Sponsorship of a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child living outside Canada — Part 2: The immigrant’s guide (IMM 3999)

Completing the immigration forms

Complete the forms in block letters. Make sure all information is clear and easy to read. Your answers must be written in either the English or French language, unless instructed otherwise. If the space provided on the form is insufficient to list any information, use an additional sheet of paper, indicating the form’s title and the number of the question you are answering. Write your name and the page number at the top left corner of each additional sheet.

The following instructions will help you fill in the forms included in this kit. Because most questions are clear, instructions are not included for all the boxes but only when necessary. You must answer all questions. If you leave any sections blank, your application will be returned to you for completion and processing will be delayed. If any sections do not apply to you, answer “Not Applicable”.

WARNING! You must provide truthful and accurate information. The information provided may be verified. If you give false or misleading information, you may be found to be inadmissible and not be allowed to apply for permanent residence in Canada for a period of two years following a final determination of inadmissibility, if you are outside Canada, or following the date the removal order against you is enforced, if you are in Canada. It is a serious offence to make a false application.

Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008)

This form must be completed by the principal applicant. Page 2 of the form asks for details of family members. There is space for three family members on the form. If you have more than three family members, photocopy page 2 before you start to fill it in so you have enough space for everyone.

Category under which you are applying

Check the “Family class” box.

Number of family members

Write the total number of people included in your application, including yourself and any family members, whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not.

Preferred language

Correspondence: Indicate whether we should correspond with you in English or French.

Interview: You may be selected for an interview. Interviews can be conducted in English or French. You may also be interviewed in another language of your choice; however, you will be responsible for the cost of hiring an interpreter if one has to be hired.

1. Print your full family name (surname) as it appears on your passport or on the official documents that you will use to obtain your passport.

Print all of your given name(s) (first, second or more) as they appear on your passport or on the official documents that you will use to obtain your passport. Do not use initials.

5. Your country of citizenship. If you are a citizen of more than one country, give details on a separate sheet of paper.

6. Write your native language (the language you learned at home in childhood and still understand)

6a. Check the box to indicate which of Canada’s official languages (French or English) you use most frequently. If you do not use French or English, check the “Neither” box.

One of Canada’s objectives with respect to immigration is to support and assist the development of minority language communities in Canada.

Note: This question is not used for selection purposes

9. If you are in a common-law relationship but are not presently cohabiting with your partner, give the reason why you are separated from your partner on a separate sheet. Give also the date that separation started.

10. This section requires you to give details of your past marriages or common-law relationships. If you have never had a spouse or common-law partner other than your current one, check the “No” box and proceed to question 11. If you have had another spouse of common-law partner, check the “Yes” box and provide the details requested. If you have had more than one previous spouse or common-law partner, give details on a separate sheet of paper.

12. Level of education. - Check the box that best describes the highest level of education you have successfully completed. If you have not completed secondary school, check the “No secondary” box.

• Secondary is the level of schooling after elementary and before college, university, or other formal training.
• Trade/apprenticeship refers to completed training in an occupation, such as auto mechanics or carpentry.
• Non-university certificate or diploma refers to training in a profession that requires formal education but not at the university level (for example, dental technician or engineering technician).
• Bachelor’s degree refers to the degree (such as a Bachelor of Arts, Education, Engineering or other professional field) awarded by a college or university to those who complete the undergraduate curriculum.
• Master’s degree is a post-graduate degree earned after the completion of a Bachelor’s degree.
• PhD is the highest university degree, usually based on at least three years graduate study and a dissertation. It is usually earned after the completion of a Master’s degree.

14. Your mailing address. This is the address we will use to mail correspondence regarding your application. Print your address in English and, if applicable, also in your own native script. If you live in China, make sure you also give your mailing address in Pinyin. Attach another sheet of paper if you need more space. If you decide to appoint a Canadian representative to act on your behalf and wish to have any communication relating to your application sent to him or her, write “see form IMM 5476” in box 14. Complete, sign and attach form IMM 5476, Use of a Representative.

Details of family members

Your family members are your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, and your dependent children (start with the oldest). You must include all of your family members (who are not already permanent residents of Canada or Canadian citizens), whether they intend to immigrate with you or not. Any other relative (your mother, father, sister or brother, for instance) is not considered a family member for the purpose of this application. If you have more than three family members, attach a separate sheet of paper with the same information provided in the same order.

• Family name: As it appears on the family member’s passport or official documents he or she will use to obtain his or her passport.
• Given name(s): Print all of the family member’s given name(s) (first, second or more) as they appear on his or her passport or on the official documents that he or she will use to obtain his or her passport. Do not use initials.
• Country of citizenship: If your family member is a citizen of more than one country, provide details on a separate sheet of paper.
• Relationship to you: Indicate whether the family member is your spouse, common-law partner, son or daughter.
• Will accompany you to Canada: Indicate whether or not your family member will accompany you to Canada. “Accompany” means the person will immigrate to Canada before the visa expires but may arrive in Canada after you.
• Native language: Write your family member’s native language (the language he/she learned at home in childhood and still understand)
  
  Check the box to indicate which of Canada’s official languages (French or English) your family member uses most frequently. If he/she does not use French or English, check the “Neither” box.

• Education: Indicate the level of education successfully completed by the family member using the categories listed in Question 12.
• Photos: Ask a photographer to provide you with a set of photos of yourself and each of your family members included in your application, whether they will be accompanying you or not. The required number of photos for each individual is indicated at Appendix A, under PHOTOS. Photos must comply with specifications given at Appendix B , Photo Specifications. Make sure you give a copy of these specifications to the photographer.
  • On the back of one photo (and only one) in each set, write the name and date of birth of the person appearing in the photo as well as the date the photo was taken.
  • Enclose each set of photos in separate envelopes. Write the family member’s name, date of birth and relationship to you on the corresponding envelope and close the envelope with a paper clip.
  • Photos must not be stapled, scratched, bent or bear any ink marks.

Note that the visa office may also require additional photos at a later date.

Schedule 1
Background / Declaration

1. Print your full family name (surname) as it appears on your passport or on the official documents that will be used for obtaining your passport.

Print all of your given name(s) (first, second or more). Do not use initials. Again, print your names as they appear on your passport or on the official documents that will be used for obtaining your passport.

6. Indicate your current status in the country where you now live (for example, citizen, permanent resident, visitor, refugee, no legal status, etc.).

9. Read each statement of question 9 carefully. Answer “yes” or “no” on behalf of yourself (and your family members, if you are the principal applicant). If you answer “yes” to any question, provide full details in the space provided. Use a separate sheet of paper if necessary.

10. Education. - Provide details of all secondary and post secondary education, beginning with the most recent program completed.

11. Personal history. - You must account for every month during the past 10 years. Under “Activity”, print your occupation or job title if you were working. If you were not working, enter what you were doing (for example, unemployed, studying, travelling).

14. Military service. - You must give details of any voluntary or compulsory service.

15. Addresses. - Write the residential addresses where you have lived since your 18th birthday, complete with the postal code. Do not use P.O. box numbers.

Declaration

Read the statements carefully. Sign and date in the boxes provided. By signing, you certify that you fully understand the questions asked and that the information you have provided is complete, truthful, and correct. If you do not sign, the application will be returned to your sponsor.

Solemn Declaration and Interpreter Declaration

Do not complete this section unless you are asked to do so by a visa officer at an interview.

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Complete this form if you are appointing a representative.

If you have dependent children aged 18 years or older, they are required to complete their own copy of this form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.

A representative is someone who has your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. When you appoint a representative, you also authorize CIC to share information from your case file to this person.

You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not. If you choose to hire a representative, your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome.

The representative you appoint is authorized to represent you only on matters related to the application you submit with this form. You can appoint only one representative for each application you submit.

There are two types of representatives:

Unpaid representatives

• friends and family members who do not charge a fee for their advice and services
• organizations that do not charge a fee for providing immigration advice or assistance (such as a non-governmental or religious organization)
• consultants, lawyers and Québec notaries who do not, and will not, charge a fee to represent you

Paid representatives

If you want us to conduct business with a representative who is, or will be charging a fee to represent you, he or she must be authorized. Authorized representatives are:

• immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)
• lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society and students-at-law under their supervision
• notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and students-at-law under their supervision

If you appoint a paid representative who is not a member of one of these designated bodies, your application will be returned. For more information on using a representative, visit our website.

Section B.

5. Your representative’s full name

If your representative is a member of CSIC, a law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, print his or her name as it appears on the organization’s membership list.

8. Your representative’s declaration

Your representative must sign to accept responsibility for conducting business on your behalf.

Section D.

10. Your declaration

By signing, you authorize us to complete your request for yourself and your dependent children under 18 years of age. If your spouse or common-law partner is included in this request, he or she must sign in the box provided.

Release of information to other individuals

To authorize CIC to release information from your case file to someone other than a representative, you will need to complete form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) which is available on our website and from Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates abroad.

The person you designate will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, he or she will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with CIC.

You must notify us if your representative’s contact information changes or if you cancel the appointment of a representative.

Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)

You must answer all questions. If any sections do not apply to you, please answer “Not Applicable”.

It is very important that you list on this form any other children (even if they are already permanent residents of Canada or Canadian citizens) that you, your spouse or common-law partner or your dependent children might have who are not included in your Application for Permanent Residence. This includes married children, adopted children, stepchildren and any of your children who have been adopted by others, or who are in the custody of an ex-spouse or ex-common-law partner.

Spouse / Partner Questionnaire (IMM 5490)

This questionnaire must be completed and included with your Application for Permanent Residence if you are being sponsored by your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner. It will help you establish that your relationship is genuine. Be concise, but provide as complete and precise a response as possible to each question. Failure to provide this information with your application could result in a refusal of your application. If more space is needed for your response, please include an additional sheet of paper.

Medical Instructions (Appendix C)

You and each of your family members accompanying you or not and who are not already citizens or permanent residents of Canada must complete your own copy of the form located in Appendix D. Make enough photocopies of this page for your needs before you start filling the boxes. Make sure your family names and given names are spelled the same way they appear in your passports.

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