Too Much Proof?

[Aeche]

Hi! My husband and I are getting ready to submit all our paperwork to CIC; he's sponsoring me to become a permanent resident so we can live together in BC. Everything's going well but there's one thing we're confused about. We think we might've printed too much relationship proof. We printed out our IM and Skype logs, which are about 500 pages together. In addition to that, we've printed about 40 pages of Facebook interactions and 131 pictures. I've searched all over their website and different immigration forums but can't figure out: can we send multiple envelopes to Mississauga, and if so how should we go about this, or should we send less proof? We were under the impression that the more you can send the better, but obviously this won't all fit in a single envelope. Thanks!!

 

[Isometry]

Send a box!

 

[Fencesitter]

500 pages?? Too much, IMO. You should provide samples over a time period. No way the VO will read all those logs.

We have a total of 160 pics, 20 cards, and other supporting proof (travel, letters from friends, joint bank account, chat record samples over a 2 year period, e-mails between my wife and my mom, and a copy of our rental contract). I think for our case, that's enough, as we've been living together since 2006. We've also included our son's Canadian Citizenship Certificate and his birth certificate.

I guess it depends on your case and how long you've been with your spouse. Newlyweds would probably need more proof.

Good luck!!

FS

 

[here4ali]

Do not send this in a box. I asked CIC this as my husband and I had a lot of proof to send as well. At the post office you can purchase the biggest envelope (only costs about $3) and you will be able to fit a lot into this as I sent about 300 photos (they were organized in different photo envelopes) and all the paper work and proof on top. I sent text messages, skype, msn, emails, letters, phone bills, tons of photos and much more our file was over 6 inches thick. When I asked if I could send our file in a box they said no and this could slow down the process. Boxes sent to a government place look suspicious to them and they might not accept them as anyone can send things there. Play it safe and just buy first the biggest envelope the post office has. I was surprised how much I could fit into it. When you get it home then you can figure out all what you want to send and what you can fit. Good luck

 

[Isometry]

Good point.

I should add that I just sent samples of everything-- about one chat excerpt per month, one page of my phone bill per month, etc--and just made a note on each type of evidence that more would be provided on request.

 

[Aeche]

Thanks for the info, all! We thought about sending in a box, but as mentioned, that's probably risky, not to mention the website says envelopes only. Definitely not interested in sending the huge stack of papers we printed, but sending samples per month is a great idea. Great!

 

[Mrslwsn]

WAY too much proof in my opinion as well..bear in mind this can sometimes work against your favor. But I know it is hard to sum up so much...but still...whoa...

 

[dangerJones]

Heh, I wish this thread had been around when we submitted our file. I called the CIC call centre several times asking how much proof I should send and the answer each time was "more is better". We ended up submitting over 450 photos and 375 different pieces of evidence-- in duplicate, because I was under the impression that both Mississauga and Singapore needed separate copies of everything. There was so much that the guy who helped me send it with Fedex (this was during the postal strike, so I had to send with Fedex) told me to put it in two boxes. Of course, both boxes ended up shipping in two different trucks, not together, so CPC-Miss claimed they couldn't find both of them. It was a
month and a half before they figured everything out. My advice in that respect: if you have a lot of evidence, never ever send two boxes. As others have said, there's not really a need to send that much anyway--samples should be enough. Our application was eventually accepted, after ten months in Miss and Singapore, which is actually not too bad for a timeline. Of course, we were also very careful to explain everything that we sent and why we sent it, so that there would be no doubt left in the VO's mind about anything.

 

[canadiangirl78]

Sheesh. I sent 15 pics. A few sample emails. Seriously one email for each year. A wedding invitation. And a few handwritten letters. That's it.

 

[calvinh]

Heh, I wish this thread had been around when we submitted our file. I called the CIC call centre several times asking how much proof I should send and the answer each time was "more is better". We ended up submitting over 450 photos and 375 different pieces of evidence-- in duplicate, because I was under the impression that both Mississauga and Singapore needed separate copies of everything. There was so much that the guy who helped me send it with Fedex (this was during the postal strike, so I had to send with Fedex) told me to put it in two boxes. Of course, both boxes ended up shipping in two different trucks, not together, so CPC-Miss claimed they couldn't find both of them. It was a
month and a half before they figured everything out. My advice in that respect: if you have a lot of evidence, never ever send two boxes. As others have said, there's not really a need to send that much anyway--samples should be enough. Our application was eventually accepted, after ten months in Miss and Singapore, which is actually not too bad for a timeline. Of course, we were also very careful to explain everything that we sent and why we sent it, so that there would be no doubt left in the VO's mind about anything.

Hi Danger, I want to ask you does it say on the visa that you have to enter canada within a certain time ? I know you have to enter before medicals expire the thing is I don't know exact date when my medicals will expire. All I know is that sometime end of Jul or beginning of August 2012

 

[canadiangirl78]

The medical expires exactly one year after the day of the appointment. That's when the visa expires. Unless your passport expires first.

 

[canadianwoman]

Never use more than one envelope for the applications! CIC Mississauga will misplace one, or won't put them together for months, as one poster above mentioned happened to theirs. Everything goes together to Mississauga. If you want to send more evidence later, wait until the file is at the visa office overseas and you have a file number.

 

[clubcanada]

it's more about quality than quantity. we've only provided an overview of the skype log files showing date/time but without content which was below 5 pages. Overall these protocols (skype, facebook, etc.) are very weak compared to other supporting material. We put more effort in documentation of our relationship and the future outlook. Overall we had maybe 20 pictures and a number of other evidence (common travel documents) and three affidavits (standardized but informal) from friends.

 

[livin]

it's more about quality than quantity. we've only provided an overview of the skype log files showing date/time but without content which was below 5 pages. Overall these protocols (skype, facebook, etc.) are very weak compared to other supporting material. We put more effort in documentation of our relationship and the future outlook. Overall we had maybe 20 pictures and a number of other evidence (common travel documents) and three affidavits (standardized but informal) from friends.

Hello Clubcanada,
Would you happen to know how to provide hotmail/yahoo log files showing date/time without content? I can't seem to figure it out. Also do you think they will find it suspicious without the content??

Thanks

 

[TU160]

I think it's funny to work as an immigration officer and read 500 pages instead of work with other applications. Interesting... why there isn't genius who attached "home video" to prove relationships? It would be screamingly funny

We sent a marriege certificate and 6 pics. Both stages were recently approved.