Spousal sponsorship - various questions (medical, intent, finances, etc.)

[Eabie]

I have some questions about sponsoring my British husband for PR status in Canada. A little background about us - we got married in Canada in 2010, and I moved to the UK on a 2-year spousal visa in 2011. We're now considering moving back for various personal reasons. I just have a few questions about the application - though for the most part, it appears *relatively* straightforward... Any help, on any of the questions, is appreciated.

1. One - and this one seems very tricky to me - is how I should go about proving my intention to move back to Canada. The only thing I could think of was a couple emails I got from universities in Canada, because I made inquiries about certain programs (I'd like to become a teacher). Oh, and I could get my parents to write a letter and say that we could live with them temporarily. I thought perhaps I could also tell my employer (this is a little cheeky, perhaps, but it's just an idea) that I plan to move back to Canada next year, and they could mention it in their letter. And I also thought that we could try to open a joint bank account in Canada while we're there later this summer for my brother's wedding (that's assuming we can - I think we can, but have to look into it more). But that's all. I'm not sure that that's enough, especially if we can't open a joint account.

2. Another thing - I don't have an Option C Notice of Assessment thingy. Last year, I moved to the UK and made no income from Canadian sources (and thus didn't pay tax), so I didn't submit a tax return. It is my understanding that under the UK-Canada tax treaty, I was not *resident for tax purposes* in 2011. I did tell the CRA in a letter that I had moved to the UK on a spousal visa to live permanently with my British partner and gave them my new address. Anyway - I'm just going to write a letter explaining as much, and say that I understand that I may have to pay tax on the income I've made from my UK job as a result now that I've changed my mind, plus possible late penalties for my income in 2011. People do change their minds sometimes and my thinking is that just being honest is probably the best policy.

3. When I moved to the UK, my husband and I had to supply lots of bank statements and pay slips to show our ability to support ourselves, plus other documents to show our accommodations were taken care of. It doesn't appear that the Canadian government requests this kind of info for spouses - am I right in thinking that? Should I supply these things anyway?

4. When it says in the document's checklist to supply photocopies, do these need to be certified or just ordinary, plain old photocopies?

5. My husband is supposed to supply passport-style photographs for the medical exam - do these need to be identical to the 8 photographs we submit with the PR application itself (i.e., from the same set)?

Thanks for any help!

 

[parker24]

I have some questions about sponsoring my British husband for PR status in Canada. A little background about us - we got married in Canada in 2010, and I moved to the UK on a 2-year spousal visa in 2011. We're now considering moving back for various personal reasons. I just have a few questions about the application - though for the most part, it appears *relatively* straightforward... Any help, on any of the questions, is appreciated.

1. One - and this one seems very tricky to me - is how I should go about proving my intention to move back to Canada. The only thing I could think of was a couple emails I got from universities in Canada, because I made inquiries about certain programs (I'd like to become a teacher). Oh, and I could get my parents to write a letter and say that we could live with them temporarily. I thought perhaps I could also tell my employer (this is a little cheeky, perhaps, but it's just an idea) that I plan to move back to Canada next year, and they could mention it in their letter. And I also thought that we could try to open a joint bank account in Canada while we're there later this summer for my brother's wedding (that's assuming we can - I think we can, but have to look into it more). But that's all. I'm not sure that that's enough, especially if we can't open a joint account.

All of that is EXACTLY what you need. If you have a job offer in Canada, include that. If you have the application to a school, include that. All of that helps.


2. Another thing - I don't have an Option C Notice of Assessment thingy. Last year, I moved to the UK and made no income from Canadian sources (and thus didn't pay tax), so I didn't submit a tax return. It is my understanding that under the UK-Canada tax treaty, I was not *resident for tax purposes* in 2011. I did tell the CRA in a letter that I had moved to the UK on a spousal visa to live permanently with my British partner and gave them my new address. Anyway - I'm just going to write a letter explaining as much, and say that I understand that I may have to pay tax on the income I've made from my UK job as a result now that I've changed my mind, plus possible late penalties for my income in 2011. People do change their minds sometimes and my thinking is that just being honest is probably the best policy.


Include your tax return from the UK along with the letter as to why you don't have Option C.

3. When I moved to the UK, my husband and I had to supply lots of bank statements and pay slips to show our ability to support ourselves, plus other documents to show our accommodations were taken care of. It doesn't appear that the Canadian government requests this kind of info for spouses - am I right in thinking that? Should I supply these things anyway?


While not required, it shows a committed relationship.


4. When it says in the document's checklist to supply photocopies, do these need to be certified or just ordinary, plain old photocopies?

Unless it SAYS certified, just plain old photocopies!

5. My husband is supposed to supply passport-style photographs for the medical exam - do these need to be identical to the 8 photographs we submit with the PR application itself (i.e., from the same set)?

Not identical, but passport style yes. Please know that they are NOT passport photos, their sizing is very different.

Thanks for any help!

Good luck! I hope I helped a little

 

[truesmile]

Welcome to the forum. Here goes:
1. Seems to me the best way to prove that you want to live in Canada, is to "live" in Canada. Another poster's application, she posted today got rejected because she wasn't living here, (mind you she was PR, not Canadian citizen).
2. Don't get CRA and CIC mixed up, they are not the same agency. I don't see how changing your mind changes your tax situation... you either owe taxes or you don't. I didn't think non-residents like you would have to pay.
3. Yes actually, as a result of not having an Option C thingy, you WILL need to supply those things.
4. If they want 'certified' copies they will say so, otherwise normal copies will do.
5. I don't believe they do, but to be safe the ones we submitted on our application are from the same set.
That's it from me, we'll see what other input comes your way, especially for item #1.

 

[Eabie]

Thanks for the help guys. I've just started nosing into this thing in the last few days and I want to get it sorted as quickly as possible (yeah, right ).

Since I don't have the Option C Notice of Assessment, and thus have to supply bank statements, payslips, and my P60 (annual UK tax statement), is there a minimum for how long I need to have been employed? It says the last 12 months on the website, if I recall correctly, but I assume that's just documentation reaching as far back as that, and that you don't need to have been employed the entire time. I started work last September. (I realize this is probably a stupid question, and I think I know the answer -- but you know how when you embark on one of these journeys, you want to be absolutely sure about *everything*.)

Second - do I need to supply these documents for my husband as well, or is it just my income, as the sponsor, that they want to look at? (For the UK visa, they look at both, but I don't think they do here.)

My other question relates to the one about intent. If the best way to prove that we want to live in Canada is to be in Canada.... can we just move there together before applying, and ask the customs official for a 12-month (instead of 6-month) visitor's visa? I know my husband wouldn't be able to work, and I don't know whether my quitting my UK job and thus being unemployed in Canada (unless I can find a job very fast) would matter. There doesn't appear to be an income requirement from what I can tell, and we'd probably be staying with my parents (or a close friend, as they have a larger extra room). We'd still want to apply to the London office because it's a much faster route, and I seem to recall somebody saying that it didn't matter whether you were inside or outside Canada yourselves, your *application* can still go to the office outside Canada.

But if we do go to Canada... what about the medical? Does that get done over there?

 

[parker24]

Thanks for the help guys. I've just started nosing into this thing in the last few days and I want to get it sorted as quickly as possible (yeah, right ).

Since I don't have the Option C Notice of Assessment, and thus have to supply bank statements, payslips, and my P60 (annual UK tax statement), is there a minimum for how long I need to have been employed? It says the last 12 months on the website, if I recall correctly, but I assume that's just documentation reaching as far back as that, and that you don't need to have been employed the entire time. I started work last September. (I realize this is probably a stupid question, and I think I know the answer -- but you know how when you embark on one of these journeys, you want to be absolutely sure about *everything*.)

Just explain that you started working in September and provide what you can

Second - do I need to supply these documents for my husband as well, or is it just my income, as the sponsor, that they want to look at? (For the UK visa, they look at both, but I don't think they do here.)

Just yours, but it doesn't hurt to include your husbands as well.

My other question relates to the one about intent. If the best way to prove that we want to live in Canada is to be in Canada.... can we just move there together before applying, and ask the customs official for a 12-month (instead of 6-month) visitor's visa? I know my husband wouldn't be able to work, and I don't know whether my quitting my UK job and thus being unemployed in Canada (unless I can find a job very fast) would matter. There doesn't appear to be an income requirement from what I can tell, and we'd probably be staying with my parents (or a close friend, as they have a larger extra room). We'd still want to apply to the London office because it's a much faster route, and I seem to recall somebody saying that it didn't matter whether you were inside or outside Canada yourselves, your *application* can still go to the office outside Canada.

Chances of getting a 12 months is VERY slim. Your husband will only be allowed 6 months, then he can apply for a visitors extension online, he won't have to leave the country. He will have to provide VERY strong ties to the UK, a job, rental lease etc. in order to get into Canada. The best intent is, yes being here, but the other thing is, if you have a job offer, a school offer, whatever, with a start date, that works second best. As long as you apply outland, it doesn't matter if he's in Canada or in the UK

But if we do go to Canada... what about the medical? Does that get done over there?

 

[Isometry]

A few points of clarification:

Welcome to the forum. Here goes:
1. Seems to me the best way to prove that you want to live in Canada, is to "live" in Canada. Another poster's application, she posted today got rejected because she wasn't living here, (mind you she was PR, not Canadian citizen).

A PR cannot sponsor a spouse while not living in Canada. As a PR living in her husband's country, she was ineligible to be a sponsor. If you are a citizen, and can show plans to move back, then you'll be fine.

Since I don't have the Option C Notice of Assessment, and thus have to supply bank statements, payslips, and my P60 (annual UK tax statement), is there a minimum for how long I need to have been employed? It says the last 12 months on the website, if I recall correctly, but I assume that's just documentation reaching as far back as that, and that you don't need to have been employed the entire time. I started work last September. (I realize this is probably a stupid question, and I think I know the answer -- but you know how when you embark on one of these journeys, you want to be absolutely sure about *everything*.)

Second - do I need to supply these documents for my husband as well, or is it just my income, as the sponsor, that they want to look at? (For the UK visa, they look at both, but I don't think they do here.)

The documentation needs to reach 12 months back, you do not need to have been employed that entire time. I believe there have been successful cases on this forum of full time students, for example, sponsoring spouses.

But if we do go to Canada... what about the medical? Does that get done over there?

The medical can get done at any DMP. Try to get it done just before you're ready to submit your application, though, because it's good for a year and it sucks to have to get them redone if they expire.
Since you are sponsoring a spouse and not any dependents, there is no minimum income requirement. However, you do need to show your income and how you plan to support yourselves in Canada. While your husband's income for the last year is not required, it's a good idea to include them if you think it will help show the VO how you plan to support yourselves. You can also show evidence of savings.