Spouse Sponsorship Package ALMOST complete - PLEASE HELP!

[SoniFaheem]

Hi! We (me the Sponsor, my husband the Principal Applicant) are getting ready to submit our Family Class Sponsorship of Spouse OUTSIDE of Canada application package and I have a few last minute IMPORTANT questions - please help! ??? ??? ???


1. IS it mandatory to fill in the PDF forms electronically? In the Guide 3999, it states:

Submit the application form

When submitting your application, to ensure your encoded data is captured, you must include the last page or pages which contain your unique barcodes.

Note: This page is only available when you complete your application electronically (on a computer).

Does this mean I HAVE to fill these forms online, validate and then print, sign & submit? Or do I still have the option of filling forms manually? Would manually filling them by hand hurt the process (other than possibly forgetting a section in error)?

2. We have no additional dependants. Should we still sign and date form IMM 0008 and just put N/A on the form?


3. In the Family Class Sponsorship Guide Part 3: Country Specific Instructions (Pakistan in my husband's case) the checklist titled Appendix A Document Checklist - Immigrant states in item no. 12 (Identity and Civil Status Documents):

For any family member who is a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada, send a photocopy of either:
-Citizenship Certificate
-Permanent Resident Card
-Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
-Immigrant Visa

Firstly - the 'family member' they are referring to - would that be me, his spouse that is sponsoring him?
Second - I am a Canadian Citizen. I have a Canadian Passport and I have my Canadian Citizenship CARD. I no longer have the certificate (long story - it was lost years ago). Am I allowed to submit a copy of either passport or citizenship card as proof of my Canadian citizenship? I have heard tales of the application process for a new certificate taking 6 months to issue!

Please help...........

 

[rhcohen2014]

1. no, it is not mandatory to fill the forms in online. it specifies you must use black ink. i filled all forms out by hand and had absolutely no issues whatsoever.

2. you can either just write n/a on the form and submit it, or write n/a on the checklist and not submit the form. either works fine if you don't have dependants.

3. "family member" in this sense is anyone else included on the application for sponsorship (ie: children, parents). Same thing for any reference to "spouse". that is in the case a couple is being sponsored together by someone else. you are the sponsor. you are not applying to be sponsored.

4. if you are the sponsor, then i think all you need is a copy of your passport. i don't recall needing to supply my husband's birth certificate. just a copy of his passport is all they needed for an identity document.

 

[SoniFaheem]

Thank you so kindly for your super speedy response!!!
I appreciate this so much!!

 

[SoniFaheem]

Just had another question come to mind - not sure if you can also guide me on this one:

There is a form that my husband needs to fill out which details his activities since the age 18 as well as provide supporting documentation.

There was a period in which he was unemployed - how would he account for that? Any suggestions?

 

[rhcohen2014]

did he received unemployment benefits? it's the only thing i could think of. make sure to write the information about him being unemployed, don't skip that time as they will ask you to redo it. if there's no proof of unemployment, let them know.

 

[SoniFaheem]

Thank YOU so much! You are so quick with responses! Bless you! thank you!!!
No unemployment benefits but will be sure to include the details regardless to cover all gaps. Many thanks!!

 

[CMLR]

We used a consultant and she did have us send both of our passports and birth certificates with out application. I don't know if we had too but it is what we did.They only need your husbands work over the last 10 years not since he was 18 unless he is 28 or younger. I had years when I was an at home spouse raising children, I listed that as my activities and this seemed to be fine for explanation. I don't know if my information is helpful for you but I thought I would give you what I did for reference as well as seeing what other people did on their applications. Good Luck

 

[rhcohen2014]

no, if the applicant is visa exempt, then ONLY a COPY of the passport is essential. Likewise, the sponsor is only obligated to send a COPY of their passport. it clearly states this on the form, and it clearly states not to send originals unless specified. Applicants requiring visas for entry will have to send in the passport when it is REQUESTED, not upfront with the application.

 

[SoniFaheem]

Brilliant - many thanks to you all for such great advice - I appreciate this so much!

 

[CMLR]

Ok, and we did only send copies of the mentioned documents not the originals.