Our application so far

[aerogurl87]

So we're almost finally ready to send off our application. Yay! We just need to get my boyfriend/common law partner's option C print out and fill out a few more forms. Anyway, this is what our evidence looks like so far, and I want people's opinions on if this will be good enough.

So, thus far this is how our application is organized.


Application for Sponsorship: Table of Contents
• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481)
• Copy 2 of Receipt of Fees (IMM 5401)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)
• Sponsorship Questionnaire (IMM 5540)
• Photocopy of Canadian passport page for my boyfriend
• Option C Printout
• Letter from Employer

Sponsored Applicant's forms and Supporting Documents: Table of Contents
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP) which is N/A
• Schedule A - Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Spouse/Partner Questionnaire (IMM 5490)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) which is N/A
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of information for passport, visa, and application to extend status with letter stating that I'm living under implied status for the time being
• Police certificate
• Copy 2 of Medical Report - Section A
• 4 Recent photos

Proof of Relationship
• Major Events Timeline
• Photos (with dates and descriptions on back)
• Communication (Skype logs, MSN conversations, etc.)
• Travel (travel itineraries, flight stubs, hotel receipts, etc.)
• Everyday Living (copies of bills, rental agreement, etc.)
• Personal testimonies of family
• Miscellaneous Items (greeting cards, mail to same address, etc.)

What do you think?

 

[thomas_saint]

Perfect...

 

[aerogurl87]

Perfect...

Thanks. I'm just hoping that we send enough info for them to waive the interview and not request more evidence later on.

 

[Bold9900]

Hello aerogurl87,

Very organized...Good luck for your step 1 of the sponsor approval process!!

 

[marcopolocan]

Hiya,

I would also include the document checklists. I don't see any Barcodes?

good luck

 

[aerogurl87]

Hiya,

I would also include the document checklists. I don't see any Barcodes?

good luck

Yeah I need to add those to the list as well. Thanks for catching that. We're not completely done, but we're getting close to sending this application on it's way.

 

[marcopolocan]

No worries, I'm not sure if you also need TWO statutory declarations RE: common law status ( I used my accountant and travel agent as they were able to verify joint tax returns and also joint travel arrangements).

Cheers

 

[aerogurl87]

No worries, I'm not sure if you also need TWO statutory declarations RE: common law status ( I used my accountant and travel agent as they were able to verify joint tax returns and also joint travel arrangements).

Cheers

Yep it's two declarations and we've included those in the personal testimonies section of our app already.

 

[aerogurl87]

Finished product

So about a week or so ago, we sent off our application after a few months of procrastination mixed with some impatience and waiting. According to Purolator it weighed one pound, which isn't much. Here is how it was finally put together before being shipped off.



We sent off all the necessary documents and forms for the sponsor and applicant (me!) and paperclipped them all together under their respective sections, which went as following:

Application table of contents page
Barcode sheets

Sponsor Forms and Documents
• Document Checklist
• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481)
• Copy 2 of Receipt of Fees (IMM 5401)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)
• Sponsorship Questionnaire (IMM 5540)
• Photocopy of Canadian passport page for Sponsor
• Option C Printout
• Letter from Employer for Sponsor
• Additional Information for Questions

Applicant's forms and Supporting Documents
• Visa Specific Document Checklist for USA
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A - Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Spouse/Partner Questionnaire (IMM 5490)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) which is N/A
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of passport
• Police certificate
• Copy 2 of Medical Report - Section A
• 4 Recent photos

(Note: We put all the additional information for our questions on separate sheets of paper that we put behind the corresponding form it went with. For example, I wrote more for the Spouse/Partner questionnaire and put that information directly behind the form for it, so it would be easier for the VO to find.)

Then we had our proof of relationship section, which was actually kind of fun to make. I sectioned everything off into subsections and put the information in the appropriate section.

Proof of Relationship
• Major Events Timeline
• Photos (with dates and descriptions on back)
• Communication (Skype logs, MSN conversations, etc.)
• Travel (travel itineraries, flight stubs, hotel receipts, etc.)
• Everyday Living (copies of bills, rental agreement, etc.)
• Personal testimonies of family
• Miscellaneous Items (greeting cards, mail to same address, etc.)

Then for each subsection, I made a cover page and a table of contents to make finding everything easier. Here is a brief example of what I did using the Everyday Living Subsection.

Everyday Living
(Copies of bills, rental agreement, etc.)
• Introduction: A Day in the Life
• Page 1: Paypal history
• Page 2: Application to open joint bank account
• Page 3: Lease agreement for apartment
• Page 4: Inspection report for moving into apartment
• Page 5: Rental insurance policy
• Page 6: Electricity bill
• Page 7: Application to rent P.O. Box together
• Pages 8-11: Receipts for rent paid
• Page 12: New mobile phone contracts
• Page 13: Bank account overview with names of owners for each account
• Pages 14-21: Monthly statements for joint bank account
• Pages 22-28: Electricity billing statements for July 2011-July2012
• Pages 29, 30: Cable/Internet billing statements from Eastlink

I also wrote explanations of things that may have needed a little more explaining on the back of the pages that needed it. I also referenced the various pages in both our major timeline and in my mini novel to CIC that I wrote in my applicant section. And that was pretty much it. Our case is straightforward and we didn't want to overwhelm the VO with too much info. So we decided to give them a very full overview of our relationship without adding too much fluff to it.

 

[goodman36]

Why would the Bar Codes pages be on the top (after table of contents). Shouldn't they be with their respective Forms?

 

[OhCanadiana]

Why would the Bar Codes pages be on the top (after table of contents). Shouldn't they be with their respective Forms?

The instructions request that they go on top - see #5 on 3900ETOC (below) for sponsor example. This enables them to scan it in without needing to dig for the forms.

"You must answer all the questions on this application form unless indicated otherwise.
1. Download and fill out the application form on a computer.
You also have the option of saving your form and completing it later.
2. Once the application is completed, click on the Validate button located at the top or bottom of the form.
A barcode page like the one below will be generated:
<photo of sample barcode>
Note: This barcode page will not appear if you fill out your application by hand.
3. Print all pages of your application form.
4. Sign and date in the spaces provided.
5. [b]Place the barcode page on top of your application (forms and supporting documents) when you will submit it.[/b]"

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3900ETOC.asp

 

[figlove2010]

You application looks really neat and organized.... ... just one question...i've heard alot of persons doing a "relationship Timeline"....how exactly do you do one? like how is it suppose to look? ???

 

[tink23]

This looks great and will be very helpful for me when I do the final organization of my husband's PR application once I'm back in Canada. Thank you! Good luck!

 

[aerogurl87]

The instructions request that they go on top - see #5 on 3900ETOC (below) for sponsor example. This enables them to scan it in without needing to dig for the forms.

"You must answer all the questions on this application form unless indicated otherwise.
1. Download and fill out the application form on a computer.
You also have the option of saving your form and completing it later.
2. Once the application is completed, click on the Validate button located at the top or bottom of the form.
A barcode page like the one below will be generated:
<photo of sample barcode>
Note: This barcode page will not appear if you fill out your application by hand.
3. Print all pages of your application form.
4. Sign and date in the spaces provided.
5. [b]Place the barcode page on top of your application (forms and supporting documents) when you will submit it.[/b]"

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3900ETOC.asp

Yep that is why they went to the top. I didn't want them sending it back for me not following the directions.

You application looks really neat and organized.... ... just one question...i've heard alot of persons doing a "relationship Timeline"....how exactly do you do one? like how is it suppose to look? ???

I'll post ours to show how we did it, although I'm sure everyone else's probably varies. Ours was pretty short since it just highlighted major events in our relationship so far.

Major Events Timeline

• January 29, 2010: We met online for the first time and started talking via email and MSN messenger. (see pages 1-13 and 22-28 of Communication)
• January 31, 2010: We officially became a couple, albeit a long distance one.
• May 20, 2010: Applicant flew to go meet Colin in person in Canada. She visited for two weeks and met his family and friends, in addition to attending his graduation. He also showed her around his hometown. (see pages 1,2 of Travel, pages 1,4 and 20 of Miscellaneous, and page 1 of Photos)
• October 22, 2010: Applicant flew to Canada to see Sponsor again, this time for her birthday. She spent three weeks with him while she got to know him better in person, adjusted to his new work schedule while staying at his house with him, and became closer to his family. (see pages 3,4 of Travel)
• February 4, 2010: Sponsor visited Applicant in North Carolina for the first time. He met her sister and nephew over brunch, and parents over dinner. Applicant also showed him around her hometown a bit. (see pages 5-7 of Travel and page 4 of Miscellaneous)
• March 8, 2011: Applicant moved to ****, Canada to live with Sponsor and his family after her work visa for her job transfer, was approved. (see page 8 of Travel, page 7 of Miscellaneous, and page 2 of Everyday Living)
• May 5, 2011: We moved out of sponsor's parents' house, and got our first apartment together. (see pages 3-7 of Everyday Living)
• August 27, 2011: We attended sponsor's cousin's wedding together. (see page 3 of Photos)
• December 25, 2011: We celebrated our first Christmas together in person. (see back side of page 12 in Miscellaneous)
• May 1, 2012: We took our first vacation together and travelled to Jamaica for eight beautiful days in the Caribbean sun. (see pages 10-12 of Travel and page 5 of Photos)