According to the DHL tracking website, our paperwork was received on Wednesday 25th May at 12pm, signed for by "Borsha", which is an awesome name :)
We should find out by 6th July if Tim is approved as a sponsor, then it's the long wait for my part - could be as soon as October, but could be up to March.
Keep your fingers crossed for us!
May 26, 2011
May 23, 2011
Ready, steady, go!
We decided to avoid the possible Canada Post strike, so headed down to Staples yesterday and sent our paperwork off using DHL - £27.95 and it should be there on Wednesday.
I’m trying not to think about the actual paperwork, now it’s been sent off, as I know I’ll only panic about things I might have forgotten! The only thing that really worries me is that the GP filled in Tim’s details as the Principal Applicant, when the form actually has a box to tick for “same as above” i.e. me! I’ve added a wee note explaining the mix-up, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed the CIC will understand.
The CIC’s current processing times are 42 days to assess the sponsor, then 9 months for the applicant, although the average time on the British Expats Forum seems to be more like 4-5 months. I think the CIC estimates are more “don’t contact us within this time” times :)
Anyway, that’s the process started – eeeep!
I’m trying not to think about the actual paperwork, now it’s been sent off, as I know I’ll only panic about things I might have forgotten! The only thing that really worries me is that the GP filled in Tim’s details as the Principal Applicant, when the form actually has a box to tick for “same as above” i.e. me! I’ve added a wee note explaining the mix-up, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed the CIC will understand.
The CIC’s current processing times are 42 days to assess the sponsor, then 9 months for the applicant, although the average time on the British Expats Forum seems to be more like 4-5 months. I think the CIC estimates are more “don’t contact us within this time” times :)
Anyway, that’s the process started – eeeep!
May 21, 2011
One tiring day...
...one big pile of documents!
We spent the day finalising all of our forms, checking and double-checking everything, then I insisted that we photocopy it all - I don't want to have to do this again if our envelope goes missing!
I was planning to send the packet by Royal Mail AirSure, but it uses Canada Post for the final journey and they might be going on strike next week. I think I'd rather pay the extra for a courier and be sure it got there safely.
So, let's see...
Checklist -1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Woo!
We spent the day finalising all of our forms, checking and double-checking everything, then I insisted that we photocopy it all - I don't want to have to do this again if our envelope goes missing!
I was planning to send the packet by Royal Mail AirSure, but it uses Canada Post for the final journey and they might be going on strike next week. I think I'd rather pay the extra for a courier and be sure it got there safely.
So, let's see...
Checklist -
Woo!
May 18, 2011
Forms, forms and more forms!
Right, now we’re down to the real nitty gritty!
The forms aren’t THAT bad, although I did find myself using the guidance notes and the British Expats forum fairly regularly as I went through them. You can download the forms from the website and fill most of them in directly on the PDF, but the text isn’t resizable, so I had to handwrite some of text when I needed to squeeze it in or to write PRESENT in date range boxes.
I’ve also got additional pages for the Schedule 1 (to list my qualifications from school and more space for my personal history) and the Spouse/Partner Questionnaire (for all the details of our relationship – aww).
The forms aren’t THAT bad, although I did find myself using the guidance notes and the British Expats forum fairly regularly as I went through them. You can download the forms from the website and fill most of them in directly on the PDF, but the text isn’t resizable, so I had to handwrite some of text when I needed to squeeze it in or to write PRESENT in date range boxes.
The Principal Applicant has to complete:
- Application for Permanent Residence (form IMM 0008 GEN)
- Schedule 1 (IMM 0008 1E)
- Additional Family Information (IMM 5406E)
- Spouse/Partner Questionnaire (IMM 5490E)
as well as signing the Sponsor’s Sponsorship Agreement (IMM 13344B).
I’ve also got additional pages for the Schedule 1 (to list my qualifications from school and more space for my personal history) and the Spouse/Partner Questionnaire (for all the details of our relationship – aww).
I need to include proof of our common-law relationship:
- I’m sending a bunch of photos from the whole time we’ve been together – all showing the two of us (obviously), but also ones with friends or family included too. I’ve added them to a Word document, with the date underneath and a line saying where the photo was taken and who with (e.g. August 2010 – Jane’s 30th birthday party at City Bar, with our friends Fred and Bob).
- I’m raiding our filing cabinet for relevant documents. I know we’ve got council tax bills, travel documents, and car insurance showing each other as an additional driver, but I’m also going to dig out a selection of bills showing that we live at the same address, even if we’re not both named on the same bill.
May 11, 2011
Moving forward
Yay - my police certificate finally arrived!
Boo - I’m right in the middle of a big piece of work and can’t really do anything else till it’s finished!
After this weekend, my first job will be getting all the forms, photocopies and photos pulled together. I’ll organise meeting up with my statutory declaration gang and, hopefully, that’ll be it!
I can't wait till it's all been sent off. Although I know I'll be posting "argh, why is it taking so long?" soon after :)
Checklist - 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Boo - I’m right in the middle of a big piece of work and can’t really do anything else till it’s finished!
After this weekend, my first job will be getting all the forms, photocopies and photos pulled together. I’ll organise meeting up with my statutory declaration gang and, hopefully, that’ll be it!
I can't wait till it's all been sent off. Although I know I'll be posting "argh, why is it taking so long?" soon after :)
Checklist - 1 2 3 4
May 08, 2011
The story so far...
Well, we're getting there:
Then I just need to print everything off, photocopy everything and get it sent off!
The most important thing is done though - I've told my parents that we're thinking of moving! I had massively stressed myself about this, so I'm really pleased that they know and are supportive of our plans. It also means I can now tell everyone else :)
- Still waiting for my police certificate. I've had an email saying they received it on 19th April, but I guess all the bank holidays have meant the 10 days processing time has gone out the window!
- I've got two friends lined up to do statutory declarations, but haven't been able to get them, me and my solicitor chum together to sign.
- The forms are pretty much done, but I still need to do a final proof-read (and hope I don't have to redo any of them, as they were saved on my work PC, which has died!).
- I've got a Word document set up with all our photos on it, so I need to write captions and dates for them.
- I need to pull together a pile of bills, letters etc which show that we live together.
Then I just need to print everything off, photocopy everything and get it sent off!
The most important thing is done though - I've told my parents that we're thinking of moving! I had massively stressed myself about this, so I'm really pleased that they know and are supportive of our plans. It also means I can now tell everyone else :)
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