Help finalizing my application package

[morgan22]

I'm finalizing my application package to be sponsored for Canadian permanent residence by my wife, who is a Canadian citizen. A few questions:

-I've read about people including a cover letter with their application. What kind of information goes into the cover letter? Does anyone have a template for this?

-For our marriage certificate and birth certificates, do we need to include originals? If copies are sufficient, must they be certified copies?

-My wife is a self-employed artist and musician, so we're including copies of contracts she's done, info on her student loan and mortgage, and proof of her membership in an artist's union. Should I include anything from my side with regards to my finances?

-I'm applying outland from the U.S. My wife and I plan on being in Asia during the winter. What happens if I get called for an interview in the US and can't attend?

 

[taffy7]

I am applying outland from the U.k . for my spose, photocopies are fine , it does not say certified , but i got mind all certified . Sponsor either or P.R card
Canadian citizen or Canadian passport .
Originals of police certificates , copy of medical examination . Sorry i'm new at this also , so cant be of to much help .
Cover letter i prepared just said sponsor name , (me) who i was sponsoring ( husband name ) and what class i was applying for (family ) date of birth of the applicant .

 

[Rob_TO]

-I've read about people including a cover letter with their application. What kind of information goes into the cover letter? Does anyone have a template for this?

We included a simple table of contents, which listed all the relationship proofs and documents we included. We put a small sticky tab on each document, that corresponded to the number in the table of contents.

-For our marriage certificate and birth certificates, do we need to include originals? If copies are sufficient, must they be certified copies?

If they are in english/french just a regular photocopy is fine.
If they are not in english/french, then you need a certified copy and certified translation done.

-My wife is a self-employed artist and musician, so we're including copies of contracts she's done, info on her student loan and mortgage, and proof of her membership in an artist's union. Should I include anything from my side with regards to my finances?

The student loan and mortgage finances are NOT required. Just her income information like the Option C from CRA.
You as the applicant are not required to include any financial info.

-I'm applying outland from the U.S. My wife and I plan on being in Asia during the winter. What happens if I get called for an interview in the US and can't attend?

Interview will be in the US, and you must attend! You can ask to postpone it but that could cause a big delay in your processing time. However in most cases an interview is not required unless the VO has doubts about your relationship.

 

[Betina]

I'm finalizing my application package to be sponsored for Canadian permanent residence by my wife, who is a Canadian citizen. A few questions:

-I've read about people including a cover letter with their application. What kind of information goes into the cover letter? Does anyone have a template for this?

-For our marriage certificate and birth certificates, do we need to include originals? If copies are sufficient, must they be certified copies?

-My wife is a self-employed artist and musician, so we're including copies of contracts she's done, info on her student loan and mortgage, and proof of her membership in an artist's union. Should I include anything from my side with regards to my finances?

-I'm applying outland from the U.S. My wife and I plan on being in Asia during the winter. What happens if I get called for an interview in the US and can't attend?

1. We didn't include a cover letter, but detailed stuff on separate sheets of paper. Mostly details about our relationship. If you want a cover letter I think it means a personal statement signed by both of you about your case: presenting yourselves, your story, your situation + every extra document and relationship proof you add.

2. Except for the police certificate - must be original + certified translation if not in english or french - the rest should only be photocopied (if originals are in english or french).

3. Your wife should only include her Option C. No need for loan and mortgage. You are asked in the forms about your current yearly income. I didn't include anything else. If they will need it, they will ask for it

4. If you are applying outland from the US, you will probably go through Ottawa VO, that has 14 months listed as average processing. Plus about 1 month for the Sponsorship Approval. It is really unlikely that you will be called for an interview as soon as January or February. But, just in case you do, I have no idea what will happen if you don't show up. Just keep in mind that they usually notify you at least 3-4 weeks in advance.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Good answers above. I'll throw my 2 cents in too

1. We didn't include a cover letter.

2. Just normal copies unless not in English or French, then you need certified copy and translation.

3. Though there is no financial requirement to be able to sponsor a spouse, if your wife's income is quite low, you could include proof of your income and savings too. And I agree completely with the above posters, don't include details about your wife's loan and mortgage.

4. As you are American and you guys have a solid relationship of several years with lots of evidence (I'm assuming ), there is next to no chance of you being called for an interview unless you have a big red flag that you haven't mentioned.

 

[morgan22]

Thanks, everyone. A follow-up question:

Why shouldn't we include my wife's student loan and mortgage info? I thought this might prove that she has assets and is in good financial standing.

Should I avoid sending the CIC more than they ask for? Or will they just ignore what they don't need?

 

[Rob_TO]

Why shouldn't we include my wife's student loan and mortgage info? I thought this might prove that she has assets and is in good financial standing.

Should I avoid sending the CIC more than they ask for? Or will they just ignore what they don't need?

How is a student loan an asset? Anyways CIC won't care, as there is no specific income requirement to sponsor spouses. CIC doesn't do or care about credit checks. They just want to make sure you have a plan for sponsor/applicant to live without needing to go on welfare.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Why shouldn't we include my wife's student loan and mortgage info? I thought this might prove that she has assets and is in good financial standing.

Should I avoid sending the CIC more than they ask for? Or will they just ignore what they don't need?

Her student loan and mortgage aren't assets, they are debts; CIC doesn't need to know about them. Just send what is asked for in the forms and checklists. By sending unnecessary stuff, I think you just risk annoying or even pissing off the VO who has to then sort out what is and is not actually needed for the app.

 

[morgan22]

OK. Thanks everyone.

A few more questions:

-Can I submit my application before my Police Clearance Certificates come through?

-My wife assumed my surname when we got married a few weeks ago. The earliest she can apply for a new passport under her new surname is in late October. However, I want to submit my PR application within the next few days. On the sponsor documents, should we use my wife's new surname or her old one? My concern is that they'll start to process my application before her name change is in the system.

 

[Alurra71]

It will make no difference to them if they begin the process before her name is changed in the system. I think you should use whatever name is going to be used for HER identifying document / proof. It shouldn't make any difference at all to your application once her name is changed anyhow.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

-Can I submit my application before my Police Clearance Certificates come through?

-My wife assumed my surname when we got married a few weeks ago. The earliest she can apply for a new passport under her new surname is in late October. However, I want to submit my PR application within the next few days. On the sponsor documents, should we use my wife's new surname or her old one? My concern is that they'll start to process my application before her name change is in the system.

You can submit it without the police certificate but be sure to include a letter explaining that you have applied for it, when you did and when you expect it; include proof if you have it, like a payment receipt.

It's only an issue when the applicant is changing names mid process, it doesn't really matter if the sponsor changes names. Use the surname on her passport to fill out all of the forms.