Sponsoring US Husband - Question about Document Checklist - Sponsor

[tavora]

Hi all,

My US husband and I were married here in BC at the end of April, so now we begin the long process of getting him here to Canada - he is back in the US and we will go the outland route. If I had realized that the Canadian process requires all the documentation up front (including his medical and police certificates), I would have started working on this before the wedding, so I'm a little mad at myself now as we're going to be delayed even further with the FBI clearance wait times.

Just a few questions about the Document Checklist. If there are documents that do not apply, do you leave the checkboxes blank or do you write N/A?

Also, #19 asks about evidence of other income, pay stubs, etc. I understand that spousal sponsorship doesn't have a minimum income requirement. If I get my Option C Printout and a letter from my employer stating my salary, hours per week and employment, do I also need to provide any documentation for 19 (interest, investment income)? Or can I skip that part?

Thanks for your help.

T.

 

[rjessome]

Hi all,

My US husband and I were married here in BC at the end of April, so now we begin the long process of getting him here to Canada - he is back in the US and we will go the outland route. If I had realized that the Canadian process requires all the documentation up front (including his medical and police certificates), I would have started working on this before the wedding, so I'm a little mad at myself now as we're going to be delayed even further with the FBI clearance wait times.

Just a few questions about the Document Checklist. If there are documents that do not apply, do you leave the checkboxes blank or do you write N/A?

Also, #19 asks about evidence of other income, pay stubs, etc. I understand that spousal sponsorship doesn't have a minimum income requirement. If I get my Option C Printout and a letter from my employer stating my salary, hours per week and employment, do I also need to provide any documentation for 19 (interest, investment income)? Or can I skip that part?

Thanks for your help.

T.

1. Leave it blank or write N/A. Both are fine.
2. All you need is the Option C and employer letter.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Hi all,

My US husband and I were married here in BC at the end of April, so now we begin the long process of getting him here to Canada - he is back in the US and we will go the outland route. If I had realized that the Canadian process requires all the documentation up front (including his medical and police certificates), I would have started working on this before the wedding, so I'm a little mad at myself now as we're going to be delayed even further with the FBI clearance wait times.

Congratulations your recent wedding!

Consider using an FBI channeler (and in parellel sending the prints to the FBI). That way you can mail a complete application in a matter of days to them with the results from the channeler. I would still consider seding the prints to the FBI in Virginia because we don't yet have confirmation that the channeler option will definitely be accepted and the call center seems to have been giving conflicting responses. Therefore, you'll have the FBI generated version without delays if they end up asking you for it but can mail your application without delay now.

On your other questions:
- Personally, I'd take the time to add in n/a's although I know others haven't done so
- You don't need to add in anything from the second section (pays tubs, etc) if you submit Option C printout

Also, you are aware that your husband could visit you in Canada even while applying Outland, right? He just can't work and can't actually move yet but as an American he's visa exempt and is lucky enough to usually be able to visit you. If the application takes longer than 6 months (or whatever length of stay he is granted when he arrives), he can apply to extend his stay.

 

[tavora]

Congratulations your recent wedding!

Consider using an FBI channeler (and in parellel sending the prints to the FBI). That way you can mail a complete application in a matter of days to them with the results from the channeler. I would still consider seding the prints to the FBI in Virginia because we don't yet have confirmation that the channeler option will definitely be accepted and the call center seems to have been giving conflicting responses. Therefore, you'll have the FBI generated version without delays if they end up asking you for it but can mail your application without delay now.

Thank you! Unfortunately he's just sent in his FBI check to Virginia today, expedited mail .. all we can do is hope that we receive his police certificate faster than anticipated.

On your other questions:
- Personally, I'd take the time to add in n/a's although I know others haven't done so
- You don't need to add in anything from the second section (pays tubs, etc) if you submit Option C printout

Also, you are aware that your husband could visit you in Canada even while applying Outland, right? He just can't work and can't actually move yet but as an American he's visa exempt and is lucky enough to usually be able to visit you. If the application takes longer than 6 months (or whatever length of stay he is granted when he arrives), he can apply to extend his stay.

Thanks for your tips/advice! Yes, we know he can come visit for up to 6 months, but he would prefer to be able to continue to working while we go through the process .. so we're back to visiting (mostly me flying to see him as I have significantly more vacation time than he does). It really sucks to be newly married and still doing the long distance thing, but we've made it this far, we can manage awhile longer.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Thank you! Unfortunately he's just sent in his FBI check to Virginia today, expedited mail .. all we can do is hope that we receive his police certificate faster than anticipated.

My pleasure If the rest of the application is complete and he can get to a FBI channeler you could have it in a matter of days (it's a good thing you mailed the other one off - as I mentioned there's a bit of uncertainty around how they'll consider the channeler certificates but this way you could have a complete application sent off)

Thanks for your tips/advice! Yes, we know he can come visit for up to 6 months, but he would prefer to be able to continue to working while we go through the process .. so we're back to visiting (mostly me flying to see him as I have significantly more vacation time than he does). It really sucks to be newly married and still doing the long distance thing, but we've made it this far, we can manage awhile longer.

Completely understandable. You can do it!!! And, think about how special it will be when you 'only' have one home!

 

[tavora]

My pleasure If the rest of the application is complete and he can get to a FBI channeler you could have it in a matter of days (it's a good thing you mailed the other one off - as I mentioned there's a bit of uncertainty around how they'll consider the channeler certificates but this way you could have a complete application sent off)

I've been reading conflicting reports about using an FBI channeler and whether CIC will accept the results from a channeler. Would you go through a channeler and send off the results with the application package and then forward the actual FBI police certificate when it arrives? It's hard to know what to do.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[OhCanadiana]

I've been reading conflicting reports about using an FBI channeler and whether CIC will accept the results from a channeler. Would you go through a channeler and send off the results with the application package and then forward the actual FBI police certificate when it arrives? It's hard to know what to do.

Thanks for the encouragement.

If the rest of your application is done, I would submit the channeler results with the package now and wait to see if they request the actual FBI letter if/when they request it from the visa office (or if you prefer once your file is in the visa office with an explanation but it may just cause more questions).

If they don't accept the channeler version and ask you for the FBI one later, you may be delayed a couple ofmdays while they e-mail you the request and you mail them the police certificate, but if you wait for it you are delaying the process longer than that now anyway.

 

[rjessome]

I've been reading conflicting reports about using an FBI channeler and whether CIC will accept the results from a channeler. Would you go through a channeler and send off the results with the application package and then forward the actual FBI police certificate when it arrives? It's hard to know what to do.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Send a cover letter explaining that the FBI report is coming and you will send it to Buffalo as soon as your sponsorship has been approved and you receive the file number from Buffalo. They WILL want it but it doesn't need to slow anything down. Just make sure you WAIT until you get the file number from Buffalo so they know which file to attach it to.

 

[gumfactor]

This should be very helpful information for everyone. I just wrote CIC and asked them if an FBI-channeler report would be accepted. The extremely enlightening answer follows.

My question:

Hello there,

I am a Canadian citizen, trying to sponsor my American wife for permanent residency. As part of the process she requires an FBI records check. According to the FBI website, there are several ways that this can be done: the FBI can be contacted directly, and will take between 16-18 weeks to process, or FBI-approved channelers can perform the records check, in 2-5 business days.

The CIC website says that the records letter must be the original, and that photocopies will not be accepted. But it is unclear as to whether original letters from the FBI-approved channelers will be accepted. Could you please advise?

Thanks,
Matt

Their answer:

Dear Madam/Sir:
Thank you for your email.
For information on immigrating to Canada, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website.
Thank you for your interest in Canada.

Regards,
Case Processing Pilot - Ottawa | Centre de Traitement Pilote - Ottawa - 121


It's good to see that our government is so helpful. Sheesh.

 

[rjessome]

This should be very helpful information for everyone. I just wrote CIC and asked them if an FBI-channeler report would be accepted. The extremely enlightening answer follows.

My question:

Hello there,

I am a Canadian citizen, trying to sponsor my American wife for permanent residency. As part of the process she requires an FBI records check. According to the FBI website, there are several ways that this can be done: the FBI can be contacted directly, and will take between 16-18 weeks to process, or FBI-approved channelers can perform the records check, in 2-5 business days.

The CIC website says that the records letter must be the original, and that photocopies will not be accepted. But it is unclear as to whether original letters from the FBI-approved channelers will be accepted. Could you please advise?

Thanks,
Matt

Their answer:

Dear Madam/Sir:
Thank you for your email.
For information on immigrating to Canada, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.
Thank you for your interest in Canada.

Regards,
Case Processing Pilot - Ottawa | Centre de Traitement Pilote - Ottawa - 121


It's good to see that our government is so helpful. Sheesh.

Yeah. But the thing is that IF CIC was willing to accept a channeler report, they would state it on their website. If it's not there, it's not acceptable. They just expect everyone to follow the instructions as given.

 

[computergeek]

Yeah. But the thing is that IF CIC was willing to accept a channeler report, they would state it on their website. If it's not there, it's not acceptable. They just expect everyone to follow the instructions as given.

Sadly, however, the CIC website sometimes says things that are not true or run contrary to law. Other times, their site just hasn't been updated recently and is out-of-date. That is why it is useful to find out about the experience of others.

For this specific point, someone else has recently had their channeler copy rejected: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/los-angeles-visa-office-applicants-check-in-here-t107613.0.html;msg1688022#msg1688022

 

[rjessome]

Sadly, however, the CIC website sometimes says things that are not true or run contrary to law. Other times, their site just hasn't been updated recently and is out-of-date. That is why it is useful to find out about the experience of others.

For this specific point, someone else has recently had their channeler copy rejected: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/los-angeles-visa-office-applicants-check-in-here-t107613.0.html;msg1688022#msg1688022

Operational Bulletins are up-to-the-minute. I agree that some embassy/consulate websites are not updated as quickly as they should be. However, accepting a channeler would require a change in procedure. Those are done by OBs so that portion of the CIC website is always up to date. It's how the public, legal profession AND the visa offices are made aware of changes. Of course, program managers are also advised of changes to ensure their staff is apprised as well.

 

[computergeek]

Operational Bulletins are up-to-the-minute. I agree that some embassy/consulate websites are not updated as quickly as they should be. However, accepting a channeler would require a change in procedure. Those are done by OBs so that portion of the CIC website is always up to date. It's how the public, legal profession AND the visa offices are made aware of changes. Of course, program managers are also advised of changes to ensure their staff is apprised as well.

I have personally found portions of the main CIC website that are contrary to the underlying law - with personal effect. Further, I've found that individual visa offices are not particularly good at following the law OR their own written requirements. But of course, your mileage may vary.