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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY July 16 - 31, 2016
Immigration
Corner
By Giovanni G. Mata
In the previous articles,
we looked at the ten (10)
common
mistakes
that
applicants usually make in
their application for spousal
sponsorship application. In
this article, I will share to you
the tips on how to prepare
a
complete
application
package.
How do you know
that you have a complete
application package? You
definitely have one if you have
submitted all the required
application forms, answered
all the questions on the forms,
submitted the necessary
supporting documents, and
paid the application fees.
There are two types
of
spousal
sponsorship,
namely: the outside and
inland applications. Each
type has its own application
package. The sponsor and
the sponsored persons have
different forms to complete.
Before completing the forms,
make sure that you have
read the instruction guide
and the application package.
There is also a country
specific
instructions
for
SPOUSAL SPONSORSHIP: Part 4 – TIPS on how to
submit a complete spousal application package
applications outside
Canada.
For
sponsored
spouses and dependents who
are in the Philippines, the
country specific instruction
is IMM3905. Make sure that
you have all the original of the
application forms noted in the
document checklist and the
country specific instruction.
You can download the forms
and guides for free from the
IRCC website.
In
answering
the
questions on the forms, make
sure that you will not leave
any question unanswered.
In questions that do not
apply to your circumstances,
write “Not Applicable” or
“N/A”. If you need enough
space to write the answers
or information requested, do
not hesitate to write them in
a separate sheet of paper. In
all separate sheet, put the
name of the applicant, date of
birth, IMM form number, and
question and the additional
answers. This is important in
order for the reviewing officer
to identify which forms and
questions are being referred
to in the separate sheet.
In
gathering
your
supporting
documents,
always follow the order of
documents listed in the
document checklist. Make
sure also that English or
French translations are made
for documents not in the said
languages. You must submit
all the relevant and material
documents which would
establish that your marriage
or common law/conjugal
relationship is genuine and
was not entered into primarily
for immigration purposes. You
should submit photographs
that will show the development
of your relationship. You print
the photos on a paper with
descriptions like who, when,
where and what are depicted
in the pictures. You also need
to submit the original photos
printed on a photo paper.
You likewise need to submit
letters, greeting cards, emails,
telephone bills, remittance
slips, and other documents
that will show the existence
of your relationship. If you are
in a common law or conjugal
relationship, you also need to
submit proof
of cohabitation
or
conjugal
relationship
for at least 12
months prior to the application,
such as: joint ownership of
properties, joint finances,
life
insurances
naming
each other as beneficiary,
and statutory declaration
of at least two disinterested
persons who can attest the
existence of your relationship.
If a child is born out of your
marriage or partnership,
you need to submit the birth
certificate. If you have a prior
marriage, you should also
submit proof of dissolution
of the said marriage such as
divorce or annulment decree,
or any court order confirming
separation.
You also need to submit
original police certificates,
proof of medical examination,
sponsor’s proof of income or
employment photos, identity
and civil status documents,
and
travel
documents
or passports. In order to
ensure that you have all
the supporting documents,
always refer to the document
checklist and country specific
instruction, if applicable.
In regard to fees, there
are two types: 1) Processing
fees and 2) Right of permanent
residence fees. Processing
fees must be included with
the application while the
right of permanent residence
fee can be paid later when
requested by IRCC. Payment
can be made online or thru
bank draft or money order.
If you submit an
incomplete
application
package, the processing
of your application may be
refused or delayed. Part 5
of this article series will be
about conditional permanent
residence for sponsored
spouses.
Giovanni is an articled
student at Equity Law
Group. Articling is the last
phase of becoming a lawyer
in Canada. Law Society of
British Columbia Rule 2-60
permits an articled student
to provide all legal services
that a lawyer can offer, with
some exceptions. He is
also a licensed immigration
consultant
with
ICCRC,
a Philippine Trial lawyer,
Certified International Trade
Professional in Canada, and
an Arbitrator. If you need
help with your sponsorship
application or have questions
about the process, you can
reach him at giovanni@
equitylawgroup.ca
Disclaimer: This article is
for information purposes only
and not to provide specific
legal advice.
Ombudsman Morales wins
Ramon Magsaysay Award
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio
Morales was named as among
the recipients of the 2016 Ramon
Magsaysay Awards.
According to the Ramon
Magsaysay Award Foundation, Morales
was cited for her “moral courage
and commitment to justice in taking
head-on one of the most intractable
problems in the Philippines,” which is
corruption.
She was likewise acknowledged
for improving the conviction rate
of cases handled by the Office of
the Ombudsman (OMB) before the
Sandiganbayan from 33.3 percent to
74.5 percent.
“(Morales) prioritized the filing of
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
cases against high-ranking officials,
sending the strong signal that OMB
is earnest in its anti-corruption
campaign,” the foundation said.
The award-giving body, widely
regarded as Asia’s version of the Noble
Peace Prize, will also bestow the award
to India’s Bezwada Wilson and Thodur
Madabusi Krishna, Dompet Dhuafa
of Indonesia, the Japan Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers, the Ventiane
Rescue of Laos.
The formal conferment of the
Ramon Magsaysay Awards will be on
August 31 at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines. (mb.com)