Include high school /university diploma? / can FBI cert be sent later?

[penandpaper]

Hello all,

Have any of you included education diplomas when applying  under spousal sponsorship (I am the one being sponsored)?
Is this necessary?  Or should I wait and see if they require them?  (My high school one is from Europe, bachelor and grad school both from the US).

And another question:  It looks like my FBI cert will be late -- I read here somewhere that it can be sent after the application.  I will include a letter in the application explaining that etc.  Any of you done this recently without major freakouts by CIC?  If it matters, I will be processed via a European consulate - living in Europe now as a dual citizen.


Thanks!

penandpaper

[CharlieD10]

Spousal sponsorship doesn't really need educational certificates.  However, I included mine because my husband receives disability payments and I wanted it clear that I am perfectly capable of earning a decent living, so there will be no question of me resorting to social assistance for support.

You can send a cover letter explaining that you already applied for the FBI certificate and are waiting for it to be returned.  You would probably then have to wait for sponsor approval and the transfer of the file to the consulate for processing to send it to them, so that you have a file number.  How long ago did you apply for it?  There seems to be a turnaround time recently of 4-7 weeks.  We got ours in 7 weeks, and that included 6 days in the mail from Virginia to my husband in Canada.

[penandpaper]

Thanks, CharlieD10.

I sent the FBI docs at the beginning of March but from Europe.  Silly me did not mail it with a delivery confirmation (I know, I know...).  I am just checking my credit card daily for the charge.  I wonder if they charge it once they open the envelope or when they have finished the check.  I guess I will wait a bit and if it seems really hopeless will have to reapply....  I spoke to the FBI folks today but they have no record of it yet.  Anyway, I will explain the situation to CIC -- just did not want to end up in a document catch up because I have police certificates from two other countries as well and the three months period is not enough of a buffer when you are juggling 3 certificates ...

Thanks again!

PS: I am so curious if CIC or the local VOs read this forum...

[CharlieD10]

No problem.

They charge it when they open the envelope, I think, because you don't get your money back if they can't use your prints.

I would hope not, they have a lot of work to do! 

[canadianwoman]

Spousal sponsorship doesn't really need educational certificates.  However, I included mine because my husband receives disability payments and I wanted it clear that I am perfectly capable of earning a decent living, so there will be no question of me resorting to social assistance for support.

I agree with this. You don't need to send copies of your degrees, but you do have to show that you and your spouse will be able to support yourselves in Canada, so if there is any question about whether the sponsor will be able to support you, include your degrees.

In addition, the visa officers like to see that you and your partner are planning your future together, so in your discussion of your plans, you could mention the career you hope to have, in which case I would include the degrees, if relevant.

[penandpaper]

Just to update you guys,

My husband called CIC today regarding the FBI certificate being sent separate later and they said:  you can do this as long as you include a letter in your packet that states you have submitted it etc.
So, I am including a note plus a copy of the email from the FBI liaison who advised me to resubmit the request since they have no record of receiving the first one.
Hope this helps anyone going through this.

penandpaper