Questions on Sponsoring a Japanese Spouse

[JRPW]

Hello.

My name is Jeff. I am a Canadian citizen living and working in Japan. My Japanese wife and I are planning on moving back to Canada next April.
I have some questions about our application form we need to send to CIC. I have looked through this forum and have found great advice from people who have gone through the process. However, I need some clarification.

Part One:

Question 1
As mentioned above, I live and work in Japan for the better part of a decade. On the Document Checklist, it states that I need to submit an original Option-C printout from the Canada Revenue Agency. Do I need to do this? Can I just make copies of my pay stubs from my company in Japan? Or, can I submit a financial statement from my Japanese bank showing how much money I have? Will this suffice?

Question 2
The Sponsorship Evaluation Form 5481 question 5A) is causing some trouble. What number should I write? My wife and I have no children. This is my first undertaking to sponsor anyone. What about question 6A? Do I need to include my wife again in this question?

Once again, thank you for looking at this post. Any help is appreciated!

 

[computergeek]

Question 1
As mentioned above, I live and work in Japan for the better part of a decade. On the Document Checklist, it states that I need to submit an original Option-C printout from the Canada Revenue Agency. Do I need to do this? Can I just make copies of my pay stubs from my company in Japan? Or, can I submit a financial statement from my Japanese bank showing how much money I have? Will this suffice?

I would include copies of your tax return, since that's what the Option 'C' represents. Advise them that you do not have an option 'C' printout but you are providing them with the closest thing that you have to one. The form is generic and applies to a number of cases. For spousal sponsorship there is no minimum income requirement. They just need to be convinced you won't require social assistance.

Also, I assume you understand that you will need to demonstrate a plan for returning to Canada, right?

Question 2
The Sponsorship Evaluation Form 5481 question 5A) is causing some trouble. What number should I write? My wife and I have no children. This is my first undertaking to sponsor anyone. What about question 6A? Do I need to include my wife again in this question?

You ares sponsoring your wife. So the answer would be "1" in 5A. Put zeros in all the boxes of 5B, since this is the first time you have sponsored someone.

Since your wife was included in 5A, you don't include her again in 6, as it says "Persons not included in 5. above, if applicable". So put zero in both boxes.

Good luck!

 

[JRPW]

Thank you so much!

I assume that I will need to get my tax return translated as well, correct? I have read other posts in this forum where commentators have advised Canadians living outside of Canada to have their pay stubs translated.

Yes, I do know that I have to show that I am planning a return to Canada. I was going to get my father/mother to write a letter stating that we will live with them for a month until we get settled.

Can I ask one more question?
I got a call from my wife today. She is at work getting her annual medical check-up. She talked with the nurse about her medical she just had for the visa application. What do we actually send as proof that she had it done? We have a sheet with her name, picture and the name of the physician who did the medical. It is called the IMM 1017 form. He said the results will be done in about a week (waiting for the HIV test). Will the results be sent to us or to the Philippines?

Thanks again! You're helping to alleviate stress!

 

[motorcyclerider]

That's the form you send with your application. You won't be sent the results they get sent to Manilla and wait there until the VO in Japan requests it.

 

[JRPW]

Thank you motorcyclerider!

Now my wife can take it easy! I guess the nurse told her something she didn't want to hear.

 

[AnaMaria]

Your wife did her medical at the designated doctor, right?

 

[JRPW]

Hi AnaMaria.

Yes, she did. We were lucky. We live in Fukuoka, and the designated doctor for Kyushu is only a 20 minute walk away! Doctor called two days ago and gave her the all clear. We'll send in the IMM 1017 form he gave us!

 

[AnaMaria]

Hi AnaMaria.

Yes, she did. We were lucky. We live in Fukuoka, and the designated doctor for Kyushu is only a 20 minute walk away! Doctor called two days ago and gave her the all clear. We'll send in the IMM 1017 form he gave us!

I don't expect there would be so many doctors outside of Tokyo, not to mention so close! (I did my medical in Canada.)

 

[Coolinw]

I am also a canadian living in Japan sponsoring my japanese wife to come to Canada. I have a question but cannot find any phone number to call. Do i call the phillipines, canada?? Please help. Also if we fill in the forms while in Japan, can we move to Canada while we are waiting for the answer.

 

[Sweden]

I am also a canadian living in Japan sponsoring my japanese wife to come to Canada. I have a question but cannot find any phone number to call. Do i call the phillipines, canada?? Please help. Also if we fill in the forms while in Japan, can we move to Canada while we are waiting for the answer.

Hey Coolinw,

Welcome to the forum! which stage are you in? if you are in stage 1 (sponsorship approval) then you should call the number in Canada for any question - but it can only be called from INSIDE Canada, so not so practical.
If you are in stage 2 (sponsorship approved, and file transferred to the VO), then you can contact the VO. Most Vo don't accept phone enquiries, so you would have to send a "case specific request" through their website.
If it's a general question, you can try asking here, and senior members will give you an answer - it's usually as accurate as CIC, and much faster!

ABout moving to Canada - if your wife is from a visa-exempt country ( and I assume Japan is), then you can move back before the papers are done. She will have to come as a tourist, which means that she can not work, has not healthcare etc, but she can be there. At the border there is a few things to be careful about, so if you choose that way, then I can try and explain a little more in details.

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[computergeek]

She will have to come as a tourist, which means that she can not work, has not healthcare etc, but she can be there.

She is not prohibited from working, but she would need to qualify for a work permit, either through an employer willing to obtain an LMO or another program that allows foreign workers. Also the rules around health care vary on a province-by-province basis. BC extends health care benefits to the partners of BC residents for example, as long as they have a PR application in process (and can prove the same to the MSP folks.)

 

[Coolinw]

Thanks for your help. We are planning to go to BC. I have two more questions. So I am a Canadian, my wife is Japanese. We are applying for her permanent residence. We know it will take one year to get, but we want to go to Canada in 6 months.. So my question is in the box where they ask me what our planned return date to Canada is, is it ok to write March 2013, even if that is only 5 months from now??? Also when they ask how much I make a month is it ok to write the ammount in Japanese Yen. Thanks again.

 

[Sweden]

I think it's OK to put return date March 2013, as long as you explain that you intend to go, and your wife will stay on a tourist visa and leave whenever her visa is up, to make it clear from the beginning.

It's better to put everything in CAN, in yen it will make it more complicated for them to understand. We put everything in CAN even if we get paid in different currency - just put approximate equivalent in CAN.

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[JRPW]

Hello Sweden.

Thank you for the good information. Just to elaborate on what Coolinw has posted.
My wife and I want to go back to Canada at the end of April 2013 (or mid-way through May 2013).
We plan on sending our application this week.

Question: What evidence should I give for how much money I have made in Japan? I do not plan to send a C-Option as I have been outside of Canada for almost a decade.

Thank you!

J

 

[Coolinw]

I think it's OK to put return date March 2013, as long as you explain that you intend to go, and your wife will stay on a tourist visa and leave whenever her visa is up, to make it clear from the beginning.

It's better to put everything in CAN, in yen it will make it more complicated for them to understand. We put everything in CAN even if we get paid in different currency - just put approximate equivalent in CAN.

Good luck,
Sweden

Thanks again. It is really helpfull. I will use your advice.