m77m7 said:
My confusion is really about how to organize all the docs/evidence because there are 2 checklists:
Appendix A - covers the spouse docs and evidence, nothing about sponsor's IMM forms
IMM 5491 - covers everything including the sponsor's docs. (/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5491E.pdf), but in the docs, they say to provide evidence on separate paper. If you add the extra evidence after the IMM form (and label it as evidence for the IMM form), then it breaks the "bundling" and order of Appendix A.
Both of these checklists have things in different orders so it's really confusing how to organize it
There are any number of ways to organize the application. The most important thing is to include all of the required documents.
This is certainly not the only way to do it but one of the more common ways to do it is as follows. Get 3 manila envelopes and label them as follows
Envelope 1.
Sponsor's Application and Supporting Documents.
In this envelope you will include all of the sponsor's forms as well as the documents the sponsor is required to submit, as listed on IMM 5491. If you want to provide additional documentation over and above what the document checklist requires (e.g. letters from family indicating that you plan to return to Canada, job offers, leases, etc.) you can include them here.
If you want to provide additional explanations for any of the questions asked in the sponsor's forms, you can also include a covering letter here explaining all of that information.
Envelope 2. Principal Applicant's Application and Supporting Documents
In this envelope you will include all of the principal applicant's forms as well as the documents the principal applicant is required to submit as listed on IMM5491 or Appendix A in the Country Specific Guide. If the principal applicant has additional documents they wish to include over and above what is required in the document checklist or Appendix A in the country specific guide, you can include them here.
If the principal applicant wants to provide additional information in response to the questions in the principal applicant's forms, you can include that in a covering letter in this envelope.
Envelope 3.
Photos and other Additional Documents
Here you can include your photos and any other documents you want to throw in.
As I said, that's not the only way to do it. In this thread alone, people have done it a number of different ways and been successful. I think the main thing is to be sure you have submitted all of the documents required by the two checklists. If you've done that, no matter how it's organized, CIC seems to be able to figure out the rest.
I wouldn't worry too much about it being somewhat "out of order". CIC will sort it out, if it's all there.
Hope that helps.