Sponsorship in the family class (from the UK - spouse): questions

[Lyndagiffen]

Hello,
I am a Canadian citizen (by birth) currently living abroad with my British husband in Scotland. We have been married for over 10 years and have 2 natural children both born here in the UK.

I am sponsoring my husband in the family class as my spouse to allow our family to move to Canada, because I really want us to live in Canada again to be near my family. I decided to undertake the writing of this application myself rather than pay extortionate fees to a representative, but am nervous about properly completing it. I have a couple of questions, and am unable to contact anyone at CIC or my Canadian embassy to check before I submit. Is there anyone on this forum that can answer the following:

1) In form IMM0008 (Generic Application form), it asks my husband to list all dependents( so our two children) AND his spouse (me) - it then asks to total up the number of people on the form ( including himself) and put the number in Q.3 - this equals 4, and if I put any other number, the form won't validate properly. There are a couple of issues with this:
firstly, our children are Canadian citizens (by virtue of my birth/citizenship in Canada), they therefore do not need to be sponsored, but I want to ensure I am not paying the fee to sponsor them.
Secondly, when completing form IMM5481 (Sponsor Evaluation), question 5 asks to list the number of people in the undertaking quoted in Q.3 of IMM0008 (which as noted above has to be 4), but question 4 asks me to count myself as a separate person, the totals of the two boxes then add up to 5!! How do I avoid listing myself twice?? I am equally concerned that the form insists that I count our children as persons in the undertaking.

2) We intend to live in Ontario, so do not need to have a certificat de selection du Quebec (CSQ), the form, IMM0008 asks at Q7 whether I have received my CSQ and if not, when I applied - the form does not allow me to write N/A - surely this is the correct response?

3) Since I am sponsoring from abroad, I must prove my intention to return to settle in Canada. As we are choosing to make this move, and in order to allow sufficient processing time for the visa, we are looking to move in the summer of 2015.The forms suggest suitable proof can include: mortgage letters, rental agreements, leases, job offers, acceptance to educational institutions... It is too early to have any of these things in place for a move happening next summer, and when asked what alternate proof can be provided, CIC can only say 'The onus is on the sponsor to prove their intention...'. I am therefore asking if anyone can tell me if what I am providing in place is sufficient:

-Emails to officials in Ottawa areas requesting my sons be put on school and day care lists
-Emails with mortgage brokers enquiring about getting a mortgage arranged next summer
-Email exchanges with realtors to set up search results for potential properties in our price range
-Evidence of a short trip I took to Ottawa this summer to research areas (photos of the trip, receipt from my hotel, car rental agreement, copies of literature gathered from various communities, email exchanges with friends talking about the trip).
-Emails to employment agencies suggesting our intentions next summer and forwarding my CV.
-A letter from my parents (in Montreal) confirming they know of our intentions and offering that we can stay with them until we rent/buy a place ourselves.
-A formal quote from a moving company listing the costs for moving our home contents next summer.

I can't think of anything else I might provide, so any ideas would be much appreciated

4) As proof that our marriage is genuine, I have sent a letter from our mortgage company showing we undertook buying a house together, copies of our marriage certificate, and several photos (approx. 40) of us together over the years: honeymoon, holidays, weddings, our wedding, with our children, of my parents visiting etc (there is also the fact that we have had 2 children together)... Is there also need for me to dig out email exchanges and other paper evidence?

5) IMM5406 Additional information form: The guide asks that the applicant (my spouse) and any member of his family over 18 (myself) fill in their own copy of this form. I know that on his form, he lists himself as the ‘applicant’ and me as his spouse. On my own copy of this form, do I list myself as the ‘applicant’ or once again as the ‘spouse’?

Sorry for such a long note, but I'm sure you all understand, I want to be sure I get things right the first time to avoid delays.

Thanks for any advice and replies.
Lynda

 

[andrew-brit]

1. Remember, these forms are for anyone who wants to become a Permanent Resident of Canada. You are a citizen, as are your 2 children, so the answer is 1 (your husband).

2. Prior to this question, it asks where do you intend to live in Canada. If you select any other province/territory than Quebec, this question is disabled and you do not need to answer it. You plan on living in Ottawa I presume, so this does not apply to you.

3. Yes this is good proof. No one can say if this will be enough to assure CIC of your intentions, but this is very good.

4. I did not include any old e-mails/text messages. Some do, some do not. If you do, do not go overboard, perhaps an e-mail or 2 from every year you have known your husband. The marriage certificate, photos, 2 children etc far outweigh some e-mails in my opinion.

5. Again, these forms are only for people who want PR. The reason it asks for the spouse and the applicant is in applications where the spouse is not sponsoring their partner. Only your husband needs to fill this in.

 

[rhcohen2014]

1. as far as the application is concerned, you and your children are not a part of the application, since you are the sponsor and the children are canadian citizens. therefore, for application purposes, he does not have any dependants. The "spouse" listed on these forms are for when a couple is being sponsored by a third person. for application purposes you are his sponsor, not his spouse. He will need to list all of you on the additional family information form. Therefore, there is only 1 person included in the undertaking, that is your husband.

2. if the form doesn't let you put an n/a, then you can say no, and explain you are not settling in quebec or print out the form and hand write n/a. also, it is not necessary to fill the forms out on the computer, you can handwrite your answers and type up questions that need extra space.

3. yes, all of that is great! i would recommend not specifiying dates for when you plan to return. CIC wants to know you plan to return immediately upon approval, so it's best if your plan is written as assuming an immediate move. approval can happen quicker than expected, and there have been some applicants who run into trouble because their plan was too far in the future.

4. no - you don't need to dig out emails and communications. you considering you have 2 children together, your husband is from a visa exempt country, and you've been married for 10 years, you have a lower threshold for needing to prove your relationship. all you mentioned is fine.

5. you do not need to fill out this form. this form is only for the applicant. Again, you are the sponsor, and not a "family member".

PS... i just settled in Ottawa, so if your husband is interested in learning about the services available to PRs, let me know. there is some awesome stuff here for newcomers!

 

[truesmile]

That's a very good point rhcohen makes about not being specific about dates. Another member here recently was "denied" since their resettlement plan (as suggested) specified dates which were going to fall outside her husband's PR visa validity. She had used those dates solely based on posted timeliness on CIC's website.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

1) In form IMM0008 (Generic Application form), it asks my husband to list all dependents( so our two children) AND his spouse (me) - it then asks to total up the number of people on the form ( including himself) and put the number in Q.3 - this equals 4, and if I put any other number, the form won't validate properly.
Secondly, when completing form IMM5481 (Sponsor Evaluation), question 5 asks to list the number of people in the undertaking quoted in Q.3 of IMM0008 (which as noted above has to be 4), but question 4 asks me to count myself as a separate person, the totals of the two boxes then add up to 5!! How do I avoid listing myself twice?? I am equally concerned that the form insists that I count our children as persons in the undertaking.

As said above, your husband doesn't list you or the children as dependents. You can remove the dependents section from the form. Question 3, the answer is just 1.

For 5481, you include the children in 6b, as other financial dependents. It should look like this:

4) 1
5a) 1
5bi) 0
5bii) 0
5biii) 0
5biv) 0
6a) 0
6b) 2

7) 4

 

[Lyndagiffen]

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful.

I see your points about not planning too far in advance, unfortunately, most of the correspondence I have had with lenders, mortgage brokers etc have specified already a June 2015 move (our son is in school here, and we would not want to disrupt a school year; easier transition on either end for him - plus I KNOW Canadian winters, not a good time of year to move!). Perhaps I could simply add a written letter from myself acknowledging that my correspondence says june 2015 simply so as to specify a timeline for mortgages and schools, but that we would move as soon as the visa was granted??

I recognise the point about the PR visa expiring, but it is my understanding that it is valid until a year after my husbands medical was done (in september 2014).

Looking forward to meeting up in Ottawa next year (hopefully)!

Thanks again,
Lynda

 

[truesmile]

Yes you are correct. You should be fine with that.

Cheers!

 

[brucem]

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful.

I see your points about not planning too far in advance, unfortunately, most of the correspondence I have had with lenders, mortgage brokers etc have specified already a June 2015 move (our son is in school here, and we would not want to disrupt a school year; easier transition on either end for him - plus I KNOW Canadian winters, not a good time of year to move!). Perhaps I could simply add a written letter from myself acknowledging that my correspondence says june 2015 simply so as to specify a timeline for mortgages and schools, but that we would move as soon as the visa was granted??

I recognise the point about the PR visa expiring, but it is my understanding that it is valid until a year after my husbands medical was done (in september 2014).

Looking forward to meeting up in Ottawa next year (hopefully)!

Thanks again,
Lynda

Hi Lynda,

I wasn't sure from your post whether you had applied for citizenship for your children given they were born in the UK? Hopefully you have otherwise you would need to do this as well. Sounds like you were in much the same position as we were a few months ago! We are in Edinburgh so if you need any help give me a shout.

Bruce.

 

[Lyndagiffen]

Hi Bruce,
Our Children are automatically Canadian citizens by virtue of my birth/citizenship (I've had this confirmed by speaking with people at CIC, the Canadian embassy in Edinburgh and Immigration lawyers advice). They will need 'proof' of this, but applying for this is a matter of course that I will do after I get this mammoth of an application away.
Hope all goes well for you!
Lynda

 

[amjad3126]

I sponser my spouse by inland application in early September 2014 and currently she should be on implied status, but at the same time i also applied for her visitor visa. They grant her visitor visa for three months, and her sponsorship application still pending as we can on see July 31, 2013 under process since last few months.

My question is that it will take approximately 1.5 -2 years from now to reach first stage. Is that wise to keep renewing her visa as visitor visa because i am scared if at some time they reject the extension of visitor visa than where should i stay.

She still can stay on implied status.

Please guide me in this regard.

 

[Lyndagiffen]

Hi,
Since I am applying to sponsor my spouse from outside of Canada, the application and processing times are different. Unfortunately, I don't know about Inland applications, so wouldn't be able to advise you. Hopefully someone else on the forum can shed some light.
Good luck,
Lynda

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi Bruce,
Our Children are automatically Canadian citizens by virtue of my birth/citizenship (I've had this confirmed by speaking with people at CIC, the Canadian embassy in Edinburgh and Immigration lawyers advice). They will need 'proof' of this, but applying for this is a matter of course that I will do after I get this mammoth of an application away.
Hope all goes well for you!
Lynda

I suggest you apply for their Certificates of Citizenship now. Those applications can take quite some time to process. Your children are Canadian and they will be able to enter Canada on their UK passports without any problems.

However, you may have issues getting them healthcare without proof of Canadian citizenship.

 

[brucem]

Hi Bruce,
Our Children are automatically Canadian citizens by virtue of my birth/citizenship (I've had this confirmed by speaking with people at CIC, the Canadian embassy in Edinburgh and Immigration lawyers advice). They will need 'proof' of this, but applying for this is a matter of course that I will do after I get this mammoth of an application away.
Hope all goes well for you!
Lynda

Hi Lynda,

Totally correct but just a wee note of caution, when we applied for our daughters citizenship they quoted us a 12-15 month time for the certificate although it only took 4 and the majority of others I have read on here have been much quicker than the quoted time. However, I wouldn't leave it too late otherwise you run the risk of your kids entering Canada as visitors once the COPR is issued as you will need to move before your husbands medical expires, and as they will be on UK passports, as far as I believe they therefore wouldn't qualify for healthcare until you get the citizenship certificates for them. When we received hers they had also spelled her name incorrectly so we had to return it which took another 2 months before we got it back to enable us to apply for her canadian passport. When we spoke to the girl at CIC she said spelling errors were not uncommon!

Given what you were saying you've got plenty of time but just thought I'd make you aware!

Bruce

 

[Lyndagiffen]

Thanks very much for that advice regarding the children. I'll certainly get their certificates on the go once this application is sent in. I suppose worst case scenario, I get the kids travel health insurance until their proof of citizenship comes through. Meant to ask as well - I'm submitting 'visa' style photos of each family member (as requested) so 8 for my husband, 8 for me and 8 for each of my 2 kids - the application doesn't say what, if anything, I should write on the backs of these - what did you write?
Thanks again,
Lynda

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thanks very much for that advice regarding the children. I'll certainly get their certificates on the go once this application is sent in. I suppose worst case scenario, I get the kids travel health insurance until their proof of citizenship comes through. Meant to ask as well - I'm submitting 'visa' style photos of each family member (as requested) so 8 for my husband, 8 for me and 8 for each of my 2 kids - the application doesn't say what, if anything, I should write on the backs of these - what did you write?
Thanks again,
Lynda

if the country specific guide doesn't specifically state to write anything on the back, then it's not necessary. every country has their own rules, so what may be necessary in one country is not in another. as a us applicant i did not write anything or sign the pictures. no issues.