IMM 5490 form: Am I overthinking this?

[MilesAway]

Hi folks,

I'm the future sponsor preparing for the ordeal. We will hopefully be getting married in April, but I'm trying to understand what will need to be done as I am living with my other half and not at home, so getting documents from home will be challenging (hence I want to know exactly what I need so I can have it all sent at once).

So my other half and I have been looking at the 5490 form. I think my brain has turned to mush from overthinking this, and I have utterly confused myself. I'm hoping someone could clarify some things please.

Question 1: For the first question, my partner and I exchanged e-mails, although neither of us had any idea of what would happen later. I didn't know clue in that it was her I was e-mailing until much later. Let me explain, our first e-mails were me inquiring about playing hockey while I was studying here. Since she was/is the webmaster, I contacted her. Her name wasn't even in the e-mails. Should I mention these e-mails? Technically speaking we corresponded before meeting in person, but not in the typical sense of dating sites or whatnot.

Question 2: I cannot remember the exact date when I first met her in person, because again, it was not a romantic encounter. Hockey practice sometime in September 2009. I will write a letter explaining this. Or do they only want our first romantic meeting?

Question 3: This is where I gave myself a headache. Do I indicate the person who gave the link to a forum where I found the website for the hockey team? Do I indicate the hockey team (which does not know about our relationship given the status of same-sex relationships in this country)? Or can I just say no, because we introduced ourselves at practice?

For the question about financial support: I sent her money once in the hopes in would help her get a TRV to visit me in Canada (It didn't). I don't have the receipt anymore, and in fact, she later used that money to pay for my plane ticket to move to be with her in August 2011. I should be honest and indicate it, but I don't have receipts, and it was only once. Since we now live together, there's no financial support as such, but we have more or less combined finances (not officially, again, same-sex issues).


Also, about cohabitation, I am confused here. Shortly after she moved in, I had to go work at a summer camp just outside the city. I stayed there during the week and went home on Saturday night, to return on Sunday. I did this for a month. She would have come to be with me, but I was given explicit notice at work that such a thing would not be acceptable given that my partner is not opposite sex. So does that mean that I cannot count this month in the cohabitation "record"? There was no way for me to return to be with her at nights, since I do not have a car and the bus/train schedules did not allow for it.

Any ideas? I've read the guide(several times), but now I'm just getting myself more and more confused.

Thanks in advance!

 

[AnaMaria]

I would put what you think happened. And in your essay, which is not listed in the document check list but many people do, I think, you elaborate what happened. The form is for everyone, very generalized. I never exchanged money with receipts. Again, explain it in your essay, why you did not need to send money and why you did not keep the receipt. I think your summer camp is not where you "lived". You still had your place for receiving mail and paying your utility bills, I suppose. So that is where you lived and you were on sort of business trip at summer camp.

Relax and follow your instinct ! If you need, elaborate in your essay.

 

[pelipeli]

Hi folks,

I'm the future sponsor preparing for the ordeal. We will hopefully be getting married in April, but I'm trying to understand what will need to be done as I am living with my other half and not at home, so getting documents from home will be challenging (hence I want to know exactly what I need so I can have it all sent at once).

So my other half and I have been looking at the 5490 form. I think my brain has turned to mush from overthinking this, and I have utterly confused myself. I'm hoping someone could clarify some things please.

Question 1: For the first question, my partner and I exchanged e-mails, although neither of us had any idea of what would happen later. I didn't know clue in that it was her I was e-mailing until much later. Let me explain, our first e-mails were me inquiring about playing hockey while I was studying here. Since she was/is the webmaster, I contacted her. Her name wasn't even in the e-mails. Should I mention these e-mails? Technically speaking we corresponded before meeting in person, but not in the typical sense of dating sites or whatnot.

Yes, definitely mention this, its a great story, and nothing bad can come out of this

Question 2: I cannot remember the exact date when I first met her in person, because again, it was not a romantic encounter. Hockey practice sometime in September 2009. I will write a letter explaining this. Or do they only want our first romantic meeting?

They want the very first time you met, romantic or not. some couples here are friends before being romantically involved so it should definitely be the very first time. You can provide an explanation if necessary

Question 3: This is where I gave myself a headache. Do I indicate the person who gave the link to a forum where I found the website for the hockey team? Do I indicate the hockey team (which does not know about our relationship given the status of same-sex relationships in this country)? Or can I just say no, because we introduced ourselves at practice?

I guess you are referring to the question "were you introduced? " ? I think in your case no.

For the question about financial support: I sent her money once in the hopes in would help her get a TRV to visit me in Canada (It didn't). I don't have the receipt anymore, and in fact, she later used that money to pay for my plane ticket to move to be with her in August 2011. I should be honest and indicate it, but I don't have receipts, and it was only once. Since we now live together, there's no financial support as such, but we have more or less combined finances (not officially, again, same-sex issues).

Just try to explain that, and show some evidence of your non-official combined finances ( a joint savings acct maybe?) . I didn't have much proof of financial support also, since I am not supporting him financially before we passed the application, we just showed 1 joint bank account back home, and that's it. But i did provide an explanation for the lack thereof.


Also, about cohabitation, I am confused here. Shortly after she moved in, I had to go work at a summer camp just outside the city. I stayed there during the week and went home on Saturday night, to return on Sunday. I did this for a month. She would have come to be with me, but I was given explicit notice at work that such a thing would not be acceptable given that my partner is not opposite sex. So does that mean that I cannot count this month in the cohabitation "record"? There was no way for me to return to be with her at nights, since I do not have a car and the bus/train schedules did not allow for it.

I think this will not count as cohabitation. This is more like a vacation with you staying together. But definitely provide also a statement for this too.

Any ideas? I've read the guide(several times), but now I'm just getting myself more and more confused.

Don't panic.. We were all in the same boat once. Its a good thing you are now starting to ask questions. just read around the threads, ask and ask and ask and eventually it will all come together ;D Best of luck!

Thanks in advance!

 

[MilesAway]

Thanks guys (possibly gals?)!

I'll write the date when she brought all her stuff to my place, and explain in my essay how I had to work at the camp and could not be home at night, so I was apart from her. But yes, I definitely did not consider camp to be my home! I raced home as soon as I could to see her and have real food. I saved all the commuter train tickets which I will add to the addition proof later. My other half would have happily stayed with me, but that would have put my job in jeopardy, so we nixed that idea. *sigh* This country exasperates me sometimes.

Yes, I was referring to the question that asked if we were introduced. I think "no" is the best answer here, because otherwise I'll go in circles trying to explain it all.


There's one question that asks what language we use to communicate. If the answer is a mix of 3 languages and some words that aren't in any language? I'll try to explain that in the box, but I wonder what the VO is going to think about us. They might worry about our sanity given how our correspondence often switches betwee languages, uses words that are invented, or uses 4 languages in one sentence.

 

[Sweden]

Thanks guys (possibly gals?)!

I'll write the date when she brought all her stuff to my place, and explain in my essay how I had to work at the camp and could not be home at night, so I was apart from her. But yes, I definitely did not consider camp to be my home! I raced home as soon as I could to see her and have real food. I saved all the commuter train tickets which I will add to the addition proof later. My other half would have happily stayed with me, but that would have put my job in jeopardy, so we nixed that idea. *sigh* This country exasperates me sometimes.

Yes, I was referring to the question that asked if we were introduced. I think "no" is the best answer here, because otherwise I'll go in circles trying to explain it all.
indeed - i don't think you were introduced. I think this question is more intended in case of arranged marriage in certain cultures, where people should be introduced, and the VO wants to see that the marriage traditions were followed, but it doesn't apply in your case.


There's one question that asks what language we use to communicate. If the answer is a mix of 3 languages and some words that aren't in any language? I'll try to explain that in the box, but I wonder what the VO is going to think about us. They might worry about our sanity given how our correspondence often switches betwee languages, uses words that are invented, or uses 4 languages in one sentence.

just explain - i'm sure you will be fine. If anything, it will show that you are a real couple because you have invented your own language, your own code, and that's most couples do, in some way or another. So nothing bad about that, and the VO will nto look bad at it.

Communicating in different languages - since we are talking here about Canadians getting married with non canadians, it's very common that people communicate in different languages, as most likely people are not brought up in the same language, and it's a normal thing to try and get to know the other person's language, and incorporate... so just explain - which is the language you use most of the time, and your "second language", and the words from the 3rd one that you use, and how they are particular to the two of you, because they reflect your relationship - it's mostly a proof of your relationship, so be confident - it will go well!

For the other questions>
1- it fits to explain how your relationship developed... you started by email because you needed information about hockey games, then you met in person, liked each other, and got together as a couple - it seems like a very natural way for a relationship to develop....

2. same - include it in the explanation that you will write. Explain how you can not remember the exact day but yo know it was in september 2009, and you met in such and such etc.

3.no - see earlier.

4. financial support : it is only one aspect of the relationship, not compulsory. If you have some financial link, then write it. If you don't support each other financially for any reason, just explain - no worries.

5. Cohabitation: as long as you came home every week end, then it's like a business trip - so it "counts" - at least in my opinion. You were away on a business trip but you maintained your residence with her, left most of your stuff in the house I suppose, and did not "move out" but rather just travel because of work - and that's allowed! you kept the commuter tickets, so you can prove that you were home as much as you could, and indeed it remained your home, and not moved out...

Don't panic - you will be OK. If you have a genuine relationship, you probably have quite a lot of proofs for it. They might not be the typical ones, but be creative and include letters from friends, pictures from trip together, with family, special events you went to, etc...

Good luck - and don't hesitate to ask questions if needed!
Sweden

 

[brightredscream]

I'm also finding this document confusing...

It seems to lean heavily towards me (his sponsor) spending more time in the US, when he spent more time here with me in Canada.

It asks if we've lived together, would you count the time that he's stayed with me during his visits as living together? He's never stayed in a hotel, he's always stayed with me...the longest being for over 6 months. Would I list every time he's stayed with me as being cohabitation?

Then in question #28 - are you currently living with your sponsor...
If he puts no, it asks when I returned to Canada. I've never lived anywhere but Canada - so what should we do for this?

 

[Sweden]

well it depends if you are married or not. If you are trying to prove common law, you need 12 months of continuous cohabitation, so if you come back to Canada in between you can not add all the periods you have lived together to reach 12 - it needs to be 12 months in a row....

but if you are married, you can add a sheet to explain when he stayed with you, so it will show that your marriage is genuine and you try and spend as much time as possible together, even if he can not move to Canada with you.

for the question about living in Canada - explain that you are currently living in Canada and spend there most of your time, this is where you live, and you only go to the US for visits - most of the time he comes to stay with you. It will make your sponsor approval easier because you won't have to prove that you are returning to Canada as you live there.

Good luck,
Sweden