Proof of Intent / Self-Employeed / Certified vs. Notarized

[mapleleaf27]

Hello All!

Hope that anyone who is reading this is well and that their immigration is going smoothly.

My wife and I are currently filling out paperwork and gathering documents for a spousal sponsorship (I'm Canadian and she is American) and we are a little confused on a couple of things.

Proof of Intent: We are both living together in the US (married) and I'm sponsoring her from here (out land) and we need to prove intent to move when she gets approved.
We've been told apartment searches and job searches, which seems weird since by the time they see our applications, those jobs are homes will be gone.
Also I'm having my family in Canada write letters saying they will support us emotionally, and financially if they can. Does anyone know of more ways we can show we are definitely going to move when they give us the OK?

Which brings me to my second part, I'm self-employed, and I want to bring my business up to Canada when we move, so I can't really prove I have employment there, because my business isn't there until we move, which won't be till we get approved. So how can I show proof of employment? I've been keeping all emails I've sent inquiring about work spaces and clients (I have a furniture company) Are there better ways to prove this?

And lastly, does anyone in the US know how to "certify" a copy? The wording is different for both countries and even in the states it varies state by state.
But they want copies of our marriage license, passports, and birth certificates. Do we need to contact these institutions and get copies of the copies they have? haha! I know its confusing but thats almost what it seems?
We have the original passports (obviously) and birth certificates, but if we just get black and white photocopies of those things, is getting them notarized enough? Is there a way to make them "certified?"

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Good luck to all!

 

[canadianwoman]

The country guide for the USA does not state that copies have to be certified, so sending in copies of your marriage license, birth certificates, and passports will be fine. They don't have to be certified or notarized. (If they are not in English or French, then yes, they have to be translated and certified - the translator will do this, if he or she is a certified translator.)

Think of everything you will have to do to leave the USA and re-establish in Canada. Write a letter explaining your plan, and include it in the application with any evidence you have. Letters from family and friends about your plans will help. Job and apartment searches will help. Showing what you are doing to leave the USA, such as shipping things back to Canada, will be useful. You can explain about your self-employment and show evidence you are planning to relocate.