Questions re: Sponsor Questionnaire IMM 5540

[ardie514]

Hi all, just looking for some assistance while completing the Sponsor Questionnaire, IMM 5540. Quick background, husband and I are American (both born and raised there). His parents were born in Canada and therefore he now has Canadian citizenship by descent. We are currently living/working in Australia, but will be moving to Canada next year as husband has new job there. Since he has citizenship no issues, however in order for me and our children to move over and work/go to school I believe we need to apply for permanent residence via the Family Sponsorship Visa. So am working on the applications now and have a few questions:

1) Question 8 asks about have you ever lived outside Canada and list all previous addresses and phone numbers. How far back exactly is he expected to list? He's never lived in Canada so every address since birth? He's 43 now so that's a lot of addresses!!!

2) On the bottom of the application it says "On a separate piece of paper, provide any additional details of your current relationship that you believe would help to prove your relationship is genuine and continuing". I understand the reason for the questions, but we've been married for 14 years, have two kids, no previous marriages. Is a copy of our marriage certificate sufficient? I can't even really imagine what else I would need to include. Any advice or suggestions on this? Maybe I'm over thinking it

Many thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[canadianwoman]

Your marriage certificate is not enough.
You have to prove that your relationship is genuine. Clearly, since you have been married for 14 years, and have two children, it should not be difficult to provide such proof.
Submit a sample of photos from the length of your relationship, including some from before you got married. Include proof you have been living together. Show joint finances, such as a mortgage or lease in both names; a house title in both names; joint bank accounts; life insurance; each other named as beneficiaries on wills and for pensions; etc.
You don't need much proof, since you have such a long history together, and also because you are American, but you need some.
The question where it asks you to provide further details is one that does not have to be answered, or only one of you can answer it. I would have both of you answer it - you can each provide a short summary of your relationship in your own words.
He should put his addresses since birth. If he does not remember some of them, he should be as accurate as possible, and explain on an attached sheet that he does not remember certain details. Don't skip periods: instead, put dates and places as accurately as you can, then explain.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Just to make sure, though: such evidence does not need to be included in the sponsor package? Is the sponsor expected to write a letter explaining that relationship evidence can be found in the envelopes marked 'proof or relationship and cohabitation'? Because on the sponsor's questionnaire I don't even see places to write in 'please see envelope X for evidence', like it is possible on the sponsored person's questionnaire...

 

[profiler]

Just to make sure, though: such evidence does not need to be included in the sponsor package? Is the sponsor expected to write a letter explaining that relationship evidence can be found in the envelopes marked 'proof or relationship and cohabitation'? Because on the sponsor's questionnaire I don't even see places to write in 'please see envelope X for evidence', like it is possible on the sponsored person's questionnaire...

The questionnaire about your relationship states that if you need more space to explain, to use a separate piece of paper. You can also state on there, 'see envelope y'.

We gave an itemised list of what we included and, if pictures, what was depicted.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, so basically it wouldn't be a bad idea to put in a cover letter for the evidence in the application there, both in the sponsor package and in the sponsored person's package, then?

 

[profiler]

Ok, so basically it wouldn't be a bad idea to put in a cover letter for the evidence in the application there, both in the sponsor package and in the sponsored person's package, then?

We did...

 

[ardie514]

Thanks all for your help. Working on gathering all of our documentation etc.