Sponsoring my Common-Law Partner

[jacobsdennis]

Friends,

I submitted an application about 8 months ago and was finally contacted to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which was done immediately!  Now we've been asked for an interview in Buffalo in early December.  Normally, is an interview positive or negative?  Can we expect to be PR to be granted that day?  What's next following the interview?

Thanks to you all for your help!

[CharlieD10]

An interview may be either positive or negative, it depends on how well your partner addresses whatever concerns about your application caused the immigration officer to convoke him/her for the interview.  I suggest you order your GCMS notes in order to get an idea of this, there is enough time for you to do so between now and December.

[AllisonVSC]

Often the interview is called because the officer is not convinced that the relationship is genuine on the basis of the evidence included in the app. Did they ask you to submit more evidence during the process or to bring more evidence to the interview?

Search the forum for examples of the types of questions that could be asked in the interview. Also there is a post floating around about what the officer is supposed to do during the interview process. See if you can find that as well.

I think requesting your notes, as CharlieD10 said, is also a good idea. It should help inform you as to why exactly they felt an interview is necessary. I did not go through an interview, but I have read on the forum that it is possible to hear the final decision at the end of the interview. They might also say, we will let you know and it is back to waiting. I don't recall reading that anyone through B'lo got the visa the day of their interview but hopefully someone else can address that question.

Good luck!

[jacobsdennis]

Charlie:  What exactly is GCMS and where/who might I contact to get this mailed to me?

Allison:  They actually didn't ask for anything to be submitted while they were assessing the application.  The only 2 things that were mentioned on the letter for both of us to bring to the interview was birth certificates and our passports.  That's it.

Thanks to you both as I really, really appreciate the help!

[CharlieD10]

GCMS - Global Case Management System is the processing system now being used by Canadian immigration.  This replaced the former Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System (CAIPS).  See instructions below for how to order the notes on your spouse's file.

A.   It can be applied for on behalf of applicants, by a relative or friend who is in Canada as a PR or a citizen or just staying there out of immigration legalities.

B.   Payment can be made by Cheque / Money Order / Credit Card

C.   A total of two forms are required to be filled up –

i.   IMM5475E – Download from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5475E.pdf
Details – To be filled up and signed by the Applicant.
How to fill up (Preferably in Capital letters) –
Tick the box “I authorize Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Canada Border Services Agency to release information from my case file to the following individual.”
1.   Applicant's Full Name
2.   Applicant's DOB
3.   Name of Applicant's Visa Office Eg. New Delhi
Name of Country of Visa Office Eg. India
Type of Application Eg. Permanent Residence
4.   Applicant's file number
5.   Family Name of Requester
First Name of Requester
6.   Name of firm of the Requester (if applicable)
Mailing Address of Requester
City of Requester
Province of Requester
Country of Requester
Postal Code of Requester
Telephone number of Requester
E-mail Address of Requester
7.   Signature of Applicant and Date
Signature of Dependent and Date

ii.   IMM5563 – Download from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/form-imm5563.asp
Details – To be filled up and signed by the Requester
How to fill up (Preferably in Capital letters) –
Section A
Requester's reference number: Blank

Applicant's Family Name: Surname
Applicant's Given Name: First Name
Applicant's DOB:
Tick the box “Consent included”
Same as above 4, for every dependent

Tick the box "Access to Information Act ($5.00 fee included)"
Tick "in English"
Tick “Receive hard copy (paper)” or “E-mail (smaller files only – only under 25 pages)”

Section B
Tick "CAIPS/GCMS" under "REQUEST FOR"
Write Name of Embassy with Name of Visa Office in brackets by the side of the above line. Eg. Canadian High Commission (New Delhi)
Visa file number: Applicant's file number by the side of the above.

Section C
If paying by Cheque or Money Order check first box and fill details
If paying by Credit Card, the payer has to fill up form IMM5667E (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5667E.pdf)

Section D
Tick "This request is submitted by a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or an individual present in Canada"
Requester's Full Name
Requester's Telephone no.
Requester's Mailing Address
Requester's Email Address
Requester's Signature & date

D.   Requester has to attach any document of his which confirms his/her PR / Citizenship status along with the other forms.

E.   Send all of this to
Access to Information and Privacy Division
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Narono Building
360 Laurier Avenue West, 10th floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1

[AllisonVSC]

Charlie:  What exactly is GCMS and where/who might I contact to get this mailed to me?

Allison:  They actually didn't ask for anything to be submitted while they were assessing the application.  The only 2 things that were mentioned on the letter for both of us to bring to the interview was birth certificates and our passports.  That's it.

Thanks to you both as I really, really appreciate the help!

Of course I am just speculating, but I think that asking you to bring only birth certificates and passports is a good sign. Though, it does make me a little curious; is there any question they might have about where you (or your partner) were born or your citizenship?

[jacobsdennis]

Allison, I am a natural born Canadian citizen and my partner is a citizen of the Philippines.  My partner has worked in Canada as a Temporary Foreign Worker for almost 4 years now.  We have been living together for the past 3 years.

[jacobsdennis]

Anyone else ever been asked to show up for an interview with just passports and birth certificates in Buffalo or elsewhere?