Hello everyone your advice and thoughts will be very much appreciated, I applied for refugee status in Canada in 2023. In 2024, I met and fell in love with a Canadian. He proposed to me and we had plans to get married this February or March. I recently received my notice of hearing, for March and I want to know if I should still get married and apply for the spousal sponsorship.
Should I still pursue spousal sponsorship?
- Thread starter Terrick
- Start date
If you don’t attend your hearing in March you automatically become eligible for removal. This is really something you should be discussing with your lawyer. There are pros and cons for not attending or attending. Also depends if you actually fear for your life in your home country and would not be ok returning if required during the sponsorship process. The fact that you claimed asylum will be available to countries that share immigration information with Canada but if you become a protected person that also has consequences. If your relationship breaks down for some reason you will also be left without great options to remain in Canada if you don’t pursue asylum in Canada. Speak to your lawyer and go through the various scenarios.
Thank you for you
Thank you for your reply. I will try to speak to a lawyer. My plan is to attend the hearing but I don’t know if I should still file for spousal sponsorship or not. Or if I’m even allowed to and if it’ll affect my hearing
Thank you for your reply. I will try to speak to a lawyer. My plan is to attend the hearing but I don’t know if I should still file for spousal sponsorship or not. Or if I’m even allowed to and if it’ll affect my hearing
-Yes, you can apply for spousal sponsorship.
-You should expect additional scrutiny of the relationship (as there will be suspicion that the relationship is to avoid being removed in case of denial of your asylum claim). It may be better to get married before the hearing.
-It should not affect your hearing overall.
-I think that you should/must disclose if married before the hearing. And I think it's better for you if you disclose right up-front.
I don't know process or what happens if the hearing goes against you and what /if there's effect on removal afterwards.
Likewise there's a question of whether you should apply inland or outland. I think the correct answer is outland in your case, but not certain.
You can apply for spousal sponsorship after an asylum hearing. If you receive a positive hearing you will still be considered a protected person no matter how you get PR. If anything getting approved as a protected person will make your spousal sponsorship less concerning to IRCC because it will be clear that you had other options to obtain PR. The specifics of your relationship also matter in this equation. When you started dating in 2024, if you started living together and when, etc. all become a factor in decision making for you and your lawyer.