Organizing your app, how did you do it?

[sidkrose]

Hi, my partner and I are at the stage where we have almost everything together, just have to photocopy a couple more items and get the medical over with and now are faced with the challenge of putting the application together in an organized, logical package.

So I'm just wondering how everyone did it. Did you use staples to put the different pages of forms together (I've heard they take off paper clips right away), did you use post-it tabs to show the different sections of your application? Did you use a table of contents, or list of accompanying documents and evidence? I'm really at a loss as I have no idea how much organization is really necessary...

[dair2dv8103100]

Hi, my partner and I are at the stage where we have almost everything together, just have to photocopy a couple more items and get the medical over with and now are faced with the challenge of putting the application together in an organized, logical package.

So I'm just wondering how everyone did it. Did you use staples to put the different pages of forms together (I've heard they take off paper clips right away), did you use post-it tabs to show the different sections of your application? Did you use a table of contents, or list of accompanying documents and evidence? I'm really at a loss as I have no idea how much organization is really necessary...

First of all congrats on getting to this point. I know how difficult it is but you are almost there.  

Do not use staples as they will take it apart right away. They want paper clips so they can easily read the forms. Do not use post its as they do this a hundred times a week, they know what they are looking for. I did add a table of contents before my additional information although this is not required as long as you numbered each page and added the sponsored persons info on the upper left corner. If you have entered an answer that asks them to refer to a certain page they will find this quickly with just the page number of additional info without a TOC.

Only use the checklist that is provided in the application but you must include both checklists (the one for the sponsor app and the one for applicant app)

Hope this helps and best of luck to you and your partner!!

[Love_Young]

Well I organized everything the way it just felt comfortable and made sense.
Here is something I posted a good while back of ours was. You can ignore the evidences, I was just showing how everything had its own category, etc. Each chapter had a stick on divider tab for the name of the chapter, and each section was labeled and was described as to what/why it was in there. I used colored card stock to print the chapter and section title pages on. And no pages were stapled, just paperclipped. Each page was labeled in the corner with our information so in case it was lost, it could be matched back up. And the whole application was rubber banded together.


This is how I put ours together!

For the necessary forms I did this:
Document Checklist
Letter of Enclosures
All the forms in order of the document checklist including copies of things required
(all answers on additional sheets of paper are attached at the end of the corresponding form)

Then the supporting documents of the relationship followed:
Table of Contents to explain for Supporting Evidence of Relationship (each paper naming chapter has a color tab with the name and each section has title page with a short description of it as well)
Then we had all our chapters and sections following that Table of Contents.

Hope this helps some.  

**Edit: Post seemed a bit long so I shortened it.**

[rjessome]

Use the CHECKLISTS to organize your documents.  CIC laid them out in their current format for a reason.

Don't use staples, folders, dividers, etc. as they will be immediately removed.  Use a binder clip or elastic bands to keep everything together.

[Baloo]

If you follow the CIC checklists then your document checker/VO will be a happy person.
Keeping them happy is a GOOD move


Suggestion - Leave the application alone for a week, then re-read it, re-check it and confirm that you have included everything.

[awor]

I'm using staples for things like the front and back of our wedding certificate, my divorce papers (both), etc; other than that, paper and binder clips. I have a master table of contents that is on top of my (Principal Applicant) application and for each section, a cover page that has a mini table of contents for that section. All done nicely in Word and organized exactly like the checklist states.

I don't know how the VO would be able to figure out, if a paper dropped out of one of my divorce papers or something, where it was supposed to go without it being stapled. I keep seeing that everything needs to be unstapled, but also that it doesn't matter. So I'll do it this way and at least it got there nicely organized.

[sidkrose]

Thanks for everyone's input so far! Very helpful

Just wondering if anyone would advise "integrating" your supporting relationship evidence.

For example, in the Sponsored Spouse/Partner Questionnaire, one of the questions asks to provide details on your common law relationship. I have written an outline of our relationship on a separate sheet, and I want to include the relevent evidence right after that. For another example, another question on that form asks for details of communication and I want to include phone records, emails etc directly after. Is this a good idea, or should I just leave all the supporting evidence 'til the end?

[awor]

Here's what I did (this is my master table of contents) - each section preceded by :: is a separate section binder clipped together with individual parts in each section stapled or paper clipped together. Also, my wedding details are written into the Development of Relationship story, which I explained on the cover sheet for that section. However, I attached relationship proof (receipts, etc) to the Development of Relationship story, wedding proof in a separate packet, and wedding photos are included with the rest of the photos in chronological order.

:: Document Checklist & Choice of Interview Location

:: Immigration Forms (1-4 on checklist)
•   Copy of Copy 2 of the Receipt (IMM 5401) (Original is with Sponsor Forms)
•   Application for Permanent Residence with 1 page of Additional Information attached
•   Schedule 1 (3 copies) with Schedule 1 Additional Information attached to each
•   Copies of Exclusion Order & Confirmation of Departure with statement
•   Additional Family Information
•   Spouse/Partner Questionnaire

:: Identity Documents and Children's Information (6-7 on checklist)
•   Birth Certificates
•   Marriage Certificate
•   Statement (concerning custody of children)
•   Divorce/Custody Papers

:: Passports (8 on checklist)

:: Proof of Relationship to Sponsor (9 on checklist)
•   Development of Relationship with supporting proof
•   Wedding with supporting proof
•   Letters of support
•   Photographs of visits and the wedding
•   Texts
•   Phone Calls
•   Western Union receipts
•   Joint Accounts

:: Police Certificates (10 on checklist)
•   Statement (because I have an old (over 10 years old) minor charge on my FBI check)
•   FBI background check
•   State police record
•   Case history

:: Medicals (11 on checklist)

:: Photos (12 on checklist)

[fizzlefunk]

My lawyer put the package together and sent it off to CIC, but sent me a copy of everything first.  He included, along with my wife and I's completed application package and evidence, a cover letter that briefly outlines a brief summary of my info (birthdate, citizenship, full name, etc), a blurb about our relationship (a shorter paraphrase from a longer description within the application itself), a note about financial eligibility, as my wife (sponsor) is unemployed, then a full list of every document included, in order, noting originals and photocopies where necessary.  I don't know if this kind of cover letter is helpful (it's not required, per the document checklist), but it looks good, it's a good summary of the application, and I received a speedy PPR (about 3 months).

Good luck!

[sidkrose]

Thanks

Also, about the document checklist itself, if something doesn't apply to you (use of a representative form for example), do you just leave the box blank, or do you write N/A above it or something?

And do you have to include the checklist from the "region specific guide" (appendix A I think?)

[dair2dv8103100]

Thanks

Also, about the document checklist itself, if something doesn't apply to you (use of a representative form for example), do you just leave the box blank, or do you write N/A above it or something?

And do you have to include the checklist from the "region specific guide" (appendix A I think?)

Yes, put N/A on EVERYTHING that does not apply. I am having my app returned for one N/A missing!!!

Yes, include region specific guide checklist.

[Kaycee1]

For the spouse questionnaire where I wrote my "essay" about our relationship, I put reference to all the supporting evidence I was including - like "Attachment #1", "Attachment #2", etc. then I did a 2nd checklist (in addition to their one) listing all the attachments and what they were. Then we added all the attachments in the right order so it was easy for them to cross reference and find.