two questions on sponsoring American wife

[silky28]

Hey all,

got 2 quick questions for you wizards...

1) on supporting documents for the sponsor

I am sponsoring my American wife. I have not been married previously and do not have a co-signer and am obviously not in a common-law relationship and have no adopted children. Based on form IMM-5491 I only need to supply supporting documents for boxes 13, 17 and 18, am I correct on that? If so, a scan of my passport, a letter from my employer, and my tax assessment is all I need? doesn't seem like a lot!

according to box 14 I do not have to supply a marriage certificate because my wife is not co-signing. Am I correct?

2) question about the letter of employment

So I am not employed in the traditional sense. I am a PhD student who receives a substantial scholarship and am employed as a teaching assistant. I asked my department for a letter of employment and they sent me the offer of admission to the PhD program that states the total value of my scholarship + teaching assistantship. Would that suffice?

 

[scylla]

1) Marriage certificate is mandatory as relationship proof. You also need to supply other relationship proof (photos, communications, other evidence from your marriage, joint bills, any joint property, etc.) - the marriage certificate won't suffice.
2) Yes - that will be fine.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

1) on supporting documents for the sponsor

Based on form IMM-5491 I only need to supply supporting documents for boxes 13, 17 and 18, am I correct on that? If so, a scan of my passport, a letter from my employer, and my tax assessment is all I need? doesn't seem like a lot!

according to box 14 I do not have to supply a marriage certificate because my wife is not co-signing. Am I correct?

2) question about the letter of employment

So I am not employed in the traditional sense. I am a PhD student who receives a substantial scholarship and am employed as a teaching assistant. I asked my department for a letter of employment and they sent me the offer of admission to the PhD program that states the total value of my scholarship + teaching assistantship. Would that suffice?

Hi

1. You don't need to include a copy of the marriage certificate with the sponsor forms/documents but as scylla said, you still need a copy for relationship proof, as per the applicant checklist.

 

[silky28]

So just to clarify...

I do not need it for #14 on the sponsor checklist but I do need for "proof of relationship" which is #25 on the Sponsored Person's checklist? If so that is what I thought.

 

[CDNPR2014]

So just to clarify...

I do not need it for #14 on the sponsor checklist but I do need for "proof of relationship" which is #25 on the Sponsored Person's checklist? If so that is what I thought.

you only need to submit 1 copy. if it's on both checklists, then you need to check both as included. your marriage certificate will confirm your eligibility as a spouse.

 

[andydandy]

your tax assessment needs to be the option c printout that you can order from CRA. it's not just the one page tax assessment letter that CRA sends you each year after you file your taxes.

 

[silky28]

I downloaded the Tax Assessment from my "My Account" page on the CRA website.

 

[andydandy]

I downloaded the Tax Assessment from my "My Account" page on the CRA website.

I'm not sure if that is the same thing. Maybe someone else can comment? There is a statement that says one of the most common causes of delay is that the option c printout of the tax assessment is not provided. I got mine mailed to me by calling the CRA and speaking to an agent.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I downloaded the Tax Assessment from my "My Account" page on the CRA website.

That's fine.

I'm not sure if that is the same thing. Maybe someone else can comment? There is a statement that says one of the most common causes of delay is that the option c printout of the tax assessment is not provided. I got mine mailed to me by calling the CRA and speaking to an agent.

CIC stopped requiring an Option C awhile ago. As stated on the checklist, they require an NOA printed from the CRA "My Account".