Sponsoring my Korean wife for permanent residency

[seoulcanada]

Hi everyone.

on IMM0008 (korean wife's copy), it says "Immigration office requested".

Now, since she is Korean, it is the Manilla office where it should be going. But since it is saying "requested", can I request it get sent closer? I think I was told earlier (I couldn't find the post just now) that instead of buffalo, they are processing outland applications in Ottawa now.

So, can I request Ottawa? She is in Canada now on 6 months visitor. I understand that if she had to go back in 6 months time, she would have to fly back here just for an interview. We are okay with that. The alternative would be to fly back to Manilla for an interview.

Anyways, assuming we are okay with doing an interview anywhere, is it okay to request ottawa for this form? I also understand they may just send it to manilla anyways?

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi everyone.

on IMM0008 (korean wife's copy), it says "Immigration office requested".

Now, since she is Korean, it is the Manilla office where it should be going. But since it is saying "requested", can I request it get sent closer? I think I was told earlier (I couldn't find the post just now) that instead of buffalo, they are processing outland applications in Ottawa now.

So, can I request Ottawa? She is in Canada now on 6 months visitor. I understand that if she had to go back in 6 months time, she would have to fly back here just for an interview. We are okay with that. The alternative would be to fly back to Manilla for an interview.

Anyways, assuming we are okay with doing an interview anywhere, is it okay to request ottawa for this form? I also understand they may just send it to manilla anyways?

They will just send it to Manila anyways. You would only qualify for Ottawa processing if she had been legally admitted to Canada for a full 1 year. And even then, no matter what you put in the request box, the app will go to wherever CPC-Mississauga decides it should go.

Also note in rare case interview is required, it would be at a visa office in Seoul (even though processed in Manila).

 

[seoulcanada]

Okay thanks, I'll write Manilla.

Did not know that interview would be in Seoul, thanks! We were kind of thinking that if we had to go to Manilla, it would be a chance for vacation (okay, a stressful vacation....)!

 

[Rob_TO]

Okay thanks, I'll write Manilla.

Did not know that interview would be in Seoul, thanks! We were kind of thinking that if we had to go to Manilla, it would be a chance for vacation (okay, a stressful vacation....)!

Yes CIC would not make someone do international travel from their home country, to do an interview. Although perhaps you can even request the interview to be in Manila if you really wanted.

Of course the chance of having an interview with a strong application and visa-exempt applicant... is super small so most likely you won't even have to consider this!

 

[amjad1002]

Hi Rob
i am not korean but living in korea and had applied my case through Manila so if they call me for interview so can we request to CIC to take our interview in korea?

 

[seoulcanada]

Yes CIC would not make someone do international travel from their home country, to do an interview. Although perhaps you can even request the interview to be in Manila if you really wanted.

Of course the chance of having an interview with a strong application and visa-exempt applicant... is super small so most likely you won't even have to consider this!

Hehe, thanks!

Putting our application together and the only weak part is I feel we don't have much communication logs. We've switched cell phone providors, and we both lost access to our past call logs. However, most of our communication is in person or on kakaotalk when we are apart. I only have logs from May of 2013 (lost over a year of logs when I switched phones and forgot to save them). There are 300 pages of logs..(almost every day we have a few messages at least). Not sure if I should just print out some random pages?

Email, we only really email each other to send some pictures or flight itinerary, and we don't skype.

We do have all other documents, wedding photos, photos with friends, lots of photos with family, travel plans together, all the usual stuff.

I may just write something short to explain our main communication is from kakaotalk and include a few random pages of chat.


Also, I only included like two pictures from our wedding ceremony. I felt that adding another 10 photos of the same thing from different angles would just make the officer bored and likely to gloss over some other important photos we had. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Overall I chose about 35-40 pictures. The majority of ones are from dates close to our wedding where my family and her family (parents) all met up and hung out and had various dinners. I felt that was good to show both of our families together.

 

[Marticus]

Hi everyone,

I'm also working through my photos right now, so it's nice to hear other folks doing this now, too.

I have 2 additional qustions about documentation:

1.) "Intent to Move to Canada"

Will one original letter from my parents, saying they will fully support us with lodging and finances, if we need it, upon our arrival.. be sufficient? I'm hearing folks putting in 2 or 3 letters. I'm just wondering if one is okay. I'm near completion of my application, so I'm just wondering if i need to put it off by a week to wait for another couple of letters to arrive from Canada?

Also, what other "official" proof did you provide? I want to make sure the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt here, because we are outta here this September (out of Korea that is). But the fact remains is, I will be looking for work from here (job sites, connections, networking) and the same with housing (kijiji.ca, other sites) but more than probable is, we'll camp out at my folks place until we get an apartment of our own. But how do I prove this, officially, besides a letter from my parents?

2.) I'm doing my application as kind of a weird time for the proof of finances portion (although I realize I can be unemployed when i apply!) but just want to make sure my bases are covered. Since 2013 is over BUT my Korean tax stuff isn't completed (I believe the end of January is when my university does it for us), I've provided the following:

1.) 2012 tax return for Korea
2.) 2013 statement of earnings
3.) my last 12 paystubs for 2013

Will this suffice?

Thanks everyone,

Happy New Year!

 

[seoulcanada]

My wife got her immigration photos done in Korea, and submitted one or two with her medical. However we have forgot all the pictures in Korea. We just took new immigration photos, but they are different from what was included with the medical!

I'll write an explanation for this, anything else I should do?

 

[bartjones]

Also, I only included like two pictures from our wedding ceremony. I felt that adding another 10 photos of the same thing from different angles would just make the officer bored and likely to gloss over some other important photos we had. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Overall I chose about 35-40 pictures. The majority of ones are from dates close to our wedding where my family and her family (parents) all met up and hung out and had various dinners. I felt that was good to show both of our families together.

It's just my personal take, but I'd include at least 10 photos of the wedding. The fact that you were legally married in a formal ceremony goes a long way towards assuaging any concerns CIC may have about the genuineness of your relationship. The presence of a limited number of photos of the wedding ceremony could raise concerns in the mind of the VO.

My wife got her immigration photos done in Korea, and submitted one or two with her medical. However we have forgot all the pictures in Korea. We just took new immigration photos, but they are different from what was included with the medical!

The photos for the medical and the photos included in your application don't have to be the exact same photos. You're fine with the new set.

 

[bartjones]

1.) "Intent to Move to Canada"

Will one original letter from my parents, saying they will fully support us with lodging and finances, if we need it, upon our arrival.. be sufficient? I'm hearing folks putting in 2 or 3 letters. I'm just wondering if one is okay. I'm near completion of my application, so I'm just wondering if i need to put it off by a week to wait for another couple of letters to arrive from Canada?

Also, what other "official" proof did you provide? I want to make sure the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt here, because we are outta here this September (out of Korea that is). But the fact remains is, I will be looking for work from here (job sites, connections, networking) and the same with housing (kijiji.ca, other sites) but more than probable is, we'll camp out at my folks place until we get an apartment of our own. But how do I prove this, officially, besides a letter from my parents?

I included just one letter and had no problem getting sponsorship approval. I'm not sure what "official proof" you're looking for. In my case I just included the letter of support and explained in my covering letter what our plans were and what steps had been taken to implement those plans.

Bear in mind that the "intent to move to Canada" is only one of many factors CIC considers in determining sponsorship eligibility. You don't need to go overboard on that point. Personally, I think what you have already is fine.

2.) I'm doing my application as kind of a weird time for the proof of finances portion (although I realize I can be unemployed when i apply!) but just want to make sure my bases are covered. Since 2013 is over BUT my Korean tax stuff isn't completed (I believe the end of January is when my university does it for us), I've provided the following:

1.) 2012 tax return for Korea
2.) 2013 statement of earnings
3.) my last 12 paystubs for 2013

Will this suffice?

There is no minimum income requirement for you, as you and your wife are legally married. The only required docs on the financial end of things are your letter from your current employer and your Option C. Do you really want to clutter your application with pages and pages of additional financial information that isn't required and of very little relevance?

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi Rob
i am not korean but living in korea and had applied my case through Manila so if they call me for interview so can we request to CIC to take our interview in korea?

If your application is being processed in Manila due to your Korean residence, then any potential interview would be held in Korea.

 

[Rob_TO]

Putting our application together and the only weak part is I feel we don't have much communication logs. We've switched cell phone providors, and we both lost access to our past call logs. However, most of our communication is in person or on kakaotalk when we are apart. I only have logs from May of 2013 (lost over a year of logs when I switched phones and forgot to save them). There are 300 pages of logs..(almost every day we have a few messages at least). Not sure if I should just print out some random pages?

Email, we only really email each other to send some pictures or flight itinerary, and we don't skype.

If you see each other everyday, then you don't really need to worry about communication proof. In our case, we saw each other everyday or lived together, so just stated for communication we talked to each other every day in person so didn't include ANY emails, texts, skypes, phone logs etc.

In your case just including random ones will do. Try to get communication proofs (kakao, emails, texts or phone logs) that date back to the very beginning of the relationship, some from the middle, and some from the present.

Also, I only included like two pictures from our wedding ceremony. I felt that adding another 10 photos of the same thing from different angles would just make the officer bored and likely to gloss over some other important photos we had. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Overall I chose about 35-40 pictures. The majority of ones are from dates close to our wedding where my family and her family (parents) all met up and hung out and had various dinners. I felt that was good to show both of our families together.

I would include more of the wedding itself. As bartjones mentioned, showing a legitimate wedding goes a long was to prove the relationship is real. The more complex and big it is, the better. Try to get wedding pictures of different aspects of the ceremony, and you guys with different family members.

Other pics with you and her family together, is also very good. Make sure to label on each photo exactly who is in each picture. Remember to the VO the more family involvement in the relationship, the less chance there is that its a fraudulent one. With this kind of proof your application should be a very simply one for the VO.

 

[Marticus]

Thanks bartjones,

I have two more quick ones for you:

1.) Additional spacing requirements.

Any time we needed extra space (in my case, addresses overseas on one my forms, and in my wife's case, her 10 year history portion on one of her documents), we used microsoft word, labeled it with the form name, our name and attached it along with the main application form(s) (it mentions that somewhere) but the wording is strange on the Guide to Sponsorship:

"If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and submit it along with your application."

Will using a Word doc, with our own chart (with labels mentioned) be okay? (or do they mean we should print out another application form of the same, and only fill in the additional section(s) required, with our extra information?

2.) Does the letter from my parent's need to be an original? Can my parents sign and scan it over to me? (this is my intent to move supporting document)

thank you!

 

[bartjones]

1.) Additional spacing requirements.

Any time we needed extra space (in my case, addresses overseas on one my forms, and in my wife's case, her 10 year history portion on one of her documents), we used microsoft word, labeled it with the form name, our name and attached it along with the main application form(s) (it mentions that somewhere) but the wording is strange on the Guide to Sponsorship:

"If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and submit it along with your application."

Will using a Word doc, with our own chart (with labels mentioned) be okay? (or do they mean we should print out another application form of the same, and only fill in the additional section(s) required, with our extra information?

The Word doc should be fine so long as you're providing all the info required by the CIC form. You might be wiser to label them as appendices and then, where you have run out of space on the form, just type "See Appendix A", "See Appendix B" etc. It will probably be easier for the VO to follow along than having to search for a lengthy form name and number.

2.) Does the letter from my parent's need to be an original? Can my parents sign and scan it over to me? (this is my intent to move supporting document)

I enclosed the original. I would think you should do the same. It's a pretty important document.

 

[Marticus]

The Word doc should be fine so long as you're providing all the info required by the CIC form. You might be wiser to label them as appendices and then, where you have run out of space on the form, just type "See Appendix A", "See Appendix B" etc. It will probably be easier for the VO to follow along than having to search for a lengthy form name and number.

Thanks very much bartjones! You literally have walked me through this process, we really couldn't have done it without you!

We did it slightly different. We typed out the applications as best as we could. When we ran out of space, we added an additional sheet (Word document) with: Question number, form name, applicant name. We did not write "see form" or "see appendix" on the actual application form, but rather included a cover page for each of the checklist numbers. (For example, the cover page would look like this

1
Application for Sponsorship

Included:

1.) application form; signed and validated
2.) additional page: Question 7
3.) additional page: Question 8
4.) photocopy of XXX

We clipped the cover page to each of the questions on the document checklist. The cover page is actually blue paper. We used standard white A4 paper for everything else, of course, but we felt having blue cover pages would colourcode it (making it easier for the VO to flip through and find the sections)

Good? please say yes


Finally, another questions re: OVERLAP

The Sponsor Question (IMM5490) (#10 on the checklist) asks for documentary proof. I'm assuming that this documentary proof of relationship (photos, plane tickets, phone records, invitations, cards, etc) is the SAME documents required later on for the #25 on the checklist (proof of relationship supporting documents). Am I correct?

I guess, my question is: one set of this proof is fine? if so / if not, how did you organize it when you sent it (did you attach it to the questionaire? or did you just compile all this, and tell the questionnaire to "refer to photo XXX"? Am I on the right track here, just want clarification.

Thank you!