Does sponsor need to be a representative if both sponsor and applicant live at the same address?

[goldfinger]

My wife (Applicant) and I (Sponsor) live at the same address. I was originally going to be her representative because I heard it was a good idea, but it looks like unpaid representatives can't link accounts to applications online, so I think I'd prefer to not be her representative due to that fact.

My wife and I live at the same address outside of Canada. I saw someone once say that living at the same address requires that the sponsor be the representative, because the sponsor can receive applicant mail or something like that. Is that true?

I'd prefer to not be her representative so that she can link her account online, but I don't want my app returned.

Any knowledge?

 

[k.h.p.]

You do not need to be her representative if you live at the same address.

You do need to be her sponsor if you ever want to call IRCC and talk to them about her application (not sure why you'd do that, but just in case)

 

[goldfinger]

You do not need to be her representative if you live at the same address.

You do need to be her sponsor if you ever want to call IRCC and talk to them about her application (not sure why you'd do that, but just in case)

Thanks for the information. I'll talk it through with her. I'm more of an oafing loudmouth so I'm a bit more apt to call people and stuff.

Is having access to the linked account worth it, do you think? It seems like that's really convenient and makes it way easier to check up on the application frequently and also makes it easier to avoid missing things. Thoughts?

 

[k.h.p.]

Sorry, in my post you quoted I did mean "you need to be her representative" if you want to call IRCC, not just sponsor.

As to linking accounts - you can only ever link an application to one GCKey account. But if your wife gives you the GCKey password and access information, you can log in and see status. It doesn't change daily or even weekly, but many of us are addicted to logging in and seeing if a comma changed positions.

 

[goldfinger]

Sorry, in my post you quoted I did mean "you need to be her representative" if you want to call IRCC, not just sponsor.

As to linking accounts - you can only ever link an application to one GCKey account. But if your wife gives you the GCKey password and access information, you can log in and see status. It doesn't change daily or even weekly, but many of us are addicted to logging in and seeing if a comma changed positions.

I figured that’s what you meant. So basically, our application won’t be sent back if we don’t fill out the representative form, but if we don’t, I won’t be able to call up IRCC and ask questions on her behalf.

You make it sound like the GCkey is mostly advantageous if you obsess over the application lol. But of we need to submit more info, it would be nice to be able to do it electronically.

 

[k.h.p.]

I figured that’s what you meant. So basically, our application won’t be sent back if we don’t fill out the representative form, but if we don’t, I won’t be able to call up IRCC and ask questions on her behalf.

You make it sound like the GCkey is mostly advantageous if you obsess over the application lol. But of we need to submit more info, it would be nice to be able to do it electronically.

What I'm saying about GCKey is this: you can link it to any GCKey account. You do not need a representative form to do so.

My wife has a GCKey account from creating an application for a visitor visa and she allows me to log in to check on it.

To link an application to a GCKey account, you only need to answer key biographical information about the applicant. You can only link the application to one GCKey account. If you try to link it to a second, it will be removed from the first.

The representative form may really be useful if you want to call them. I ran into that issue last week when I wanted an update from a human but could not get it because I had not submitted a representative form. But I have full access to the GCKey.

 

[goldfinger]

What I'm saying about GCKey is this: you can link it to any GCKey account. You do not need a representative form to do so.

My wife has a GCKey account from creating an application for a visitor visa and she allows me to log in to check on it.

To link an application to a GCKey account, you only need to answer key biographical information about the applicant. You can only link the application to one GCKey account. If you try to link it to a second, it will be removed from the first.

The representative form may really be useful if you want to call them. I ran into that issue last week when I wanted an update from a human but could not get it because I had not submitted a representative form. But I have full access to the GCKey.

I see. But the guide basically says that if you are an unpaid representative, there’s no way to link your application. I can see how it’d be helpful to have that representative access, though.

 

[armoured]

Agree with above, but would just add: I don't think there's any downside to including you as representative, so don't see why you wouldn't. You can (in theory) add later, but that may be a bit more complex.

 

[k.h.p.]

I see. But the guide basically says that if you are an unpaid representative, there’s no way to link your application. I can see how it’d be helpful to have that representative access, though.

Well, I can tell you that I linked the application, and I've not filled out a representative form.

But if you want, fill out the representative form.

 

[goldfinger]

Well, I can tell you that I linked the application, and I've not filled out a representative form.

But if you want, fill out the representative form.

I guess what I’m saying is that the instructions tell me that the applicant cannot link an account if the I’m listed as a representative. You could link because you did *not* fill out the representative form.

Agree with above, but would just add: I don't think there's any downside to including you as representative, so don't see why you wouldn't. You can (in theory) add later, but that may be a bit more complex.

I guess the big downside to me is not having GCkey access or whatever. It sounds like my being a representative would prohibit either of us from linking the application. The representative piece seems really helpful, but we would like that online access.

 

[armoured]

I guess the big downside to me is not having GCkey access or whatever. It sounds like my being a representative would prohibit either of us from linking the application. The representative piece seems really helpful, but we would like that online access.

It does not prevent you from having access - as noted,, only one gckey account can link, but you can share that account.

(I'm unpaid rep for my wife and check the account, ahem, a bit too frequently)

 

[k.h.p.]

No. You cannot link an application if a paid representative is on the file. Because it's linked to a GCKey account that is in the paid representative's portal.