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jdp.168
New Member
4 Posts |
 Posted - April 04 2008 : 02:15:20
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Hello all!
I am from Texas and my wife is from Canada and we are preparing our spouse sponsorship package, which is 99% complete. The last major thing we need to do is write a cover letter, but trying to find examples/samples online is quite a task! The only ones we could find you have to purchase through a "do it yourself" kit... a little late for that!
Can anyone send/post the ones they submitted or any samples they know of?
Muchos appreciation!
John |
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ThirstyDeer
Senior Member
Canada
305 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 02:54:07
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| What I did as a cover letter was a page explaining the system we used to organize our application package. Our package was colour-coded with tabs sticking out of the side of the package for quick reference to the different documentation. |
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asesina
New Member
Canada
31 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 07:38:20
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| Sorry to ask but why do we need to send a "cover letter"? Why is it a "major" thing? |
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bbintoh
Junior Member
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 08:38:08
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| Cover letter for WHAT? Please, can some one help us on this.... I just learnt something new on cover letter you have to write and for what???? |
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Fairouzm
Average Member
223 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 09:23:26
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Hello,
Alot of people here would recommend a cover letter to explain extra stuff you want. I had one in mine.
I just explained his education, how we met. Things to proof we are compatiable. :)
Fairouz |
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asesina
New Member
Canada
31 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 09:43:39
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| Ok if I understand correctly what you mean by "cover letter" is what they ask us when they say "On a separate sheet of paper, provide any details..." I wouldn't call that a cover letter... You scared me a little with that title, usually it means something else. |
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wongn
Top Member
Canada
8680 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 10:52:57
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| No, the "cover letter" that jdp.168 is referring to is a letter you place at the front of your application package that can be used to bring specific issues to the attention of the immigration officer when they start processing your application. For example, if you haven't included a certain police certificate because it's delayed, or if you are waiting for your marriage certificate and have only included the Record of Solemnization of Marriage. You would explain this in the cover letter so that the immigration officer understands you have not forgotten them. |
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CHiPsFan7Mary4
Advanced Member
Canada
646 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 11:00:14
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| I did not write a cover letter per se. I did the "On a separate sheet.....'. Both my wife and I did this. It contained all my information about my journey with my wife. I did make a table of contents to explain the colored bulldog clips. |
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jdp.168
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 11:46:16
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Yes, I mean something different than the "on a separate sheet of paper, provide any further details... etc" question. I know it isn't a requirement to include a cover letter, but a retired immigration officer recommended that we include a 1-2 page cover letter introducing the package and ourselves and stating our general objective/intent. I don't believe that it is where we provide the further details of our relationship.
I was just wondering if anyone knew of some examples. 
~JDP
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wongn
Top Member
Canada
8680 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 12:01:39
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JDP,
Here's a sample for an inland application. I'm sure you can tweak it for an outside application:
"[date]
Case Processing Centre
Vegreville, AB
T9C 1W3
To Whom It May Concern:
Enclosed please find the completed forms and necessary documentation in support of my sponsorship application for my wife for permanent residence from within Canada (spouse or common-law partner in Canada class).
Also enclosed is the application for an open work permit to expedite the issuance of an open work permit once approval in principle is granted.
The forms and documentation for each application have been arranged per the order on the respective document checklist. We have ensured that all the available supporting documents have been included in this package. The only exceptions are noted as follows:
1. Marriage Certificate – We have included our “Record of Solemnization of Marriage” as part of the Spouse/Common-law Questionnaire as proof of our marriage. We understand this is not a legal document and that the CIC may require the official marriage certificate to be submitted. Since it will take the Office of the Registrar General [xx] weeks to issue our marriage certificate, we ask for your patience and understanding on this matter. We will forward a copy of the official marriage certificate to the CIC once it becomes available.
2. Police Certificate from [country] – The original police certificate from [country] is still outstanding. We submitted our Application for Police Certificate on [date] and it will takes approximately [xx] weeks to receive. In the interim, we have provided a copy of our application form and included it in this package as proof of our undertaking. Once we have received the police certificate, we will forward the document over to the CIC.
We trust our permanent residence application is otherwise complete. If you have any concerns or questions, or in need of additional information, please advise us immediately.
Regards,
[name & signature of sponsor]
[name & signature of principal applicant]" |
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shuresh.khan
Average Member
159 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 14:49:07
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| Unless you have a special issue that needs to be clarified to them you do not need to include a cover letter. Things like how you have developed your relationship with your spouse are asked in the questionnaire and do not need to be repeated unless you wish to end up with discrepancies in your documents and be called for interview. |
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jdp.168
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 15:37:53
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wongn,
Thank you very much for that, it is quite helpful! Seeing that gives me more of the tone and purpose of the letter than just knowing what should be included.
That raises another question though (possibly another thread?).
in the letter it said:
quote:
Originally posted by wongn - April 04 2008 : 12:01:39
Also enclosed is the application for an open work permit to expedite the issuance of an open work permit once approval in principle is granted.
As I (obviously) cannot work here in Canada until this comes through, we are very much anticipating the stage that I can get my open work permit. Does it expedite the process for the WP (once first stage approval has been granted) to include the forms from that application in the original package? If so, should I include the forms as just another section of the PR package (ie another tab if using ThirstyDeer's system), or should it be a complete open work permit package (ie, with the check - er... cheque, support, etc, as if it was a separate application) that is just being mailed together with the PR package?
Does that make sense?
And to avoid confusing anyone, the keyword is expedite. It isn't necessary, nor does it (correct me if I'm wrong wongn) expedite the permanent residence, but strictly the open work permit. 
Thanks!
~JDP
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Edited by - jdp.168 on April 04 2008 15:42:54 |
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iracijes
Average Member
Canada
162 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 15:40:53
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I had a cover page that identified what type of application it was, the applicants names, and listed an outline of all the documents in the application and the number of pages in each section (each section was bull clipped and the section was identified on each bull clip) so they knew what should be there and in what order it was.
So for example the outline would have looked something like this:
I. Sponsorship Application (x number of pages)
A. IMM 1344A
B. IMM 1344B
....
etc. etc.
It follows the document checklist in terms of organization and I thought it would be particularly helpful for an IO when he/she got in the evidence section of the application because it lists the order of evidence and the number of pages (so for example, a section on joint mail which I would identify as having 30 pages). So the IO could treat the cover sheet almost like a map of the application (as long as the application stayed in order that is!). It also lists exactly where any additional papers where, when the application asks you to attach extra paper if you need more space to answer a question.
So I used the cover letter as a means of letting the IO know exactly where and what was included in my application. |
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wongn
Top Member
Canada
8680 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 17:41:09
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quote:
Originally posted by jdp.168
That raises another question though (possibly another thread?).
As I (obviously) cannot work here in Canada until this comes through, we are very much anticipating the stage that I can get my open work permit. Does it expedite the process for the WP (once first stage approval has been granted) to include the forms from that application in the original package? If so, should I include the forms as just another section of the PR package (ie another tab if using ThirstyDeer's system), or should it be a complete open work permit package (ie, with the check - er... cheque, support, etc, as if it was a separate application) that is just being mailed together with the PR package?
Does that make sense?
And to avoid confusing anyone, the keyword is expedite. It isn't necessary, nor does it (correct me if I'm wrong wongn) expedite the permanent residence, but strictly the open work permit.
Thanks!
~JDP
JDP,
Are you applying outside Canada or through the in-Canada route? You said you're from Texas so I had assumed you are doing an outside application. If that's the case, you are not eligible to apply for the open work permit. Only inland applicants are eligible. |
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jdp.168
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - April 04 2008 : 18:04:25
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Sorry for the confusion!
I'm originally from Texas, but I'm up here (BC) as a visitor (with a visitor record), and we're doing the in-canada processing. We were married this past December, and one of the reasons we chose to go north rather than south was that Canada allows the alien spouse to remain in canada while the processing is being done. Short story, the US does not.
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Edited by - jdp.168 on April 04 2008 18:05:42 |
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wongn
Top Member
Canada
8680 Posts |
Posted - April 05 2008 : 08:49:42
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Hi JDP,
Ok, thanks for the clarification. If you are submitting inland, then include the OWP application as a entirely separate part of your application package. Make sure you include a separate set of supporting documentation with your OWP application so that it can be processed independent to your PR application. I would also suggest bundling the two applications separately, but in the same envelope.
And yes, if you do it this way, it expedites only the issuance of the open work permit. It doesn't make your PR application go any faster. |
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Topic |
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Sample Cover Letters
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