+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Veeeera

Newbie
Aug 24, 2026
3
0
Hi everyone,

I’m currently filling out my post-ITA e-APR (Express Entry) and I’m hitting a gray area regarding the Family section. I want to make sure I don't trigger a rejection for misrepresentation, but I'm also dealing with a very disconnected family dynamic.
Here is my situation:
  • My biological parents divorced when I was a child and I lived with my mother.
  • After I turned 18 (but before I turned 22), both of my parents remarried their current spouses.
  • I have never lived with these new spouses, nor have they ever provided me with any financial support.
  • Neither of these new marriages produced new children, but both spouses have adult children from their previous marriages:
    • Father’s spouse has a son who is my age (30). He has never lived with my father either. I know his name and birth year.
    • Mother’s spouse has a daughter who lives abroad. None of us have ever met her, and I literally do not even know her name.
My questions for this situation:
  1. Do I need to add my parents' current spouses as "step-parents" in the system, or do I just list my biological parents as "parents"?
  2. Do I need to declare these two individuals as "step-siblings"? If so, how am I supposed to list my mother's step-daughter when I don't even know her name?
  3. Is a Letter of Explanation (LoE) detailing this structure the best way to protect myself from misrepresentation?
Would love to hear from anyone who has had a similar complex family tree. Thanks in advance!