IMM 5540 question

[princesultan]

At the very end of the form, it says, "on a separate sheet of paper, provide any additional details of your current relationship that you believe would help to prove your relationship is genuine."

Is this where I include all my proof (ex: bday cards, presents, phone conversations, pictures, etc.)? Do people write a timeline here? What is generally done for this part?

 

[computergeek]

At the very end of the form, it says, "on a separate sheet of paper, provide any additional details of your current relationship that you believe would help to prove your relationship is genuine."

Is this where I include all my proof (ex: bday cards, presents, phone conversations, pictures, etc.)? Do people write a timeline here? What is generally done for this part?

Its the dreaded essay question!

I had my partner write a detailed letter about our relationship (I'm the applicant, my partner is the sponsor). The letter described the evolution of our relationship and pointed to the various supporting documents that we included with the application (and on Thursday I was told that the VO in Ottawa was convinced our relationship was genuine, so we did OK - I was worried because we have several potential red flags: my prior application rejection, a significant age difference and a significant income disparity.)

My approach to this was to look at the application and see if I was reasonably convinced that the relationship was genuine. When I was quite sure there was enough, I considered the application done. To my mind, the purpose of that attached letter was to "guide" the VO in understanding the meaning of the remaining evidence and why it demonstrated a genuine relationship. A random selection of pictures, IM chat logs, cards and e-mails work better in achieving this goal when there's an overall narrative to explain their significance - then they tell a story...

Good luck!

 

[figgy]

we wrote a letter describing our relationship, from when we met to where we are now.... all our proof such as pictures cards etc we had in a separate envelope labelled "proof of genuine relationship"...also included in this were bank statements, shared lease agreements etc...

not sure if this is the right or wrong way to do it, just did what a few other people had suggested on here. good luck!

 

[princesultan]

how many pages was the letter (not including proof such as pictures, etc)?

 

[tink23]

how many pages was the letter (not including proof such as pictures, etc)?

Both mine and my husband's relationship essay was about 1 page each. Our development of relationship question was quite long (5 pages) and so we didn't feel that we needed to repeat ourselves there. The application questions are very factual, so our letters were more about our feelings for each other, that way together, the package is very balanced. You have to write your letters based on your relationship and how u and your spouse feel it needs to be. Don't write something really long just because u think the visa officers want to see something long. Don't force the essay because then it can come across as un-genuine and contrived. If it only needs to be a few paragraphs, make it a few paragraphs. If it needs to be a few pages long, then make it a few pages long. Make it how u feel it needs to be to tell the story of your relationship. Also, it's good for both the sponsor and the applicant to write one because it will show both sides of the relationship rather than only one side.

 

[CharlieD10]

I loved that question, because it was where I got a chance to tell the VO who "we" really are. I did a timeline and essay combined, that walked the VO through our initial "meeting", all the way to the present day (when I wrote it) and expressed feelings and thoughts as I recalled them. I wanted us to be "real" to him/her, and I shared even exact quotes from conversations we had, to reactions from friends and family. I needed 10 pages for all that (it was single-sided, double-spaced!).

My husband did a page and a half, ending with "I realized if I didn't get her off the market pronto, someone else would, so I went to Jamaica and got her locked down in marriage as soon as I could." I laughed my head off when I saw it, but we submitted it as is, because that is exactly how he is.

You won't need as much as others but might need more than some. Don't force it, talk as naturally as you can about who you are together, and that will do fine, whatever format it takes.

 

[Remrov]

My boyfriend (sponsor) also wrote a detailed 'essay' about our relationship. About how me met and how our relationship developed.

 

[princesultan]

So tink23, you say there's a specific development of relationship question AND a relationship essay? Seems lime those 2 are pretty much identical no? Or am I misunderstanding you?

 

[computergeek]

So tink23, you say there's a specific development of relationship question AND a relationship essay? Seems lime those 2 are pretty much identical no? Or am I misunderstanding you?

The same question is asked in two places: once on the sponsorship form (so that's the sponsor's essay) and once on the applicants form (so that's the applicant's essay). I'd think they shouldn't be the same because they are from two different perspectives. In fact, if I were a VO and the two were identical I'd be less impressed.

 

[princesultan]

thanks again tink23. so can you tell me which forms these questions appear, i seem to not be finding one of them. i know there's one on IMM 5540, what's the other forum?

thanks!

 

[computergeek]

IMM 5490 ("Sponsored Spouse Questionnaire") also asks detailed relationship questions.

 

[tink23]

So tink23, you say there's a specific development of relationship question AND a relationship essay? Seems lime those 2 are pretty much identical no? Or am I misunderstanding you?
[/quote

Yes. The development of relationship question is #9 in the spousal questionnaire so that one for us was quite long. Then at the end of the spousal questionnaire it says to tell them anything that we feel they should know so my husband wrote a page that was about his feelings for me and how I was there for him in some difficult times. At the end of the sponsor questionnaire it says to tell them anything that might help so then I wrote a page about my feelings for my husband.

 

[princesultan]

IMM 5490 ("Sponsored Spouse Questionnaire") also asks detailed relationship questions.

Excellent. Makes perfect sense now. Thanks!

 

[blueangel371115]

Is this also were I can include letters from our family and friends supporting the ongoing relationship?

 

[computergeek]

Is this also were I can include letters from our family and friends supporting the ongoing relationship?

Yes, this is an excellent point to include reference to those materials (that's how I did it.)