Putting together the sponsor application

[canbrit]

I've now completed all the sponsor application forms, and I had a question about how to put it all together. I am including all forms, even if they don't apply, and just writing NOT APPLICABLE at the top.

1) Is there a particular order the forms should be sent in? Based on what I've read it seems to be:
Application to Sponsor and Undertaking [IMM 1344A]
Sponsorship Agreement  [IMM 1344B]
Sponsorship Evaluation  [IMM 5481]
Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]
Sponsor Questionnaire  [IMM 5540]
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
Document Checklist  [IMM 5491]
Medical Condition Statement
(I would have thought the checklist should be at the end?)

2) If I have additional sheets supporting some of my answers in the forms, should I include them with the forms or right at the end with other supporting documents such as Option C printout?

3) And from what i understand, no paper clips or staples can be used. What have people done?

4) I photocopied pages out of my passport to show trips I've taken to visit my husband. Should that be in included in the application for sponsorship or his residency application? Also, to explain the stamps, should I just write on the photocopy?

[msgomez]

1. Safest would be to enclose the documents in the order they appear on the checklist - this makes it much easier for CIC to locate a particular form if need be.

2. Any additional sheets w/ additional info you have should definitely be included with the corresponding form. Don't put them elsewhere as this could cause confusion. Remember to clearly label all additional sheets with the form and question number that it corresponds to and put your husband's/your name on it as well.

3. Staples are a definite no-no... paperclips are perfectly fine! I used paperclips to hold each of our forms together along with any additional sheets where included and we had no problems. For your photos, do not glue/tape any of your pictures on the application forms. CIC will take of this as they require.

4. Any additional information, including copies of your passport w/ trips taken is great! All that much more as proof of your relationship. Yes, I think it would be a good idea to explain each trip along with the dates on the respective copy.

Best of luck to you and I hope the process goes smoothly for you.

[canbrit]

Thanks, msgomez!

I few more questions, if you don't mind.

Where do you put the checklist, at the end or at the start?

If some forms do not apply to you, such as Statutory Delcaration of Common-Law Union, Use of a Representative, and Medical Condition Statement, do you still include them and write NOT APPLICABLE at the top, or leave them out completely.

If I have proof of trips to visit my husband, letters of support from my family, etc.. would that I include that with the sponsor application or with the residency application? I want to make sure it's in the right spot so it gets attention.

[mitamata]

I recommend putting the checklist at the very beginning. Think of it as the table of contents :)

You can leave out the forms that don't apply to you. That's party why you have the checklist, so you indicate what you're sending and what you're not sending.

Proof of visits, letters and the like fall under the proof of relationship. The relationship is evaluated during the second part of the process, after the sponsorship, so I think the best place for it is with the permanent residency application. During the first stage, when deciding on the sponsorship, they only evaluate if the sponsor is eligable to sponsor, so they look at the Option C, letters from employer, the sponsorship forms. The sponsor questionaire is evaluated in the 2nd part of the process.

[msgomez]

NO! Don't leave out any forms! They have returned applications back to sponsors for this before! Whatever forms don't apply to you, just include them and write "Not applicable" at the top. This was what I was told to do when I called CIC about this a while back - they re-iterated that it was very important not to leave out any forms.

I am a resident of Quebec so alot of the forms were not applicable for us. I included each and every single one regardless and wrote "Not applicable" right at the very top of the page... we were approved with no problems. I also checked them off on the checklist so that everything on there was included with our other forms (whether they applied to us or not).

Here's what I did when I sent in our apps. I broke the package up into 3 separate parts; the sponsor portion, the sponsored person (prinicipal applicant) portion and supporting documents. For the supporting documents I made a table of contents so that the IO can locate any particular document easily if need be. We placed all documents in the order they were requested in the Immigrant's checklist. Our Table of contents was as follows:

Sponsor
·Photocopy of passport
·Trip itineraries & e-tickets of sponsor's travels (to Cuba)

Sponsored person (Principal applicant)
·Original birth certificate (w/ certified translation)
·Photocopy of “Carne de Identidad” (Identity card)
·2 original divorce certificates (w/ certified translations)
·Photocopy of valid passport
·Original police certificate/clearance (w/ certified translation)
·Proof of Medical examination for XXXXXX (principal applicant)
·Proof of Medical examination XXXXXX (non-accompanying dependent child)
·8 photos of principal applicant, XXXXXX
·8 photos of non-accompanying dependent child, XXXXXX


Proof of our relationship (on behalf of both the sponsor, XXXXXX, & the principal applicant, XXXXXX) :
·Original Marriage certificate (w/ certified translation)
·Photocopies of telephone bills
·Pictures spanning our relationship from July 2007 to present
Letters from family & friends

Hope this helps!

[mitamata]

Ok, don't leave out any forms then. I didn't send a couple and my application went through just fine, but whatever :P

Though I'm still certain that CIC employees have some common sense and will not send your application back when you're missing the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union and applying to sponsor your husband. Especially when they have a checklist there that clearly says you're NOT including that form.

[msgomez]

I totally understand what you're saying mitamata :) ...I'm sure alot of CIC employees do have common sense but anyone's forms could end up in the hands of an IO having a bad day or even one that's pickier than the others. And I also know that some CIC reps at the call centre will tell you one thing, while the next says something completely different.

Trust me, I agree that certain things are justified when using that ounce of common sense but why not just include them and avoid giving them any reason to return your apps? There was a gentleman here on this forum, who had his entire application returned to him for this very reason, so it could happen.

If you have them, it won't hurt to just send them along with the others. That's what I did. Either way, do what you're comfortable with and best of luck!