Canada Visa Spousal Sponsorship Application
Spousal visa sponsorship in Canada is an important aspect of Canadian immigration with thousands of people applying for this category every year. As a Canadian permanent resident or citizen, you can sponsor your spouse to live, visit or work in Canada as long as you are qualified to apply for sponsorship.
You can also sponsor your spouse to become a permanent resident of Canada . They are the different reference points for someone who wants to sponsor and the spouse who is sponsored.
Spousal visa sponsorship requirements in Canada
Before you can sponsor your spouse or partner, you need to check if:
- you are 18 years or older
- you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Canadian citizens living abroad must indicate this to IRCC and you plan to live in Canada with your partner once you become a permanent resident.
- In addition, you must show that you are not receiving any support services from the government unless you are disabled.
- You can provide the financial assistance of the sponsored person.
You must sign a three (3) year Sponsorship Agreement that requires you to provide full financial support to your partner for three years.
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Requirement for your spouse or partner
There are some requirements that the spouse or partner who wants to immigrate must meet
The spouse must show an honest relationship, otherwise the sponsorship application will be rejected.
In addition, the spouse with a criminal record in your country will be rejected.
Types of Spousal Sponsorship
Below are the (3) three types of spousal visa sponsorship recognized in Canada
- conjugal partner
- Common Law Partner and
- conjugal partner
conjugal partner
They are married couples and the marriage must be valid under Canadian law.
They must present documentary proof, including a marriage certificate.
de facto couple
A common-law partner is someone you are not officially married to but who have already been living together normally for at least twelve months.
The evidence can be in the form of a rental agreement, shared bills, evidence of a joint bank account, affidavits from people with personal knowledge that your relationship is genuine.
conjugal partner
A marital bliss couple is a relationship where the couples cannot live together due to a situation beyond their control.
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There is no evidence to prove their commitment to the relationship. They just want to see the interpersonal ties you have in a serious relationship.
Application for spousal sponsorship to Canada
Below are four basic steps to follow for a successful application
Step1: To apply to sponsor your partner, you must submit two applications
- The sponsorship application and
- Application for permanent residence
Step 2: Obtain the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application package, which consists of a spousal sponsorship checklist in Canada for you and your spouse.
In addition, you must complete the forms for you and your spouse and have them follow the instruction guide.
Step 3: Pay the necessary fees on the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. Fees include processing fees, right of permanent residence fee, and biometric fee.
Step 4: Submit the two applications to IRCC for processing. You must confirm the email address before submitting requests.
Two stages in spousal sponsorship approval
Spousal Sponsorship Approval has two stages, which are the First Stage Spouse Approval and the Second Stage Spouse Approval.
Approval of spousal sponsorship in the first stage
During the first stage of sponsorship approval, a permanent resident or citizen of Canada must begin by submitting an application as a sponsor.
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The application will focus on whether you are able to sponsor your spouse.
As a sponsor, you must be able to care for your spouse with basic needs like food, clothing, and health care services.
Sponsors will receive an acknowledgment letter if they are eligible.
Spousal Sponsorship Approval Second Stage
The second stage is the application for permanent residence. The IRCC office moves to the next stage if a sponsor meets the requirements.
Therefore, to make an application for sponsorship, the full application package containing the application for sponsorship and the application for permanent residence must be submitted together.
The IRCC requests biometric and medical reports from the foreign spouse. You must submit them within 30 days. They can also request more information or call you for an interview at any time.
You can track and update the status of your application online until Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes a decision on your application.
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Finally, IRCC will send you instructions on the steps the foreign spouse must take to become a permanent resident.
Spousal sponsorship within Canada
Internal sponsorship is for the spouse living in Canada whom you wish to sponsor for permanent residence.
One of the benefits of domestic spousal sponsorship is that your partner may qualify for an open work permit that allows your spouse to work in Canada.
Outland spousal sponsorship in Canada
Outland spousal sponsorship are for spouse who does not reside in Canada.
The main disadvantage here is that you cannot spend time with your partner until permanent residence is approved.
Sponsoring Spouse from the Province of Quebec
As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may decide to sponsor your spouse who wishes to immigrate to Quebec.
Those who wish to immigrate to Quebec must go through a process that requires completing an application form with the IRCC and MIFI.
In addition, you must submit specific completed forms, supporting documents, and required processing fees to IRCC.
In addition, you will need to include the sponsored person’s application for permanent residence along with supporting documents and required fees.
Once you meet the IRCC requirement, you will need to submit a commitment request to the MIFI.
The signed commitment is a contract that binds you as a sponsor with your spouse and the Quebec government.
Additionally, you will need to download the forms from the MIFI website to complete, attach supporting documents and required fees.
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If the Ministry of Francization and Immigration Integration (MIFI) approves your application, they will forward it directly to the IRCC office.
The spouse must comply with health, criminal and security checks.
It is important to note that your spouse must meet the health, criminal, and safety requirements in order for the IRCC to grant permanent residency.
The IRCC normally accepts forms with photocopies of signatures. However, you may need to provide original copies of your forms.
Remember to check if there is a signature block on each form and sign.
If your signatures are not in the correct place, your application will be returned without processing.
Use the last page of the spouse checklist to help you sign in the appropriate space.
Once you are in Quebec, you can benefit from the service offered by MIFI which includes assistance in briefings from an immigration officer.
The IRCC takes approximately 12 months to process spousal sponsorship applications, which are subject to review.
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Anyone wishing to sponsor their spouse or partner must ensure that they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18.
How to show proof of financial capacity?
To show that you intend to live in Quebec and have the financial capacity to do so, you can
- provide a financial statement from your bank stating that you have sufficient funds to support yourself
- You can also indicate in the explanation of the letter the steps your spouse plans to take to find a job quickly.
- Please provide information on your educational qualification and work experience with reference to the current job offer in Quebec.
- you remain financially responsible for a former spouse and are still bound by your three-year commitment,
- Your partner must meet some criteria such as being over 18 years old, security and medical records.
Finally, please note that all forms used by the Quebec government are in French only, so please ask for help completing them if you are not fluent in French.
Two-year “legitimate relationship” requirement
If your relationship is more than two years old and you have no children, you will only be granted conditional permanent residence at first.
This restriction applies regardless of whether the sponsored person is a spouse. If conditional permanent residence applies to you.
In addition, you must live with your partner in a marital relationship for at least two years to obtain conditional permanent residence.
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If they find out that you didn’t actually live with your partner for two years, they can revoke your spouse’s permanent resident status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse work in Canada with pending domestic spouse sponsorship applications?
If your partner lives in Canada with a valid work permit, you can continue to work without any hassles.
Do I need to know the minimum income needed to sponsor my spouse?
No, you do not need to show a minimum amount of income to sponsor your spouse
How long will it take to process my spousal sponsorship application?
They give spousal sponsorship applications within a year.
Can my spouse work in Canada with pending overseas spousal visa sponsorship applications?
If your spouse does not live in Canada, you can apply for a regular work permit.
How much does it cost to sponsor your spouse in Canada?
The government processing fees to sponsor your spouse in Canada are approximately $1135.
If you sponsor your spouse and you have dependent children, you will need to pay an additional $150 for each child.
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