Partner Sponsorship in Toronto
Partner Sponsorship in Toronto
In the bustling metropolis of Toronto, a city known for its diverse and vibrant tapestry of cultures, the concept of Partner Sponsorship holds a special significance for people who want to reunite. Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, this Canadian jewel has long been a beacon for individuals from around the globe, drawn by its economic opportunities, quality of life, and the promise of building a future in a land known for its inclusivity and openness. Keep reading this article to find out the eligibility requirements for Partner Sponsorship, explore the application process, discover its processing time and fees, and learn further perspectives of the sponsored partner.
Eligibility Requirements for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto
You are eligible to submit a Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto as a sponsor if you meet the following criteria.
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You are either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must demonstrate your intention to live in Canada once your partner becomes a permanent resident. However, you cannot sponsor your partner if you are a permanent resident living outside Canada.
- You can prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
- You have the financial capability to provide for the basic needs of the individuals you want to sponsor.
To qualify for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto, you are also required to make a commitment known as an undertaking, which involves providing financial support to the sponsored partner for three years.
In addition, both of you must agree to specific responsibilities, referred to as the sponsorship agreement. These responsibilities encompass your obligation to provide for the basic needs of your partner and the partner’s commitment to making every reasonable effort to support themselves.
According to the Partner Sponsorship in Toronto regulations, you can sponsor your common-law partner or your conjugal partner. To qualify as a common-law partner for Partner Sponsorship purposes, they must meet the criteria.
- The common-law partner is not legally married to you.
- The common-law partner can be of either sex.
- The common-law partner is at least 18 years old.
- You and your common-law partner have been living together continuously for a minimum of twelve consecutive months in a conjugal relationship without any extended periods of separation.
To qualify for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto of a conjugal partner, your partner ought to meet the following conditions.
- The conjugal partner is not legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you.
- The conjugal partner can be of either sex.
- The conjugal partner is at least 18 years old.
- You and your conjugal partner have been in a relationship for at least a year.
- The conjugal partner resides outside Canada.
- You and your conjugal partner cannot live together in their country of residence or marry due to significant legal and immigration reasons. These reasons may include issues related to their marital status, sexual orientation, or potential persecution.
To demonstrate that your partner meets the eligibility requirements for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto, they must be admissible to Canada, meaning they have a right to enter the country according to Canadian immigration authorities.
Sponsoring your partner, you need to specify the Class of Application on the provided checklist. If you sponsor a common-law partner, you have the option to sponsor them under either of the following classes. Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class is appropriate if your common-law partner lives with you in Toronto, has valid temporary resident status, or is exempt from needing this status under a public policy.
Family Class is for individuals you want to sponsor who live outside Canada or for those who currently live with you in Toronto but do not plan to remain in Canada while the Partner Sponsorship application is being processed. If you want to sponsor your conjugal partner, you must submit a Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto under the Family Class.
Step-by-Step Partner Sponsorship Guide in Toronto
If you and your partner are eligible to apply for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto, you ought to complete the next steps. In the first step of the Partner Sponsorship process, you need to receive a personalized application package that includes essential forms, detailed instructions, and a checklist.
The second step is gathering all the necessary documents for your Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto. You must refer to the provided checklist to ensure you have all the required documents.
If you apply for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto of your common-law partner, your partner must prove your relationship. You can submit shared ownership of residential property, joint leases or rental agreements, bills for shared utility accounts, or important documents for both of you showing the same address.
If you apply for Partner Sponsorship in Toronto of your conjugal partner, your partner needs to provide proof that you cannot live together or get married in their country. This may involve providing evidence of refused long-term stays in each other’s country, among other relevant documentation.
For any documents that are not in English or French, you ought to provide a certified copy of the original document, a translation of the document, and an affidavit.
In the third step of the Partner Sponsorship process in Toronto, both the sponsor and the sponsored spouse must fill out and submit specific application forms. The sponsored partner must apply for permanent residence by signing in or creating an account on the Permanent Residence online application portal. Then, they ought to fill out the Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008], Additional Family Information [IMM 5406], Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669], and Supplementary Information – Your Travels [IMM 5562].
The sponsor should fill out the Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking [IMM 1344] and the Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire [IMM 5532]. After completing these forms, they must provide them to the partner. The sponsored partner ought to include these forms in the Partner Sponsorship application package in Toronto.
Processing Time and Fees of Partner Sponsorship in Toronto
The next step involves paying the processing fees for the Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto of $1,080. These fees include a right of permanent residence fee of $515, a principal applicant processing fee of $490, and a sponsorship fee of $75.
The sponsored partner must review the Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto and provide their signature in compliance with Canadian immigration law. Then, the partner needs to apply online.
The sponsored partner must provide a valid police certificate from any country other than Canada, where they have resided for six months or more since turning 18 years old and undergo a medical examination during the application processing. If required, they must also pay the biometrics processing fee of $85. Upon receiving a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL), they should visit the nearest biometrics collection service point to provide their fingerprints and photos in person.
The processing of a Partner Sponsorship application typically takes between 10 to 13 months. If you apply under the Spouse or Common-law Partner in Canada Class, the officer in charge will review the application and send the sponsored partner an email outlining the next steps. As a rule, the partner ought to pass a permanent residence interview, where the officer makes the final decision on the application.
When you file the Family Class Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto, the visa office will manage the application, seek the sponsored partner’s passport, and grant them a permanent resident visa along with a Confirmation of Permanent Residence. The sponsored individual needs to arrive in Canada during the visa’s valid period.
Study and Work Perspectives of Sponsored Partners
The partner who has a valid study or work permit and is sponsored under the Spouse or Common-law Partner in Canada class can study or work in Toronto while their Partner Sponsorship application is being processed.
If the partner wants to obtain a study permit, they ought to complete an Application to Change Conditions, Extend my stay or Remain in Canada as a Student [IMM 5709] and pay the processing fee of $150. The processing time for a study permit is five weeks.
If the partner wishes to work during the Partner Sponsorship application in Toronto processing, they must submit the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada [IMM 5710] and pay a processing fee of $155 and an additional fee of $100 specifically for the open work permit. It takes about five months to process an open work permit application.
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