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| Subject: american wife of canadian citizen |
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hi guys,
i have a few questions about my situation, i´d like it if i could get some feedback.
i married a canadian citizen a year ago. i still had a semester of school to finish before i graduated, so i only got to spend several weeks in toronto with him and his family before going back to the US. however, now that i´m out of school, i have been visiting for extended periods of time (under six months, going back to the US for a a few weeks, coming back) and we´re ready to file for me as in out of canada sponsorship case, as the immigration official we spoke to over the phone suggested, because supposedly it takes less time.
for proving that our relationship is genuine and continuing, i´ll include the fact that he put my name next to his when he bought our condo earlier, made a joint bank account for us, and skype phone calls, but what about AOL instant messenger conversations? i don´t have them saved and perhaps it was naive of me, but never considered saving them. i hope this can be overlooked in lieu of making the commitment to buy a condo together?
also, the IMM 5490 asked how long we´ve lived together; does this mean when i visit him for a few months in toronto? or does my officially being a visitor in canada not count as "living" with him? and does me staying with him now count as living together? we spoke to an immigration official on the phone about this, and she said it doesn´t matter if i stayed either in the US or in Canada while the proceedings were going on.
it also asks if i receive financial support from him. he has given me a mastercard and visa that he pays that bills for that i use when i´m here, should i provide copies of the bill?
thanks so much guys, i know it´s a lot to read but i´m so confused. should i contact a lawyer or is this manageable?
[07-09-2007,19:28]
[**.98.4.65]
melanie85 |
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(in reply to: american wife of canadian citizen)
You will get better advice here then from the tele centre. They are not really Immigration Officers and have to ask their resource person every time someone asks an unusual question.
Go to www.cic.gc.ca and seazrch for manuals and then read the Overseas Processing manuals regarding family class.
See http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op02e.pdf section 5.35
So do you vacuum, do the dishes, grocery chopping etc? Section 5.35 explains mainly about the definition of a common law relationship.
No matter what we do we interpret with our five senses. If you see it as living together then that is what it is. If you do not see it as living together with your partner then it´s not.
Take a photo of you doing houshold chores, and understand this is not rocket science its human nature.
If you never sleep over and only share a hotel bed then your not living together. If you´re own the deed, recycle and take out the garbage, clean the toilet once in a while your living together. I never make the bed!
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[08-09-2007,09:47]
[**.52.217.121]
Roy |
(in reply to: american wife of canadian citizen)
roy, thanks so much for your reply! that really put things in perspective; not only do a vacuum, do the dishes, and grocery shop, but i organize the canned goods in the pantry, sort out the laundry, and yell when he doesnt throw the teabags away properly :P
and about taking a photo of me doing household chores, are you sure it won´t seem too "posed" for the officials? i mean, there´s no doubt that i do this stuff, but i at first was hesistant about putting obvious pictures like us looking into each other´s eyes and stuff in our packet because although they´re genuine to ME, i bet people fake this stuff at times.
i think the hardest part of this sometimes is trying to be honest, while not wanting it to seem like you´re putting on an act.
also, is it possible for me to take a week-long vacation with the husband, toronto to london? will the immigration officers give me a hard time coming back, if i state i went with him, will stay in toronto for a few weeks, and then am going back to the states for a while?
[08-09-2007,16:26]
[**.98.4.65]
melanie85 |
I'm in the same boat! (in reply to: american wife of canadian citizen)
Hi Melanie,
I´ve never submitted anything on here, so I hope this works. I just wanted to say I got married almost a year ago to my canadian husband who lives in Toronto. I´m from the U.S. just like you. We have just finished our Sponsorship application. My husband is going to be sending it out soon. I didn´t include any emails or conversations, or phone bills as proof. I can´t believe we were expected to save all this stuff. How were we to know, right? I might want send more things to my husband because I really didn´t include that much. Some letters, bus tickets, movie tickets, transfers, day passes, "thinking of you" cards and photos. When we called immigration, they said we could send a CD of photos. But maybe all that is enough? How do we know whats enough? Feel free to ask me any questions about the application. I know it can seem confusing. I have a question for you, you stayed for months at a time? I´ve never done that because I wasn´t sure if it was allowed. What do you say at the border? So I can just say I´m going to stay with my husband for awhile but I will come back to the U.S. before 6 months is up? Then how long do you have to wait till you can go up again to stay for another so many months? I know this message is soo long but I am really grateful to have found someone on here in similar shoes, a blessing.
Thanks
[09-09-2007,01:50]
[**.34.12.32]
Marie |
(in reply to: american wife of canadian citizen)
Visitors are suppose to leave and if you say your coming to stay with your husband they will think you´re not going to leave.
The best way of bypassing this is to show registration in an educational course that starts in a few months or something like that. You could be coming to visit someone else and then change your mind and stay with him------
The key is schedule one, show a US residential address and submit the forms the day you arrive in Canada for your visit. Then your only visiting bbut you reside in the states. By the time your status expires you will be landed. If not drive across the bridge and turn around. This applies mainly to US partners.
Roy
www.cvimmigratin.com
[09-09-2007,09:58]
[**.52.216.91]
Roy |
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