Has anyone received request for supplementary evidence? Please advise.
Yes. Many have. There are many topics here discussing the various types of requests . . . some discussions go into more detail than others.
Note that in the majority of actual citizenship cases discussed in Federal Court decisions, the applicant in those cases was asked to provide supplementary evidence as to residence or presence. So there is quite a bit of information, including official sources, discussing these types of requests which are residency or presence related . . . often referred to as "RQ-related" requests.
There are of course a number of other types of requests. Fingerprint requests are the most common. If there is a question about prohibitions, there may be a request for certified copies of official court records, or if about possible charges abroad, a request for a police clearance (apart from or in addition to those instances in which some applicants are required to provide police certificates with the application itself).
When "supplementary evidence" comes up, here, that is usually about "RQ-related" requests. And there are multiple types of RQ-related requests for additional or supplemental information or documentation, including:
-- a quality control exercise request including the form CIT 0205
-- oral requests made during the test-event interview,
-- simple letters asking for this or that particular document
-- requests known as RQ-lite, the CIT 0520, which has a list of particular requests; ordinarily SOME are checked as requests to the particular applicant receiving the CIT 0520
-- CIT 0171 which is the main "Residence Questionnaire" often referred to as the full blown RQ
While there are many topics here addressing one or more of these, some distinctions and comparisons and in-depth discussion of all these can be found in the topic titled: "RQ versus Physical Presence Questionnaires, including CIT 0205"
See
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/rq-versus-physical-presence-questionnaires-including-cit-0205.534082/
RE CIT 0520 or RQ-LITE IN PARTICULAR:
These requests ordinarily come during or after the test-event interview (technically the Program Integrity or "PI" Interview, sometimes referred as the interview for verifying documents even though it entails more than that). The scope of the requests can vary from just one item in a list being checked to all the items, and they can include requests for specific documents in addition to those on the list. They are usually limited to a few documents. But a full request plus some is not uncommon.
As noted, these are often referred to as RQ-lite, meaning they are similar to the full blown Residence Questionnaire but are smaller in scope, or "
lite." They are intended to help IRCC decision-makers resolve particular questions by requesting specific documents which should resolve any open concerns or questions about the applicant's physical presence. In contrast, the full-blown RQ (CIT 0171) essentially puts the applicant on notice that IRCC has overt doubts that the applicant met the actual physical presence requirement, and are in effect requesting the applicant to make a full case to prove presence.
My most recent copy of CIT 0520 is much older than the December 2018 version. (If anyone can post or link the more recent version, that would be appreciated.) So I rely on anecdotal reports in the forum to indicate what is currently listed on the form and what other documents are being requested.
They ask you for credit card and bank statements, T4s, entries exits, school and health records ?
What do they do with one year of credit card statements? I don't get it.
As I noted, the CIT 0520 ordinarily makes specific requests addressed to the particular applicant. If you have been sent CIT 0520 then READ and CAREFULLY FOLLOW the INSTRUCTIONS in the SPECIFIC REQUEST YOU RECEIVED. Most of the requests are straight-forward, even if some might not be easy to obtain and provide (for example, applicants often report difficulty obtaining and submitting "Entry-Exit Records" or "Record of Movement" from certain countries).
Older versions of CIT 0520 clearly specified that the documents submitted "
should cover the period _____ to _____"(asking for this in the YYYY-MM-DD format), "
unless otherwise specified below." While this typically will be the beginning and end date for the FIVE year time period that constitutes the applicant's "eligibility period," the particular period of time can vary from that.
And some of the particular requests can specify a more limited time period.
So it is possible that one applicant will be asked to provide this or that documentation for a particular one-year time period, while many others are asked to prove such documentation for a longer period or even the full five year eligibility period.
Requests for banking or credit card records can be quite specific. Leading to . . . your example:
They have asked 1 year of credit card statements . . .
WHY BANKING or CREDIT CARD RECORDS?
What do they do with one year of credit card statements?
Such records can corroborate the applicant's information about presence. Or not corroborate. They can be an indicator of ongoing presence or ties, either IN Canada or outside Canada.
So they are relevant if a Citizenship Officer needs more information to evaluate the applicant's account of where he or she was during particular periods of time.
Since the burden of proof is on the applicant, the failure to provide evidence can support a negative inference. Leading to . . .
I have two credit cards. Should I sent statement for both or just one?
My employer doesn't provide such type of letter, what would be my best option?
Remember, omissions can be considered a material misrepresentation as much as an overt deception.
That said, an applicant can only provide what can be provided. If you cannot obtain a letter from your employer, obviously you cannot submit a letter from your employer.
For documents the applicant cannot provide, in the response to the CIT 0520, the applicant needs to state this and explain. That is, the applicant should (1) acknowledge he or she cannot provide the requested document, and (2) provide an honest explanation as to why not. If the employer will provide a letter stating the employer's policy about that, that could help. Whether to be more proactive than that is a personal decision. An applicant might, for example, instead obtain letters from one or more co-workers, the letters stating straight-forward facts like how they know the applicant, how long, for what time periods have they been coworkers and their respective positions, include some personal details if relevant, and maybe even confirm the employer's policy if the employer will provide even that. Keep the letters short. Stick to facts. Avoid generalizations or opinions.
As for credit card records, obviously you should provide ALL documents requested.
Cherry-picking some and omitting others is a recipe that could cook up suspicions. IRCC will decide what is relevant, how it is relevant, and what weight it has.