my Canadian family as we raise our future children because I would be more comfortable with my family around as I can communicate with them and depend on them being able to understand me as my in-laws do not speak English. We also believe our future children will have a better life in Canada
⦁ Both of our intentions to return to Canada are purely based on our genuine love for each other, and the goal of a better future for us as a couple, and our future family.


That's Just an example, At the time when our process was coming to an end, we did get a request to send some of these documents again just to update CIC so they knew I still was able to stay with my parents, and still had intentions to return. Because it takes months to process things can change so don't be scared if you see this email asking for proof of sponsors return in the future, as it is just an update for CIC! I sure know it freaked me out at first. Hope this helps!