Sponsoring my Korean wife for permanent residency

[bartjones]

Question 1.) Filling in the Blanks

I'm going through now and typing up all the applications, the instructions say I should write "NA or Not Applicable" for any blanks?

Am I to assume that I need to fill out EVERY SINGLE blank box with an "NA?" (or only when stated?)

Yes, unless otherwise instructed to by the form itself you should type N/A.

Question 2.) Korean Won vs. Canadian Dollar


Filling out my Sponsorship Evaluation and Sponsor Questionnaire.. they are asking for income? Did you convert it to Canadian dollars? or did you use Korean Won? I guess my question is, conversion will always leave a little inaccuracy, so how accurate do I need to be?

I used Korean won. I don't think it's too important since there is no minimum income requirement if you're only sponsoring a spouse.

Question 3.) Sponsor Questionnaire Question 8 (list the places you've lived at, if you have lived outside of Canada)

Do I need to list ALL the places I've lived? like, ever? I'm guessing I've lived in about 10 different places outside of Canada!

Yes.

Question 4.) Sponsor Questionnaire Question 11 (proof of intention to live in Canada)

We'll be living with my folks, while I shop for places to live and job hunt (unless I score a skype interview or something from here) Will a letter from my parents suffice stating that we'll be staying with them until we find our feet?

Yes, this is a very good idea. You can also refer in your covering letter to any efforts you may have already made to search for work or accommodation on the internet and reference websites you visited for that purpose.

Question 5.) Interview

On the general application for my wife, there is an "interview language" selection. She speaks English fine, and doesn't want to complicate things by adding her native language (Korean, in which she'd have to select "yes" for a translator), but she's a little worried that the interview questions might be beyond her English fluency depth? Any insight on this?

I had the same concern for my wife. It seemed to me that if we ever got to the point that CIC requested an interview it would be because they had some serious concerns with our application. In those circumstances I would want my wife to be able to answer any questions as accurately and completely as possible, so I requested a Korean interpreter.

Question 6.) #14 on the checklist "Photocopy of your marriage certificate, IF you have a co-signer and he or she is your spouse

I'm doing this application without my wife as a co-signer, do I still need to submit some sort of documentation to cover this base?

I could never see where the Marriage Certificate was a required document. I suspect that this is because the "Family Relation Certificate" is the Korean equivalent of a Marriage Certificate. Nonetheless, I assume that you registered your marriage and went to the Canadian Embassy, etc and ended up with two documents, one of which was titled "Marriage Certificate". I would include those documents. They are proof that you were indeed married and can substantiate that your marriage is real, so throw them in anyway.

Question 7.) Forms that don't apply to us

Do I still need to fill out these and write "N/A" on all of them? that is probably a dumb question. But no harm in asking right?

Which forms are you referring to?

Question 8.) "Additional Dependents / Declaration (IMM 008DEP)" #8 on the checklist. It's just me, sponsoring my wife. Does she need to fill out this form?

You don't need to submit this form as you have no additional dependents.

Question 9.) Schedule A - Background / Declaration form(s)

Only my wife does this (principal applicant) OR should we BOTH do this form?

I assume you're talking about IMM5669. Only your wife needs to complete that form.

 

[Marticus]

Quote
Question 7.) Forms that don't apply to us

Do I still need to fill out these and write "N/A" on all of them? that is probably a dumb question. But no harm in asking right? Smiley

Which forms are you referring to?

I think I figured out the quotes thing. haha. Does this bump up my status from Newbie?

Anyways, thank you again! The specific forms I am talking about are: IM 1283 (Financial Evaluation), IMM 5476 (Use of Representative) and IMM 5409 (Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union). As I'm writing this, I realize it's a dumb question, but I'm assuming just every document that is on the document checklist that does NOT apply to us, we skip and do not do?


Question #2.) "Present"

Filling out my employment info, it asks for an end date, which is fine for older jobs, but I'm wondering what do i do if i am still CURRENTLY employed at a job? Leave that blank? or just put today's date? perhaps a future date of when I 'think' I'll be leaving? (as the pdf file will allow me to)

Question #3.) "IMM5540 - Sponsor Questionnaire

Right under the very last question (#17) it says "On a seperate piece of paper, provide any additional details of your current relationship that you believe would help prove your relationship is genuine and continuing"

Could you give me some examples of 'additional details', please ?

Question #4.) Again, this Sponsor Questinnaire! Phone Numbers?

I've forgotten and don't have a record of some international phone numbers I had while I was living overseas, in 2003? Do I just make a note of this and explain that I have forgotten? big deal?

 

[bartjones]

I think I figured out the quotes thing. haha. Does this bump up my status from Newbie?

Congratulations, lol. Pretty soon you'll be an old pro at this.

Anyways, thank you again! The specific forms I am talking about are: IM 1283 (Financial Evaluation), IMM 5476 (Use of Representative) and IMM 5409 (Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union). As I'm writing this, I realize it's a dumb question, but I'm assuming just every document that is on the document checklist that does NOT apply to us, we skip and do not do?

Correct. You don't need to complete those.

Question #2.) "Present"

Filling out my employment info, it asks for an end date, which is fine for older jobs, but I'm wondering what do i do if i am still CURRENTLY employed at a job? Leave that blank? or just put today's date? perhaps a future date of when I 'think' I'll be leaving? (as the pdf file will allow me to)

I left it blank and then hand wrote the word "present" into the box after printing it out.

Question #3.) "IMM5540 - Sponsor Questionnaire

Right under the very last question (#17) it says "On a seperate piece of paper, provide any additional details of your current relationship that you believe would help prove your relationship is genuine and continuing"

Could you give me some examples of 'additional details', please ?

I included a separate covering letter that just explained the history of how we met, how we got married, trips we had taken together, and the fact the we had resided continuously together since getting married. Since you and your wife are legally married this is less of an issue for you than if you were in a common law situation. Just explain the history of your relationship up to the present in 3 or 4 paragraphs and you should be fine.

Question #4.) Again, this Sponsor Questionnaire! Phone Numbers?

I've forgotten and don't have a record of some international phone numbers I had while I was living overseas, in 2003? Do I just make a note of this and explain that I have forgotten? big deal?

Yeah, I had the same problem. I just typed in "Can't recall phone number'.

 

[Marticus]

bartjones, you are an absolute legend! thank you so much for all your support!

Question 1.)

I have provided under the "other" category on the Sponsor Questionnaire, a "Letter of Support" which my parents have mailed a hard copy to me (yet to arrived). I couldn't provide a job offer, a rental agreement etc, as none of this has happened yet. Will this Letter of Support be enough to show my "intention" to return / live in Canada? (this is specifically for the Sponsor Questionnaire)

Question 2.)

Ties in with Question 1.) Further down the document checklist, asks for proof of intention to live in Canada. I want to use the same Letter of Support. Will this suffice? and if so, is it okay just to copy that same letter and insert it there, too? Or should I have ANOTHER hard copy letter sent from my parents, who say they will back us financially, let us stay with them etc, until we get ourselves settled back home?

Question 3.)

How many photos should I provide? Is there a set limit? too much or too little? I was going to print them off on a 8.5 x 11 piece of photo paper (2 per sheet) with all the details typed from microsoft word, underneath each photo. Will this be acceptable?

Question 4.)

I've went through all the documents and typed in "N/A" on every place that will allow (sections that don't apply to me, that is). The date sections won't let me type it in. Should I hand-write those ones in, post-printing, or is it fine to leave those date sections blank? (sorry for the super OCD questions here, just want to be as accurate as humanly possible!)

Question 5.)

Any supplementary sheets I have typed, I have followed the directions of labeling: Name, Form, Question Number.... should I be signing and dating these documents, too?

Question 6.)

On the Document Checklist, 7 through 12 are to be filled out by my wife, correct? Soley, my wife? because some of the instructions seem to state that we are to fill out one EACH? Can you clarify for me what you did? THank you again for everything! I'm quite confused on this one, in particular the IMM5406 form (additional family information) and the IMM5669 form (Schedule A: Background / Declaration)? just her, or 2 forms (1 for me, 1 for her?)

Question 7.)

My wife is filling out the "Schedule A - Background / Declaration" for addresses, she lived with me unofficially for about a year before we got engaged. However, (document-wise, she officially lived (according to her ID card) at her parent's house. Which would we go with?

Question 8.)

This one my wife is stuck on, the Sponsor Questionnaire "Did you sponsor (me) have to travel to your country to get married?"

Well, yes and no. Technically, I already lived and worked in Korea, but technically I am not living in Canada... how did you answer that one?

 

[bartjones]

Question 1.)

I have provided under the "other" category on the Sponsor Questionnaire, a "Letter of Support" which my parents have mailed a hard copy to me (yet to arrived). I couldn't provide a job offer, a rental agreement etc, as none of this has happened yet. Will this Letter of Support be enough to show my "intention" to return / live in Canada? (this is specifically for the Sponsor Questionnaire)

Question 2.)

Ties in with Question 1.) Further down the document checklist, asks for proof of intention to live in Canada. I want to use the same Letter of Support. Will this suffice? and if so, is it okay just to copy that same letter and insert it there, too? Or should I have ANOTHER hard copy letter sent from my parents, who say they will back us financially, let us stay with them etc, until we get ourselves settled back home?

What I typed in both of those boxes was "See Attached Covering Letter and Supporting Documents". I then included a two page covering letter that explained (among other things) my plans to return to Canada and what efforts I had already made to set those plans in motion, like looking online at rental properties and used cars as well as employment websites where I had perused available jobs in my field. In that covering letter I also referred to the letter I had from my mom indicating that she knew we were coming back to Canada and were welcome to stay with her until we could find suitable accommodation. I included one copy of the original letter. You don't need to include two.

So, in answer to your question, just prepare the covering letter and include the original letter of support from your folks.

Question 3.)

How many photos should I provide? Is there a set limit? too much or too little? I was going to print them off on a 8.5 x 11 piece of photo paper (2 per sheet) with all the details typed from microsoft word, underneath each photo. Will this be acceptable?

There is no set limit. I think I included about 40 pics covering the whole length of our relationship. Other folks here included more. It's really up to you. You'll probably want to include some pics of you together before you got married, some wedding pics, some pics of you together after you were married up to the present. You want to show your whole relationship without boring the VO to tears, lol.

I think your proposed method for compiling them will be fine. I think it's wise to number the photos since you will probably want to refer to them in your applications and covering letters. For example, in the Sponsored Spouse Questionnaire IMM5490, Question 9, describing the development of your relationship, my wife typed "here is how we met and started dating (See photos 1-6), this is how we got married (see photos 7-22) and here are things we had done together since, like traveling (see photos 33-41)". I think that approach makes it easier for the VO to follow along.

Question 4.)

I've went through all the documents and typed in "N/A" on every place that will allow (sections that don't apply to me, that is). The date sections won't let me type it in. Should I hand-write those ones in, post-printing, or is it fine to leave those date sections blank? (sorry for the super OCD questions here, just want to be as accurate as humanly possible!)

I'm not sure what sections of which docs you mean, but if you've typed N/A somewhere in a section, I would think that would be enough.

Question 5.)

Any supplementary sheets I have typed, I have followed the directions of labeling: Name, Form, Question Number.... should I be signing and dating these documents, too?

I'm not sure what you mean by "supplementary sheets".

If you mean that you are preparing a separate sheet every time you want to respond to a question in the application forms with additional information, I think your application will be better organized by just providing all the additional information in a single covering letter with numbered paragraphs and referring the VO to the particular paragraph in the covering letter when necessary. So for example, on the form, where you are providing additional info in response to a particular question, you can just type in the box "See Covering Letter Para. x".

Question 6.)

On the Document Checklist, 7 through 12 are to be filled out by my wife, correct? Soley, my wife? because some of the instructions seem to state that we are to fill out one EACH? Can you clarify for me what you did? THank you again for everything! I'm quite confused on this one, in particular the IMM5406 form (additional family information) and the IMM5669 form (Schedule A: Background / Declaration)? just her, or 2 forms (1 for me, 1 for her?)

Yes, docs 7-12 are only for your wife to complete including IMM5406.

Question 7.)

My wife is filling out the "Schedule A - Background / Declaration" for addresses, she lived with me unofficially for about a year before we got engaged. However, (document-wise, she officially lived (according to her ID card) at her parent's house. Which would we go with?

Go with her parents house. It's easier to document if an issue ever arose.

Question 8.)

This one my wife is stuck on, the Sponsor Questionnaire "Did you sponsor (me) have to travel to your country to get married?"

Well, yes and no. Technically, I already lived and worked in Korea, but technically I am not living in Canada... how did you answer that one?

I'm assuming you were living in Korea at the time you were married. If so, the answer is "no".

 

[Marticus]

bartjones, Happy New Year!

Question 1.)

My wife in near completion of her IMM0008 document (general application) with the exception to ONE box... "expiry date for her National Identity card" There is NOT one. Just write "no expiry date?" Will that suffice?

Question 2.)

On those automatic validation forms (IMM008 for my wife, IMM1344 for me) it will NOT let me type in "N/A" on the empty boxes. Did you go through after and write them in? Or did you leave those forms as they were? (leaving boxes empty that you were unable to type in)

 

[bartjones]

bartjones, Happy New Year!

you too.

Question 1.)

My wife in near completion of her IMM0008 document (general application) with the exception to ONE box... "expiry date for her National Identity card" There is NOT one. Just write "no expiry date?" Will that suffice?

yes, that will be fine.

Question 2.)

On those automatic validation forms (IMM008 for my wife, IMM1344 for me) it will NOT let me type in "N/A" on the empty boxes. Did you go through after and write them in? Or did you leave those forms as they were? (leaving boxes empty that you were unable to type in)

You should write n/a in any boxes that don't apply. You don't need to worry about writing anything in the boxes that are shaded gray. They are shaded that color automatically because they have no application.

 

[Marticus]

Alright, I've moved onto APPENDIX A (the "General Asia) stuff...

Question 1: I'm looking at the document checklist here, and some of the forms overlap (IMM0008, IMM 5669 etc) I'm assuming I do NOT need to print out 2 copies of these forms correct? (as in, if I have one original copy of each of these forms, from the previous "regular" document checklist, that will be okay?

Question 2: Are there any other appendices, or extra forms I'm missing here? (I've followed the 27 points listed on the original checklist PLUS the Appendix A checklist. No hidden forms or secret "did he read those instructions carefully enough" tests?

Question 3: Travel Documents, Birth certificates etc as asked in Appendix A... for both of us? or just my wife?

 

[CanNZ]

Still no news on my end, how about anyone else?

 

[bartjones]

Question 1: I'm looking at the document checklist here, and some of the forms overlap (IMM0008, IMM 5669 etc) I'm assuming I do NOT need to print out 2 copies of these forms correct? (as in, if I have one original copy of each of these forms, from the previous "regular" document checklist, that will be okay?

Correct

Question 2: Are there any other appendices, or extra forms I'm missing here? (I've followed the 27 points listed on the original checklist PLUS the Appendix A checklist. No hidden forms or secret "did he read those instructions carefully enough" tests?

That's it.

Question 3: Travel Documents, Birth certificates etc as asked in Appendix A... for both of us? or just my wife?

Just your wife.

 

[bartjones]

Still no news on my end, how about anyone else?

I got a request for some additional documents regarding my wife's DUI. I'm sending the request forms off to Korea tomorrow. The docs should be in Manila by the end of next week. More waiting after that I presume.

 

[CanNZ]

Hey bartjones

What forms did you use to get the visitor record for your wife?

 

[Marticus]

Hi everyone!

More Questions! Sorry!:

1.) Photos, I don't have the date and time embedded into the digital photos... does this pose a problem, or is it okay to simply mention the date in the captions below (my example caption: "date taken, location taken, who's in the photos, what was happening")

2.) payment, I'm a little confused on the payment amount? Can anyone give me the total price, and the best way to go about paying? online??

 

[bartjones]

Hey bartjones

What forms did you use to get the visitor record for your wife?

You can find them here

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp

 

[bartjones]

1.) Photos, I don't have the date and time embedded into the digital photos... does this pose a problem, or is it okay to simply mention the date in the captions below (my example caption: "date taken, location taken, who's in the photos, what was happening")

That should be fine.

2.) payment, I'm a little confused on the payment amount? Can anyone give me the total price, and the best way to go about paying? online??

You will want to pay for;

1. Sponsorship application $75
2. Principal applicant $475
3. Right of Permanent Residence Fee $490

Total is $1040. Online payment is easiest.