Supporting Letter for Sponsorship

When writing letters of support or personal statements for the purpose of sponsoring your spouse or common-law partner, there are a number of things you should include. Writing a personal statement is your chance to “connect the dots” for the officer and an opportunity to demonstrate the genuineness of your relationship. These tips will help you build a solid letter that will increase the chances of your success while helping you fill in the blanks you draw while you attempt to complete this often underrated task.

Though Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not directly ask for this in the document checklist, the onus is on the applicant to prove their case. If you choose to omit information because you find it unnecessary or obvious, the officer will not consider it. Remember, officers consider the information presented and do not fill in the blanks for you or consider arguments for you that you have not considered yourself. Sponsorship applications are one instance where less is not more.

Some topics you may wish to cover in your letter would be:

1. A strong intro with the basic facts of your relationship, sort of like an overview of what you will be discussing in your letter. The “who, what, where, when and how” of your relationship.
2. Begin describing how your relationship began. How did you meet? When was your first date? How did it go?
3. How did you maintain contact? Did you speak often on the phone, spend a lot of time physically together, or did you communicate by email or chat? How often would you communicate?
4. Describe how the relationship flourished. Think of occasions you spent together and some memorable moments that are of note in your relationship.
5. Be specific with dates and times of things you have done together. If you travelled together, where and when? How was the trip? If you went on interesting dates like to a sports game or the theatre, what did you see? When and where was it? How did you enjoy your time together?
6. Describe each other. What do you like most about your spouse or partner? How do their qualities mesh with your own? Why are they special to you?
7. Describe your spouse or partner gets along with your family and friends. When did they meet? How was your spouse or partner received? Did they get along well with your family and friends? Describe these instances in detail.
8. How did you know your spouse or partner was the one? If applicable, who proposed to whom? How did that happen? When did you start living together? Do you enjoy living together?
9. If applicable, how was the wedding ceremony? Where was it held? Who was in attendance? Describe how this was one of the most memorable occasions for you.
10. Describe your future plans together.

If you are able to answer these questions and support them with documentation, the officer will not have to think twice about the genuineness of your relationship.