IMM 0008 - Validate without filling in date fields?

[RedSox502]

Hi all

I'm filling in IMM 0008 right now, and I am currently in Canada with a valid visitor record. For question 10 on IMM 0008, it asks "Current country of residence." I have put Canada, and under Status I put Visitor. Then it asks for the From and To dates. I put the From date in, but as I am currently still in Canada I want to leave the To box blank so I can write in 'Present' after printing.

It won't let me do this and still use the Validate/barcode generation. Can I just put in the date of expiry on my visitor record (even though it is a future date)?

[RedSox502]

I am still curious about the above but I also have a follow-up question.

Would it be okay if I were to fill out IMM 0008 by hand and thus eliminate the need for the barcode/validation, even though all my other forms were filled out on the computer and printed? Would it be better to do this than to put in my visitor record expiry date under "TO" ie the most recent date I "left" Canada?

Thank you in advance!

[May Ann]

I am still curious about the above but I also have a follow-up question.

Would it be okay if I were to fill out IMM 0008 by hand and thus eliminate the need for the barcode/validation, even though all my other forms were filled out on the computer and printed? Would it be better to do this than to put in my visitor record expiry date under "FROM" ie the most recent date I "left" Canada?

Thank you in advance!

YES YOU COULD FILL IT OUT BY HAND. I DID THE SAME. JUST MAKE SURE IT IS LEGIBLE ENOUGH SO THE VISA OFFICER WON'T HAVE A HARD READING IT.

[RedSox502]

Thank you for your reply.

Now I'm curious what exactly the point of the barcode generation is. Just to make sure you have every field filled in? If so why don't they have that for every form?

[May Ann]

Thank you for your reply.

Now I'm curious what exactly the point of the barcode generation is. Just to make sure you have every field filled in? If so why don't they have that for every form?

YOU HAVE A POINT THERE. I TRIED FILLING OUT ONLINE TOO BUT EVENTUALLY DECIDED BY HAND. IT'S EASIER AND YOU CAN HAVE IT CHECKED AND EDITED ANYTIME. GOODLUCK!

[sttn]

YES YOU COULD FILL IT OUT BY HAND. I DID THE SAME. JUST MAKE SURE IT IS LEGIBLE ENOUGH SO THE VISA OFFICER WON'T HAVE A HARD READING IT.

Nothing on the application to be filled up by hand!!!! That's why they have introduced this application. If some one needs to enter details of a present activity that date needs to be filled with todays date. Your supportive documents will provide evidence required for the visa office to confirm it's a current activity. After the validation, the bar code page tracks all the information you have typed out on your application and visa officers scanning them in to their system. So they can save time and avoid mistakes by entering every single detail on an application by hand. If you write something by hand, that information will never be entered into the barcode. So it is clear that you are missing that information. All you need to enetr by hand on this electronic application is your signature!!! All other information must be typed out and validated!!!

[sttn]

YES YOU COULD FILL IT OUT BY HAND. I DID THE SAME. JUST MAKE SURE IT IS LEGIBLE ENOUGH SO THE VISA OFFICER WON'T HAVE A HARD READING IT.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU SHOULD NOT FILL ANY INFORMATION BY HAND!!!

[RedSox502]

Nothing on the application to be filled up by hand!!!! That's why they have introduced this application. If some one needs to enter details of a present activity that date needs to be filled with todays date. Your supportive documents will provide evidence required for the visa office to confirm it's a current activity. After the validation, the bar code page tracks all the information you have typed out on your application and visa officers scanning them in to their system. So they can save time and avoid mistakes by entering every single detail on an application by hand. If you write something by hand, that information will never be entered into the barcode. So it is clear that you are missing that information. All you need to enetr by hand on this electronic application is your signature!!! All other information must be typed out and validated!!!

Thank you for your insight but this doesn't really sound correct; whatever information they scan from the barcode would only pertain to IMM 0008, wouldn't it? There are no barcodes generated for any of the other forms and you can generate a barcode whether or not you have already completed the other forms.

Can anyone else weigh in on this issue?

[sttn]

Thank you for your insight but this doesn't really sound correct; whatever information they scan from the barcode would only pertain to IMM 0008, wouldn't it? There are no barcodes generated for any of the other forms and you can generate a barcode whether or not you have already completed the other forms.

Can anyone else weigh in on this issue?

Well it is simple to understand! What they need in electronic format is already in place to receive in said format. What they need not to receive in electronic format still goes in as a manually completed document. We cannot go ahead and fill IMM0008 by hand just because the other applications are not creating barcodes as we complete them. All actions taken by CIC with regards to the applications are with a reason. Besides IMM008 is the main application!!

[RedSox502]

Well it is simple to understand! What they need in electronic format is already in place to receive in said format. What they need not to receive in electronic format still goes in as a manually completed document. We cannot go ahead and fill IMM0008 by hand just because the other applications are not creating barcodes as we complete them. All actions taken by CIC with regards to the applications are with a reason. Besides IMM008 is the main application!!

That makes sense, but wouldn't putting today's date as the "TO" date indicate to an officer (who would undoubtedly review my application after today) that I left Canada on that date? I suppose I could attach a post-it explaining the reason for putting that date, but would the date itself cause confusion in the system if the information is scanned in?

[May Ann]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU SHOULD NOT FILL ANY INFORMATION BY HAND!!!

OH I AM SORRY, I AM NOT QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW SYSTEM BY CIC. BUT THAT'S WHAT I DID. I FILLED MY FORMS OUT BY HAND. I JUST GOT MY VISA YESTERDAY. 

[RedSox502]

OH I AM SORRY, I AM NOT QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW SYSTEM BY CIC. BUT THAT'S WHAT I DID. I FILLED MY FORMS OUT BY HAND. I JUST GOT MY VISA YESTERDAY. 

Was it the new IMM 0008 which allows barcode generation or an older form (I'm not sure when the newer form was released)?

[May Ann]

Was it the new IMM 0008 which allows barcode generation or an older form (I'm not sure when the newer form was released)?

LET ME CHECK..

[May Ann]

IT IS NOTED BELOW THE FORM:

"Note: This barcode page will not appear if you fill out your application by hand."

SO, I THINK sttn IS RIGHT. I HAD THE OLDER APPLICATION.

I STAND CORRECTED. THANKS!

[RedSox502]

Thanks to you both.

Can anyone else weigh in on this? Looking for as many opinions as possible   In your experience is it acceptable to fill out IMM 0008 by hand or is the barcode necessary? If the barcode is required, what would I want to put in the "TO" field (ie my most recent 'exit' from Canada) if I am still here as a visitor? Could I put the visitor record expiry date?

Much appreciated!