Hello!!
I am a US citizen working on getting my permanent residency. I am currently in Canada, and I have been since 2015 (with visitor extensions, no issues, no additional questions/documentations required or requested).
NOTE: I am aware those answering my question(s) are not responsible for the outcome, and are simply giving me advice/provide their experience(s) and opinions.
I have not sent my application yet, there are a few things bothering me...
Let's start with an easier question
1: Proof of relationship/proof my spouse can provide for me
I am living in Canada currently, Quebec to be specific. My wife has been providing for me for almost 2 years just fine. She pays her taxes and they had asked about me, and provided taxes to provide for me. I was wondering if it would be acceptable for her to use these tax forms as proof of our residency together and as proof that she can support me.
What other forms would be acceptable proof that she can support me?? She gets really great tips but of course tips are not documented, what proof can she provide??
Also: They ask for some form of proof that I live here as well, the only real thing I can provide are letters. Would letters from my lawyers in the USA be sufficient, since it's pretty official (if ya ask me)?? I will be providing my visitor extention letter as proof, but they need 2 forms of proof.
NOTE: CIC person simply told me: If you cannot provide what they are asking for, provide a letter. Which this answer did not answer the above questions well enough, to me at least.
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2: Working (Okay, hear me out!!)
While filing for visitor extension, they asked what my occupation was, I don't actually have one since I am not allowed to work as a visitor, however, I am a free-lance artist who does NOT work for any company or even locally, I simply do digital work online for whoever asks for it, if they choose to pay (it's more or less tip-pay) then fantastic, if not, then I'm pretty aware of it, it's almost as though someone asked me to clean their house or pet-sit, and they tip me as a thank you. Everytime I have filed for the extension, I have put that I am a free-lance artist/graphic design artist, when it asks the date "From" and "To", on "To" I had put w/e date it was that day/the present day, since I do this whenever.
My problem is, what is advised in answering the question on Permanent Residency application form IMM0008, Generic Application, page 3 question 3 "Current Occupation: " what to state, or at least what is best, considering the fact I had written "free-lance artist/graphic design artist" on my visitor extension, however on the extention it said to "Start with my most recent" or at least along those lines, not "Current Occupation".... please note: I did not ever say "Present" when it asked "From > To", I simply put the current date, so therefore I had "stopped".
I had spoken to a lawyer who said: in my OPINION, anyone with visitor status is not allowed to perform any sort of work
He advised me to call CIC, as I had told him I had spoken to someone (I could not remember if it was CIC or another lawyer) about the same thing and they said to simply provide an explanation letter.
Well, here is where it gets sticky...
I called CIC... they could not provide a clear answer (of course). They said: they want what is on the documents/document checklist, if you cannot provide those documents you need to provide a letter explaining why.
That didn't really answer my question, it did, but did not. I can understand what she told me and why, but I want to make sure the immigration officer knows that I do NOT work for any one, no company, not for Canadians, and I have not sold or worked for/to any Canadian (not even online), yet, I want to stay consistent, obviously, with my visitor extension information. I DO NOT want them to think I actually work (what terms should I use when discussing this by the way, instead of "work"??).
So I am wondering now, if I should simply put "N/A" considering I do not actually work, and on my other application(s) I have not said "Present" on working, and instead provided that current date. When they ask for current occupation, I assume they want/mean a legitimate job, and if I do write anything other than "N/A" or "None currently" then they might in-fact consider that an official job, which this is not.
SIDE QUESTION: As for "Intended Occupation" would it be acceptable to put "Professional Artist", I am not in nay way "professional" but rather a hobbyist-artist/graphic design artist, would they understand what I mean by "Professional Artist" ?? I looked up the specific terms for jobs, but I'd like to be more professional and work on animations, web-design, film, you name it, all I would like to do, hence why I did not put a specific intention, but instead a "Professional Artist". Would it be alright if I put "Intend to go back to school for: xyz", because I have thought of going back to school to finish my Graphic Design to obtain a degree, or become an Animal Trainer of sorts.
I am a US citizen working on getting my permanent residency. I am currently in Canada, and I have been since 2015 (with visitor extensions, no issues, no additional questions/documentations required or requested).
NOTE: I am aware those answering my question(s) are not responsible for the outcome, and are simply giving me advice/provide their experience(s) and opinions.
I have not sent my application yet, there are a few things bothering me...
Let's start with an easier question
1: Proof of relationship/proof my spouse can provide for me
I am living in Canada currently, Quebec to be specific. My wife has been providing for me for almost 2 years just fine. She pays her taxes and they had asked about me, and provided taxes to provide for me. I was wondering if it would be acceptable for her to use these tax forms as proof of our residency together and as proof that she can support me.
What other forms would be acceptable proof that she can support me?? She gets really great tips but of course tips are not documented, what proof can she provide??
Also: They ask for some form of proof that I live here as well, the only real thing I can provide are letters. Would letters from my lawyers in the USA be sufficient, since it's pretty official (if ya ask me)?? I will be providing my visitor extention letter as proof, but they need 2 forms of proof.
NOTE: CIC person simply told me: If you cannot provide what they are asking for, provide a letter. Which this answer did not answer the above questions well enough, to me at least.
-------------------------------------
2: Working (Okay, hear me out!!)
While filing for visitor extension, they asked what my occupation was, I don't actually have one since I am not allowed to work as a visitor, however, I am a free-lance artist who does NOT work for any company or even locally, I simply do digital work online for whoever asks for it, if they choose to pay (it's more or less tip-pay) then fantastic, if not, then I'm pretty aware of it, it's almost as though someone asked me to clean their house or pet-sit, and they tip me as a thank you. Everytime I have filed for the extension, I have put that I am a free-lance artist/graphic design artist, when it asks the date "From" and "To", on "To" I had put w/e date it was that day/the present day, since I do this whenever.
My problem is, what is advised in answering the question on Permanent Residency application form IMM0008, Generic Application, page 3 question 3 "Current Occupation: " what to state, or at least what is best, considering the fact I had written "free-lance artist/graphic design artist" on my visitor extension, however on the extention it said to "Start with my most recent" or at least along those lines, not "Current Occupation".... please note: I did not ever say "Present" when it asked "From > To", I simply put the current date, so therefore I had "stopped".
I had spoken to a lawyer who said: in my OPINION, anyone with visitor status is not allowed to perform any sort of work
He advised me to call CIC, as I had told him I had spoken to someone (I could not remember if it was CIC or another lawyer) about the same thing and they said to simply provide an explanation letter.
Well, here is where it gets sticky...
I called CIC... they could not provide a clear answer (of course). They said: they want what is on the documents/document checklist, if you cannot provide those documents you need to provide a letter explaining why.
That didn't really answer my question, it did, but did not. I can understand what she told me and why, but I want to make sure the immigration officer knows that I do NOT work for any one, no company, not for Canadians, and I have not sold or worked for/to any Canadian (not even online), yet, I want to stay consistent, obviously, with my visitor extension information. I DO NOT want them to think I actually work (what terms should I use when discussing this by the way, instead of "work"??).
So I am wondering now, if I should simply put "N/A" considering I do not actually work, and on my other application(s) I have not said "Present" on working, and instead provided that current date. When they ask for current occupation, I assume they want/mean a legitimate job, and if I do write anything other than "N/A" or "None currently" then they might in-fact consider that an official job, which this is not.
SIDE QUESTION: As for "Intended Occupation" would it be acceptable to put "Professional Artist", I am not in nay way "professional" but rather a hobbyist-artist/graphic design artist, would they understand what I mean by "Professional Artist" ?? I looked up the specific terms for jobs, but I'd like to be more professional and work on animations, web-design, film, you name it, all I would like to do, hence why I did not put a specific intention, but instead a "Professional Artist". Would it be alright if I put "Intend to go back to school for: xyz", because I have thought of going back to school to finish my Graphic Design to obtain a degree, or become an Animal Trainer of sorts.