Common-Law Sponsorship Canada

Common-Law Sponsorship Canada

Many Canadian citizens and permanent residents wonder whether they can sponsor their common-law partners in the country. The point is that the government of Canada has the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada program that allows them to bring their partners to the country. Nevertheless, you should know that the government defines the common-law partner as a person who is 18 and more years old, of any sex, is not legally married to you, and who lives together with you for at least a year without long periods apart.

Now it is time to discuss whether you can become a sponsor. You can apply for a Common-Law Sponsorship Program, if you meet the following requirements.

1. You are a citizen of Canada, a permanent resident of the country, or an individual, who is registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
2. You are 18 and more years old.
3. You live in Canada.
4. You can show that you do not receive social assistance from the government.

It is vital to know that you can apply for a Common-Law Sponsorship Canada under the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class. Later, you will need to specify the class of your application on the checklist.

You can apply for a Common-Law Sponsorship Canada under the Family Class if your common-law partner lives outside Canada, or they live with you in the country but plan to leave the country for the application processing. You can also apply under the Family Class if you want to appeal the decision in the case of refusal.

Furthermore, you can apply for a Common-Law Sponsorship Canada under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class if your common-law partner has valid immigration status in the country, lives with you, and wants to apply for an open work permit. When you choose the class of the application, you can start completing the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application package.

The first step is to get the package that includes your checklist, forms, and guides. To receive it, you have to visit the web page of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), select who you want to sponsor, the country of their residence, and the country where your documents were issued. Then you need to print, complete and submit a checklist with your application.

The second step is to prepare all documents. You have to make sure that you submit the complete Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application. Otherwise, it will be returned to you. The application checklist can help you since it mentions all the documents you need to submit. Additionally, you have to translate all documents in English or French and attach the translation, an affidavit from the translator, and certified copies of the original documents.

The third step is to complete all forms. You, as the sponsor, have to fill out two forms: IMM 1344 (Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement, and Undertaking) and IMM 5532 (Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire).

Your common-law partner has to complete IMM 0008 (Generic Application Form for Canada), IMM 1344 (Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking), IMM 5406 (Additional Family Information), IMM 5532 (Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire), and eIMM 5669 (Schedule A – Background/Declaration).

It is worth mentioning, that you have to include all your family members in the application, even if they do not plan to come to Canada with your common-law partner.

The next important thing to do is to electronically validate the forms that have a “Validate” button, such as IMM 0008, IMM 1344, and eIMM 5669. After this, you should print the barcode pages for the forms IMM 0008 and IMM 1344. The eIMM 5669 form does not produce a barcode page after validation. Then, the applicable person has to sign the relevant forms in ink.

Government Fees

If you want to apply for the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada, you should pay the processing fees before submitting the application package. There are four fees: sponsorship fee of 75 CAD, principal applicant processing fee of 475 CAD, and right of permanent residence fee of 500 CAD. Your common-law partner also may need to give their biometrics (photo and fingerprints). In this case, they need to pay a biometrics fee of 85 CAD.

Processing Time

The processing time of the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application is about a year (12 months). You can always check the status of your application in your online account.

Address to Send the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada Application Package

The last but not the least step is to send documents in the right order to the correct address. You have to place the documents in such order:

1. A copy of the application checklist for the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada program.
2. If you choose to apply under the Common-Law Partner in Canada class and your partner also submits an open work permit application, after the checklist, place the work permit application form and the confirmation of the work permit fee payment.
3. All barcode pages.
4. All additional documents, in the order they are mentioned on the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application checklist.

You can send the application for Common-Law sponsorship Canada by mail or courier service. Whatever option you choose, you need to know the relevant address.

There are two addresses to send the application package by mail. If your common-law partner lives outside Canada or lives with you in Canada, but you want to apply under overseas Common-Law Sponsorship Canada, you have to send documents to this address:

CPC Sydney

P.O. Box 9500

Sydney, NS

B1P 0H5

If your common-law partner lives with you in Canada and you apply under the Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, you have to use this address:

CPC Mississauga

P.O. Box 5040, Station B

Mississauga, ON

L5A 3A4

In case you want to send the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application package by the courier service and your common-law partner lives outside Canada or lives with you in Canada but you wish to apply under overseas Common-Law Sponsorship Canada, you have to send documents to this address:

CPC Sydney

49 Dorchester Street

Sydney, NS

B1P 5Z2

If you and your common-law partner live together in Canada and you submit the application under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class, you should send the application package to this address:

CPC Mississauga

2 Robert Speck Parkway,

Suite 300

Mississauga, ON

L4Z 1H8

Work Permit Application

Common-Law Sponsorship Canada program also allows your partner to apply for a work permit. In case your common-law partner already has a work permit, they can work in Canada until the work permit expiration. By the way, your common-law partner has to remember that it is forbidden to work in Canada without a permit issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

Your common-law partner can submit a work permit application with the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application if they live with you in Canada. Consequently, your common-law partner has to fill out an IMM 5710 form (Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker) and pay the processing fee of 155 CAD.

If you decide to apply for a work permit after the Common-Law Sponsorship Canada application submission, your common-law partner should send an IMM 5710 form and the confirmation of the processing fee payment to this address:

Case Processing Centre in Edmonton

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Station 777, Work permits for spouses or common-law partners, 

9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Suite 55

Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3

It is worth mentioning that your common-law partner cannot apply for an open work permit online. Also, your partner will have to wait four to five months to get an open work permit. 

Common-Law Sponsorship Canada provides citizens and permanent residents of Canada with a unique opportunity to sponsor and live together with their partners. The process of application is transparent and simple, just be careful to submit all the necessary documents and provide only genuine information.

 

In case, if you need assistance in sponsoring your partner to Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.