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Question about Christmas/Birthday Card (spousal sponsorship)

tsdanza

Full Member
Dec 16, 2010
24
1
Hi,

Someone had advised me that unless you have a stamped envelope to confirm the date its useless to send birthday/Christmas cards (even with long letters inside) as part of your supporting evidence. I can see why it might be, as the mailing date is really the only semi-reliable method of proving the date.

Can anyone comment?
 

patiently_waiting

Hero Member
Nov 29, 2010
385
26
Category........
Visa Office......
London UK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
September 22, 2010
AOR Received.
November 26, 2010
File Transfer...
November 1, 2010
Med's Done....
July 13, 2010
Passport Req..
February 14, 2011
I sent all mine without envelopes. It never occurred to me, but I don't think it wouldn't hurt to send them anyway as long as you can support the timeline of your relationship. Wedding invitations addressed to you would be good as they are dated.
 

whoopsydaisy

Full Member
Dec 13, 2010
35
1
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
I don't think it'd do any harm to send those envelopes/cards with the application. If it doesn't help, no big deal; if it helps, GOOD! :)
 

fleo

Star Member
Nov 27, 2010
164
10
Category........
Visa Office......
Vegreville
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-01-2011
Med's Done....
23-12-2010
A lot of cards in my application came without a stamped envelope (for instance, Christmas cards that my family sent to us were inside of gift boxes, and boxes were the ones actually mailed), but I included them anyway - they name us both as recipients, they're signed by my family members (which can be linked to the application itself), and they're just plain effin' cute :) It can't hurt, and it might do some good.
 

patiently_waiting

Hero Member
Nov 29, 2010
385
26
Category........
Visa Office......
London UK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
September 22, 2010
AOR Received.
November 26, 2010
File Transfer...
November 1, 2010
Med's Done....
July 13, 2010
Passport Req..
February 14, 2011
Originals, I didn't expect them to send them back however I do know some people do get their pictures and cards back so that would be a bonus! ;D
 

QCSunshine

Hero Member
Aug 25, 2010
425
13
Job Offer........
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I sent copies. On 8 1/2 x 11 pages, and I wrote what each card was (the occasion), so it was clear why I was sending it. I figured if they wanted to see the originals, I could bring them if there was an interview.
 

Baloo

VIP Member
Nov 30, 2009
4,879
205
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QCSunshine said:
I sent copies. On 8 1/2 x 11 pages, and I wrote what each card was (the occasion), so it was clear why I was sending it. I figured if they wanted to see the originals, I could bring them if there was an interview.
Like you I scanned the front and inside of the card, then I added a description in the main document.
 

MandiF

Hero Member
Sep 7, 2010
484
38
Alberta Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
London, UK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
22-10-2010
File Transfer...
19-11-2010
Med's Done....
02-09-2010
Passport Req..
05-01-2011
VISA ISSUED...
10-02-2011
LANDED..........
25-02-2011
Baloo said:
Like you I scanned the front and inside of the card, then I added a description in the main document.
I also scanned them all in, front page and inside and wrote what they were for and when they were for.
 

pinklady

Champion Member
Jan 13, 2011
1,526
45
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London
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App. Filed.......
16-12-2010
Passport Req..
28-02-2011
LANDED..........
09-04-2011
I took photos of weddings cards and the messages inside then printed them on printer paper, then wrote a brief description, i.e. who it was from and relationship to me/my husband.
 

canadianwoman

VIP Member
Nov 6, 2009
6,200
282
Category........
Visa Office......
Accra, Ghana
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App. Filed.......
30-01-2008
Interview........
05-05-2009
tsdanza said:
Someone had advised me that unless you have a stamped envelope to confirm the date its useless to send birthday/Christmas cards (even with long letters inside) as part of your supporting evidence. I can see why it might be, as the mailing date is really the only semi-reliable method of proving the date.
It is better to send cards and letters with the envelope to prove the date, but I would send them even if I no longer had the envelope. Visa officers must realize that not everyone keeps envelopes, in particular if they are not planning a spousal sponsorship years ahead! It is extra evidence, which may or may not be considered important, depending on the visa officer.
I say send them, they can't hurt and may help.
 

missmini

Champion Member
Oct 6, 2009
1,777
70
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Amman
App. Filed.......
01-2012
Doc's Request.
05-2012 (CSQ approved)
AOR Received.
07-2012
File Transfer...
04-2012
Med's Done....
11-2011 (extended until 11-2013)
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
02-2013 (finalyyyyyy)
LANDED..........
07-2013 (DONE - thank u all :):):))
send them anyways, with or without an envelope date; we r giving each other cards on many occasions and we have no mailing dates either, since we r giving them in person :) the ones sent overseas were also inside parcels with no date either; if it makes u more comfortable, u can write that the cards were sent inside specific package and show the date of the package and ur names written on it

don't send originals, scans should do the job
 

patiently_waiting

Hero Member
Nov 29, 2010
385
26
Category........
Visa Office......
London UK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
September 22, 2010
AOR Received.
November 26, 2010
File Transfer...
November 1, 2010
Med's Done....
July 13, 2010
Passport Req..
February 14, 2011
Hey there, I sent all originals and London has returned them to me yesterday, nothing missing and in perfect conditions. ;D
 

Baloo

VIP Member
Nov 30, 2009
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canadianwoman said:
It is better to send cards and letters with the envelope to prove the date, but I would send them even if I no longer had the envelope. Visa officers must realize that not everyone keeps envelopes, in particular if they are not planning a spousal sponsorship years ahead! It is extra evidence, which may or may not be considered important, depending on the visa officer.
I say send them, they can't hurt and may help.
I also scanned any envelopes that I had.
 

Jez

Full Member
Jul 26, 2010
47
3
Gatineau, QC
Category........
Visa Office......
Sydney, Australia
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
22/9/2010
AOR Received.
2/12/2010
File Transfer...
20/10/2010
Med's Done....
26/7/2010
Passport Req..
8/2/2011
VISA ISSUED...
5/3/2011
LANDED..........
24/3/2011
You can send originals (cards with stamped envelopes, etc) but what if your application was lost in transit? Chances are nothing will happen though I can't think of anything worse!!

We photocopied all our supporting evidence, annotated them with dates and had everything witnessed by a JP. There was no reason to send anything like a stamped envelope because we'd already declared before the law that the evidence was true.