Spouse sponsorship from Sweden, NEWBIE NEEDS HELP

[Pyrite]

Hi everyone!
I am a Canadian citizen trying to get all my crap together to sponsor my Swedish spouse from inside Sweden, and I have a couple questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. I've tried to call the Canadian call centres but I can't get through, and the London visa office is having some sort of technical difficulties with their online contact form, so I haven't been able to contact them either, so... I just have 3 questions that I need answers too, I promise, that's all! (For now...)

1. I am sponsoring outside of the country, but I'm just finishing a Master degree, it'll be done in June '15. How long can we wait from getting the visa approval to entering Canada? I'm pretty sure this won't happen, but I just want to make sure that if we get approved (by some weird chance) before my graduation, that we can wait to move until after I've completed my schooling and not get penalized for it.
2. Is there a maximum amount of photos/proof to submit? My spouse and I have been together for 11 years, it makes for a lot of pictures/emails/letters/other stuff to send if we have to send them all. Did those of you who have succeeded in getting your family members pick and choose or did you just send it all?
3. If I have dual citizenship (Canada/Sweden), will that affect my sponsorship in any way?

Any answers would be fantastic, we're just beginning to gather all this stuff together and it feels like such a HUGE, daunting task! The amount of paper alone is a little mind-boggling!
Thanks very much!
Pyrite

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi

1. Generally, the Confirmation of Permanent Residence, COPR, is valid for about a year from the medical date. For that reason, you want to do the medical last, as close as possible to the actual submission date of the app. If you're just starting now, then it will probably be October before your spouse does the medical, meaning that the COPR will be valid until around October 2015.

2. How much proof to send is a very common question on the forum. It's definitely quality over quantity. The simple fact that you've been together for 11 years lowers the burden of proof a lot. Just choose a few pics from each year, including any special events such as wedding, holidays, kids etc. There's no need to go overboard; many applicants are approved with very minimal pictures (10-20), as they include other important proofs such as joint bank and credit card statements, joint lease or mortgage, joint utilities, mail in both names etc. Don't bother with emails/chats/facebook/texts/etc.; CIC doesn't need to see those when you've lived together for a long time.

Letters from family and friends are a good way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Given that you live outside of Canada, you will need to prove your intent to return permanently once your spouse is granted PR. Letters are good proof of a genuine relationship AND of your intent to return to Canada.

3. Your dual citizenship will have zero effect on the app.

 

[Pyrite]

Thanks for your answers! I just have a follow-up question to the first question, since I'm sponsoring outside the country, does that affect when I, the sponsor, have to travel to Canada?
Also, what exactly has to be certified?

Thanks for your help!
Pyrite

 

[Pyrite]

Err.. yet another question, do we have to have the medical exam in Sweden? We live in Skåne which is right by Denmark, and it's easier (and sometimes cheaper) to go to Copenhagen instead of Stockholm.
Thanks again!
Pyrite

 

[Ponga]

Hi everyone!
I am a Canadian citizen trying to get all my crap together to sponsor my Swedish spouse from inside Sweden, and I have a couple questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. I've tried to call the Canadian call centres but I can't get through, and the London visa office is having some sort of technical difficulties with their online contact form, so I haven't been able to contact them either, so... I just have 3 questions that I need answers too, I promise, that's all! (For now...)

1. I am sponsoring outside of the country, but I'm just finishing a Master degree, it'll be done in June '15. How long can we wait from getting the visa approval to entering Canada? I'm pretty sure this won't happen, but I just want to make sure that if we get approved (by some weird chance) before my graduation, that we can wait to move until after I've completed my schooling and not get penalized for it.
2. Is there a maximum amount of photos/proof to submit? My spouse and I have been together for 11 years, it makes for a lot of pictures/emails/letters/other stuff to send if we have to send them all. Did those of you who have succeeded in getting your family members pick and choose or did you just send it all?
3. If I have dual citizenship (Canada/Sweden), will that affect my sponsorship in any way?



Any answers would be fantastic, we're just beginning to gather all this stuff together and it feels like such a HUGE, daunting task! The amount of paper alone is a little mind-boggling!
Thanks very much!
Pyrite

1. The applicant typically has plenty of time to come to Canada to land. Generally, the CoPR (Confirmation of Permanent Resident) document is valid to coincide with the medical results, which are valid for 1 year. So, if the medical exam is on Nov 10, 2014 the CoPR document would be valid until ~Nov 10, 2015.

2. Choose quality over quantity. While it's understandable to want to bombard them with `proof', just be practical about it. If they have any doubts, they will ask you for more proof before simply denying the application.

3. Not at all.

Good luck!

 

[Ponga]

Err.. yet another question, do we have to have the medical exam in Sweden? We live in Skåne which is right by Denmark, and it's easier (and sometimes cheaper) to go to Copenhagen instead of Stockholm.
Thanks again!
Pyrite

As long as the doctor is certified by CIC (panel physician), it doesn't matter.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks for your answers! I just have a follow-up question to the first question, since I'm sponsoring outside the country, does that affect when I, the sponsor, have to travel to Canada?
Also, what exactly has to be certified?

You will need to prove to CIC that you intend to return to Canada when your spouse receives PR but there isn't a set time that you have to travel by.

All official documents (birth cert, marriage cert, PCCs etc.) that aren't in English must be accompanied by a certified translation, as per the guide http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/3901e.pdf.

 

[Pyrite]

Thanks once again everyone!

Do photocopies of non official things have to be certified? Things like personal photos and other stuff that we send to prove our relationship (things that aren't to be translated).

Is it ok to sign the forms a few weeks before sending the application or is the signing best to be done as close to the posting of the application as possible?

Thank you.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks once again everyone!

Do photocopies of non official things have to be certified? Things like personal photos and other stuff that we send to prove our relationship (things that aren't to be translated).

Is it ok to sign the forms a few weeks before sending the application or is the signing best to be done as close to the posting of the application as possible?

Thank you.

No, photocopies of non official stuff don't need to be certified.

You can sign the forms a few weeks before. Just make sure that the form isn't updated in those few weeks prior to sending your app.

 

[Pyrite]

Thanks a lot.

Now for another question. The marriage certificate in Sweden is not a legal document but just a token. Is this still necessary to send in or will it be enough to send in what we would use here as official documents for it. Personbevis which as far as I can tell translates to civic registration certificate. It will say things like marital status and so on.

Thank you.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks a lot.

Now for another question. The marriage certificate in Sweden is not a legal document but just a token. Is this still necessary to send in or will it be enough to send in what we would use here as official documents for it. Personbevis which as far as I can tell translates to civic registration certificate. It will say things like marital status and so on.

Thank you.

Sorry, not sure about that. I suggest you start a new thread asking for help from Swedes that have applied. There are a few floating around. Or you could post on the London thread, as that's where Swedish apps go. http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/thread-for-outland-london-uk-applications-t49436.14160.html

 

[Graihn]

Sorry, not sure about that. I suggest you start a new thread asking for help from Swedes that have applied. There are a few floating around. Or you could post on the London thread, as that's where Swedish apps go. http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/thread-for-outland-london-uk-applications-t49436.14160.html

Unfortunately I haven't come across any married swedes during my last year on this forum..

 

[Graihn]

I think the absolute most important thing you need to focus on is your proof of intent to return to Canada. The genuineness of ur relationship wouldn't be questioned too much.

 

[Pyrite]

Thanks again.

So what can be used to prove intent? The thing we have right now is a letter from my parents that they are aware of our plans and will allow us to stay with them until we can find a place of our own.
Because I don't have a job offer or anything like that over there I have nothing tangible like that.


Do you recommend doing the medical before handing in the complete package or wait for sponsor approval?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks again.

So what can be used to prove intent? The thing we have right now is a letter from my parents that they are aware of our plans and will allow us to stay with them until we can find a place of our own.
Because I don't have a job offer or anything like that over there I have nothing tangible like that.


Do you recommend doing the medical before handing in the complete package or wait for sponsor approval?

I had letters from friends and family confirming that I was returning to Canada, Canadian bank and credit card statements showing that I had kept my finances based in Canada with the intention of returning and the statement that I wrote explaining why I couldn't provide anything else. Basically, I said that I couldn't commit to anything in Canada (job, lease, school etc.) because if my partner's app was refused, I would not be returning to Canada.

The medical must be done beforehand and submitted with the app. Submitting an app without the medical runs the risk of having the app returned as incomplete.