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Can you still sponsor a spouse for permanent residency if they unintentionally overstayed longer than 6 months?

paulog23

Newbie
Jan 31, 2025
4
0
Please help I'm scared I really didn't mean to break the law my fiancee is american she moved in with me November 2023 I begged her to stay i just couldn't imagine life without her it's my fault for her overstaying we are planning to marry this April as I finally have enough money saved due to the fact I'm on disability. Will I be able to sponsor her? What will we be asked about the overstay? Can the overstay be forgiven she literally has no place to stay in America she gave up everything to be with me which I greatly appreciated will they force her to go back? I'm like literally panicking here
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
96,766
22,780
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
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Please help I'm scared I really didn't mean to break the law my fiancee is american she moved in with me November 2023 I begged her to stay i just couldn't imagine life without her it's my fault for her overstaying we are planning to marry this April as I finally have enough money saved due to the fact I'm on disability. Will I be able to sponsor her? What will we be asked about the overstay? Can the overstay be forgiven she literally has no place to stay in America she gave up everything to be with me which I greatly appreciated will they force her to go back? I'm like literally panicking here
Yes, you can sponsor her.
 

Ponga

VIP Member
Oct 22, 2013
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Please help I'm scared I really didn't mean to break the law my fiancee is american she moved in with me November 2023 I begged her to stay i just couldn't imagine life without her it's my fault for her overstaying we are planning to marry this April as I finally have enough money saved due to the fact I'm on disability. Will I be able to sponsor her? What will we be asked about the overstay? Can the overstay be forgiven she literally has no place to stay in America she gave up everything to be with me which I greatly appreciated will they force her to go back? I'm like literally panicking here
Is she an American citizen?

Since she appears to no longer have legal status in Canada, your only option is an Inland (SCLPC) Sponsorship.

She will still be out of status for the entire process, but Inland applicants benefit from a public Policy that eliminates (and basically forgives) applicants like your fiance.

However...there is never a guarantee that CBSA will not intervene. I'm not stating that to alarm, rather to inform.

Since you are common-law (since November 2024), why not apply ASAP? The `clock' is likely her enemy since she has no legal status in Canada, so getting the sponsorship application in now is worth discussing with her. Once you are married, you would simply let IRCC know.

Good luck!
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
56,950
13,981
Please help I'm scared I really didn't mean to break the law my fiancee is american she moved in with me November 2023 I begged her to stay i just couldn't imagine life without her it's my fault for her overstaying we are planning to marry this April as I finally have enough money saved due to the fact I'm on disability. Will I be able to sponsor her? What will we be asked about the overstay? Can the overstay be forgiven she literally has no place to stay in America she gave up everything to be with me which I greatly appreciated will they force her to go back? I'm like literally panicking here
Assume you also reported to disability that you are now in a common law relationship. Given disability payment levels and your partner out of work since 2023 you may also need to show how you can support yourselves without government assistance (excluding disability).
 

paulog23

Newbie
Jan 31, 2025
4
0
Is she an American citizen?

Since she appears to no longer have legal status in Canada, your only option is an Inland (SCLPC) Sponsorship.

She will still be out of status for the entire process, but Inland applicants benefit from a public Policy that eliminates (and basically forgives) applicants like your fiance.

However...there is never a guarantee that CBSA will not intervene. I'm not stating that to alarm, rather to inform.

Since you are common-law (since November 2024), why not apply ASAP? The `clock' is likely her enemy since she has no legal status in Canada, so getting the sponsorship application in now is worth discussing with her. Once you are married, you would simply let IRCC know.

Good luck!
I would have done common law but I had no proof saved up we've had separate bank accounts and everything here is in my name
 

paulog23

Newbie
Jan 31, 2025
4
0
Assume you also reported to disability that you are now in a common law relationship. Given disability payment levels and your partner out of work since 2023 you may also need to show how you can support yourselves without government assistance (excluding disability).
I didn't tell odsp yet because I assumed I could only add her if we married I had no idea of commonwealth sponsorship
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
96,766
22,780
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
I'm afraid if I do that they will cancel my odsp I know I screwed up not knowing a whole lot about all this
So if you are still on ODSP and your spouse is in Canada without status and not working, that creates an additional complications for your application. While you can technically sponsor while you are on ODSP, IRCC may have concerns about your ability to support your spouse financially once they are a PR. Ideally in these scenarios your spouse is either in Canada on a work permit and working or outside of Canada working. Anyway, not sure there's much you can do but submit the application and hope for the best. I would do that as soon as possible.