Why do they want locations and names of all Canadian family members?

[Aroundtown22]

Just wondering why Immigration Canada wants to know the names, relationship and address of the applicants Canadian Family members? How far down the list do you go? Cousins? Second cousins?

 

[PMM]

Hi

Just wondering why Immigration Canada wants to know the names, relationship and address of the applicants Canadian Family members? How far down the list do you go? Cousins? Second cousins?

They don't, read IMM 5406 they want your parents names and siblings. I can't find any form where you have to list all your relatives in Canada.

 

[Aroundtown22]

We're applying outlant. The form that we're looking at form IMM 5490 page 2.

I am mainly just curious if they intend to contact the people listed on the application? If not then why do they want this sort of information?

 

[bobshynoswife]

I don't know...but I wonder if it's so that they can see if you have some sort of 'community' in Canada. For example, if someone were to marry for immigration purposes only, it is more likely they would have family in Canada who they would go live with. Someone who has no family in Canada seems like less of a risk. It might speak to the 'motive' for wanting to move to Canada.

this is just my theory, and I could be way off base.

 

[bobshynoswife]

We're applying outlant. The form that we're looking at form IMM 5490 page 2.

I am mainly just curious if they intend to contact the people listed on the application? If not then why do they want this sort of information?

I don't think they will contact them. I would limit it to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and first cousins.

 

[Rob.Barrett]

I don't know...but I wonder if it's so that they can see if you have some sort of 'community' in Canada. For example, if someone were to marry for immigration purposes only, it is more likely they would have family in Canada who they would go live with. Someone who has no family in Canada seems like less of a risk. It might speak to the 'motive' for wanting to move to Canada.

this is just my theory, and I could be way off base.

I dont think its just that, i think they could also see that you would fit in easier if you had family in Canada. I personally have an Uncle here but i would think ive seen him three times since being here. However knowing that i have family members here has indeed made things easier with the move. However i think its a case of another additional question to ask...

 

[BeShoo]

For example, if someone were to marry for immigration purposes only, it is more likely they would have family in Canada who they would go live with. Someone who has no family in Canada seems like less of a risk. It might speak to the 'motive' for wanting to move to Canada.

That's exactly right. If someone has a marriage that is suspected of being non-genuine for various other reasons, the existence of relatives in Canada is considered a motive (what they often call a "pull factor") for illegally immigrating in Canada. The existence of relatives in Canada is not bad by itself, but in the presence of other negative factors, it certainly weighs in as another negatve.

 

[fenna1]

That's exactly right. If someone has a marriage that is suspeced of being non-genuine for various other reasons, the existence of relatives in Canada is considered a motive (what they often call a "pull factor") for illegally immigrating in Canada. The existence of relatives in Canada is not bad by itself, but in the presence of other negative factors, it certainly weighs in as another negatve.

Just when I think its safe to send the app, I see another post that relates to my situation.
Hi guys I've been looking at this thread and my husband has 2 uncles, 2 aunties and 4 cousins, is this going to count against him? We were waiting for letters to be sent from his side to say that he too has support of his family. I know this alone would not be a negative factor, but we were worried that our wedding would cause a negative factor as it was just us 2 and 2 witnesses. I think I'm reading to far into things now and just need to send the forms as we have nothing to hide. Can someone ease my way avoiding nervous breakdown?

Thanks

 

[bobshynoswife]

Just when I think its safe to send the app, I see another post that relates to my situation.
Hi guys I've been looking at this thread and my husband has 2 uncles, 2 aunties and 4 cousins, is this going to count against him? We were waiting for letters to be sent from his side to say that he too has support of his family. I know this alone would not be a negative factor, but we were worried that our wedding would cause a negative factor as it was just us 2 and 2 witnesses. I think I'm reading to far into things now and just need to send the forms as we have nothing to hide. Can someone ease my way avoiding nervous breakdown?

Thanks

No one should worry about this unless they are in a marriage of convenience. if your marriage is genuine and you are able to show that in the application with evidence of your relationship, then the fact that he has relatives here will have no bearing. You have to look at your application as a WHOLE and not as a bunch of individual questions. It is not unusal for a European to have relatives in Canada, and CIC will know this. Your small wedding, as well, is only one part of the story. How long you've known each other, whether you are compatible (age, religion, culture), how much time you have spent together, how you communicate, what your plans are for the future etc...all carry weight. If you feel your application has a hole in it, just be proactive and explain it as best as you can. There are a few visa offices where genuine couples can fear refusal, but for most visa offices (including London!) a genuine marriage will have no trouble being accepted and approved.

I hope this helps relax you a bit. This whole process can get overwhelming, but just do your best, put your heart into your application, and find some way to fill your time until it's over.

Good luck!

 

[BeShoo]

Hi guys I've been looking at this thread and my husband has 2 uncles, 2 aunties and 4 cousins, is this going to count against him? ... I know this alone would not be a negative factor, but we were worried that our wedding would cause a negative factor as it was just us 2 and 2 witnesses.

Don't have a nervous breakdown! As long as your relationship is genuine, you shouldn't have a problem.

While you are right that having a lot of relatives in Canada could be motivation to move to Canada, and that a wedding without all your close family members could be a problem, I'm sure you have other evidence that will balance that out.

I've read several cases where someone immigrated to Canada, sponsored a wife then got divorced less than a year later, then the wife sponsored someone else, who divorced her once they were PRs, etc. It's people arriving in very suspicious circumstances like that who are suspect if they already have many family members in Canada.

All I can suggest is to read through all the factor listed in the 3 messages starting here: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html;msg357741#msg357741 and make sure you have proof f as many of those factor as you can get proof of. Thn, relax and don't worry. (I know that's easier said than done.)

 

[canadianwoman]

Form IMM 5490, question 8, asks the sponsored person to list all relatives living in Canada. It's because having a lot of relatives, especially close ones, in Canada is considered a 'pull factor', something that might make a foreigner want to come to Canada and try to do so by a fake marriage. Don't worry about it if you do have relatives in Canada, though - it is just one of many factors they look at.
If the sponsored person has no relatives in Canada, knows no one in Canada besides the sponsor, can't speak English or French, and has few transferable job skills, the visa officer will be inclined to think that the sponsored person will in fact be going to live with the sponsor once a PR, and so therefore the marriage is genuine.
The judge at my husband's appeal wrote in the decision that even though my husband has no contacts in Canada other than the sponsor, the fact that he speaks English and has extensive business experience means that he could establish a life for himself away from the sponsor. In other words, I should have married someone who couldn't speak English and had no way to make a living. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.