Completing IMM0008 - Dependent Children Only

[alwaysann]

I am trying to fill out the IMM0008 on behalf of minor dependent children. I have Canadian citizenship, am married, but my husband will not be accompanying us at this time as his job will remain in the U.S. and he needs to be here. Questions:

Do I complete an IMM0008 for each minor child (they do not have children of their own)

What category do I apply under after choosing Family Status?
Q2 -- Category -- Do I choose Dependent Child? Or do I choose Spouse?
Q3 -- How many family members? If I do one IMM0008 per minor child then is each one the Principal Applicant?
Personal Details -- This is the personal details of the Principal Applicant, correct?

Thank you so much.

 

[armoured]

I am trying to fill out the IMM0008 on behalf of minor dependent children. I have Canadian citizenship, am married, but my husband will not be accompanying us at this time as his job will remain in the U.S. and he needs to be here. Questions:

Do I complete an IMM0008 for each minor child (they do not have children of their own)

What category do I apply under after choosing Family Status?
Q2 -- Category -- Do I choose Dependent Child? Or do I choose Spouse?
Q3 -- How many family members? If I do one IMM0008 per minor child then is each one the Principal Applicant?
Personal Details -- This is the personal details of the Principal Applicant, correct?

Thank you so much.

Not familiar with this situation but I believe you'll have to choose one child as principal applicant and the others go on the same IMM008 form. Make sure to declare your spouse as unaccompanying. Please double check the instructions though for this case, it's a bit unusual, you may have to check a few times.

A few other quick qs:
-Are you certain the children do not have a claim to Canadian citizenship? If you were born in Canada or naturalised before they were born, they should. (I.e. main cases where they would not is if you are a Canadian by descent through parents or if you were naturalised after they were born)

If they do have a claim to citizenship, they cannot apply for PR status.

-You may want to consider sponsoring your spouse now even if not certain when he could settle in Canada. He'd really only have to 'land' in Canada once before / at same time as children. Then he'd have several years before residency obligation issues start to arise (assuming he visits a fair bit). If for some reason he can't but decides to settle later, he can renounce PR status and apply again (no penalty in the case of a spouse).

It would give you all quite a bit more flexibility in the event that circumstances change, and once he has PR status, he could work in Canada right away without applying and waiting - which is what he'd have to do if he is unaccompanying now.

Please look into this carefully as I don't claim to be an expert, but apart from perhaps additional fees, I don't see much downside.

 

[alwaysann]

You are brilliant -- I had not considered that there was really no downside to having my spouse apply for PR now. My children are unfortunately, not Canadian citizens. I'm Canadian by descent and have my Canadian certificate and passport -- appreciate you mentioning this.

 

[armoured]

You are brilliant -- I had not considered that there was really no downside to having my spouse apply for PR now. My children are unfortunately, not Canadian citizens. I'm Canadian by descent and have my Canadian certificate and passport -- appreciate you mentioning this.

More good news - minor children of Canadian citizen parent can apply for citizenship I believe once landed and residing in Canada. No waiting period, no language test, etc.