It's Already Hard. Don't Make It Harder.
By: MARJORIE CURET
Updated: Sep 26, 2024
Let’s Start Here
The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. You and your partner are married, and now it’s time to take the next step: bringing them to Canada to start your life together. You’re stronger as a team, and this is the first big move in your new chapter.
Sponsoring your spouse to come to Canada can be exciting, but let’s be real—it’s not exactly simple. Here are three key things to think about as you get started.
1. Are You Eligible?
Before anything else, you need to check if you meet the requirements to sponsor your spouse.
This means:
- You’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- There’s nothing in your past that could block you from sponsoring. For example, it is especially important that you were not convicted of attempting, threatening to commit or committed a violent criminal offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada.
- You can financially support your partner as they settle in Canada. You are not penalized for being on disability, but receiving social assistance or not being discharged of bankruptcy can be a problem.
Remember, the government holds sponsors responsible if their spouse ends up on social assistance. That means you’ll have to pay the government back for any assistance they took for a set period—even if things don’t work out between you.
To see if you are eligible see the government page HERE.
2. Do You Have the Right Documents?
Once you’ve confirmed you’re eligible, it’s time to tackle the application. Be ready—it’s a lot. The application is now fully online, so staying organized is key.
Here’s a tip: don’t just submit the bare minimum documents to officers at Canadian Immigration. If there’s something extra you can include to prove your case (like additional proof of your relationship), do it. This process can be time-consuming, but I know I would rather have this included than receive a letter from them asking for more documents later on.
Not submitting the right documents can cause your file to bounce back to you which really eats up your time because then you have to resubmit and then wait to see if Immigration will accept it the second time around. They don’t give the thumbs up with the application number quickly, it can be a number of weeks.
Why is getting that file/ application number important? Well it shows you have a valid application underway with the government and this can be useful to prove when applying for other things.
Find documents that can you start collecting HERE- this is not an exhaustive list as everyone’s situation may vary!
3. Timing and Planning
Patience is the name of the game as it can take 10-12 months. Currently, applicant applying in Canada can be expected to wait longer than those that are overseas. This makes sense to me as those couples who are currently separated may be viewed differently compared to those already living together. Processing times vary depending on several factors:
- How quickly your partner can provide biometrics (if needed).
- Medical and security clearances.
- The current backlog of applications.
Processing times can change so check out the government’s page for updated times.
Think about how you’ll spend the time beforehand:
- Will you live together in Canada or visit each other while the process unfolds? This can also impact what kind of sponsorship application you submit. For example, if you apply as a couple living In-Canada and not under the Family Class, entering and exiting Canada while waiting for a decision from Immigration may not be what you want.
- If you’re living abroad, have you planned how you’ll settle back in Canada?
Planning for Success
Sponsoring your spouse isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about creating a strong plan. Focus on eligibility, collect the right documents, make sure to personalize it and be prepared for the wait. If you’re not married yet, remember that there are options for common-law or conjugal partnerships too, each with their own requirements.
No, those are not easier immigration programs, but they exist for a reason and I will be writing to them in the future.
Happy Preparing!
This is Canada Bound: Immigration The Silver Peak Way.
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