Spousal Sponsorship Canada
Spousal Sponsorship Canada
The importance of family bonds is hard to overestimate. That is why spousal sponsorship applications are a top priority for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Spousal sponsorship allows citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor their partners to live permanently in the country. However, you need to know how to apply for spousal sponsorship in Canada.
First, let us discuss the eligibility requirements for spousal sponsorship in Canada. You can apply for spousal sponsorship in Canada if you are at least 18 years old and have Canadian citizenship or a permanent residency. Also, you need to show that you can financially support your spouse and demonstrate that you do not receive any social assistance.
As a rule, you do not need to prove that you have enough money to apply for spousal sponsorship in Canada. However, you need to meet the income requirements if you want to sponsor a spouse who has a dependent child, and their dependent child also has a child (children). If you want to know how much money you need to have to meet the income requirements, you can use the Financial Evaluation form instructions. You will receive this form after you submit the spousal sponsorship application package.
Additionally, if you are a citizen of Canada but live outside the country, you ought to prove that you will live in Canada with your spouse after they get a permanent residence. If you are a permanent resident of Canada and live outside the country, you cannot apply for spousal sponsorship in Canada.
There are also slightly different application requirements for those who live outside and inside the province of Quebec. In case you live outside Quebec, you have to give an undertaking promise to apply for spousal sponsorship in Canada. It means that you need to promise to support your spouse. Also, if your sponsored spouse receives provincial social assistance, you need to repay it. Moreover, you and your spouse have to complete and sign the sponsorship agreement that includes certain responsibilities during the undertaking period. The basic responsibilities of spousal sponsorship include the financial support of the spouse and the commitment of the spouse to do everything possible to support themselves.
If you live in the province of Quebec, you need to meet the immigration sponsorship requirements of Quebec after signing the spousal sponsorship agreement. Besides, you must complete and sign the undertaking promise with the province of Quebec. Then, the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration will check whether you meet the income requirements.
Now it is time to discuss the spousal sponsorship in Canada application process in more detail. There are two applications you and your spouse need to complete: the sponsorship and the permanent residence applications. Otherwise, you need to complete an application to become a sponsor, and your spouse has to apply for permanent residence. Moreover, you ought to send both applications together and at the same time to the Office of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The spousal sponsorship process in Canada includes four main steps.
- You have to receive the application package.
It consists of a checklist for you and your spouse, documents that you need to fill out, and a guide that helps you to fill out all documents correctly.
You need to examine the guide to make sure that you complete the application form accurately. In case you made a mistake, the sponsorship application fee for processing your application is not refunded.
It is better to be assured that you are eligible to apply for spousal sponsorship in Canada. You must include accurate information in the application, and mention all your family members in the form, then your application is complete.
- You pay the application fees.
It includes the biometrics fee, the right of permanent residence fee, and processing fees for you and your spouse. The fees have to be paid online.
It is important to pay a biometrics (digital photo and fingerprints) fee when you complete your applications for spousal sponsorship in Canada. Otherwise, the application processing can be delayed. The cost of collecting photos and fingerprints is included in the biometrics fee. Also, you might need to pay third-parties fees - to pay for a police certificate and your medical examination report. The instruction in your application package will explain which fees you need to pay and when.
- You have to submit your application for spousal sponsorship in Canada.
You can use regular mail to send your application. If you wish, you can use a courier service that will help you to track your spousal sponsorship in Canada application. Nevertheless, the immigration officer can return your application if it is incomplete or any fee is missing. The application guide includes the mailing instructions to help you to complete this step.
- You should send all additional information during your application processing. Your spouse needs to submit their documents during the processing of the spousal sponsorship application. They may have to submit a medical exam report, biometrics, and police certificates.
When the officer receives the confirmation of the biometrics fee payment, they will send your spouse a letter asking to give their biometrics. Your spouse needs to show this letter when they come to give their biometrics at the closest collection point. They have 30 days to give their fingerprints and photo in person.
Additionally, your spouse has to submit the police certificates during the application process. As a rule, the police certificates are valid for a year from the date they are issued. If it is applicable, the immigration officer can ask to submit new certificates, indicating how much time your spouse has to send this information to the officer.
If you have a baby or adopt a child (children), marry a person, divorce or separate with the partner, the applicant or their spouse passes away, the individual needs to inform the immigration officer about all circumstances.
Additionally, if you live in Quebec, you have to meet the requirements of the province. You can find the relevant information on the official web page of the provincial government of Quebec.
If the immigration officer approves the spousal sponsorship in Canada application, your spouse needs to send two photos, their passport, or photocopies, and the confirmation of payment for the right of permanent residence fee (if it was not sent before).
It is useful to know what documents your spouse needs to receive when the officer finishes processing the spousal sponsorship in Canada application. If your partner lives outside Canada, they need to get the Confirmation of Permanent Residence. It is a document showing your spouse is approved to become a permanent resident of Canada. If your spouse lives in the country whose citizens need to get a visa to enter Canada, your spouse may get the permanent resident visa in the passport. It can be done even when your spouse already lives in Canada.
Your spouse can travel to Canada when they get all documents. It is wise to check the dates of expiration of the Permanent Residence Confirmation and permanent resident visa. Your spouse needs to meet the immigration officer at a Canadian port of entry before the documents expire. Then, the officer will decide whether your spouse can enter Canada as a permanent resident.
If your spouse lives in Canada, they need to meet an immigration officer to get the Confirmation of Permanent Residence. The officer will send your spouse a letter with further details. Then, the officer will decide whether your spouse can stay in Canada as a permanent resident.
If your spouse lives outside Canada and the immigration officer refuses the spousal sponsorship in Canada application, they will give you an explanation and instructions on how to appeal the decision. If your spouse lives in Canada, you cannot appeal the decision of the immigration officer.
If you need help and guidance with Spousal Sponsorship to Canada and bringing to Canada any other family members, please fill in application below or contact us directly.
