Being on Welfare - Something you guys should know

[mikeymyke]

We know that being on welfare will make a sponsor ineligibe to sponsor a spouse. However, did you guys know the CIC will look into a sponsor's financial past for the past 12 months from date of application? I know the wording on the CIC requirements make it seem like you cannot be currently on welfare in order to sponsor, but in reality, you cannot have received any form of welfare for the past 12 months.

Just to let you guys know.

 

[Betina]

That's why they ask for the Option C printout

 

[iamlost]

But can we be on student loan? last year i was a student on student loan.... but now im working?

 

[Betina]

Student loans are not grounds for sponsorship refusal

 

[Iay]

But can we be on student loan? last year i was a student on student loan.... but now im working?

Yup, student loans are not classified as social welfare same situation here, but got my sponsorship approval with no problem.

 

[DuberBlue]

Yup, student loans are not classified as social welfare same situation here, but got my sponsorship approval with no problem.

That's why they are loans.

 

[mizzdanish]

Never heard this before any where and ive done a lot of research on this, i had to take welfare for a few months after my husband was asked to leave the country back in February (i was 7 mths pregnant) I certainly hope for my sake your mistaken lol

 

[Yasmine_GRL]

It's not such a black and white rule. I know cases of sponsor that got approval while being on welfare. For sure being on welfare before applying has less chances of affecting the application.

 

[needhimback]

I believe you have to be totally off of welfare while the application is being process. I don't think you will have problems if you were on it for one year previously.

Some quote me if am wrong please.

We need to know the facts

 

[mikeymyke]

I called CIC and they do tell me they look into the sponsor's financial history 12 months back, from the date the application is received. It's too bad they don't mention the 12 months thing on the website, because on the website just says "Must not receive welfare or social assistance", which seems to imply you cannot be currently receiving welfare, so one could make the false assumption that if they stopped going on welfare, and then immediately apply for PR for their spouse, then things should be OK, when in fact it won't be.

 

[screech339]

I called CIC and they do tell me they look into the sponsor's financial history 12 months back, from the date the application is received. It's too bad they don't mention the 12 months thing on the website, because on the website just says "Must not receive welfare or social assistance", which seems to imply you cannot be currently receiving welfare, so one could make the false assumption that if they stopped going on welfare, and then immediately apply for PR for their spouse, then things should be OK, when in fact it won't be.

CIC should have been more specific in the wording regarding welfare. They should say something in the line of "You must presently not be on social assistance or been on it in the past 12 months to qualify for sponsorship."

Screech339

 

[mizzdanish]

I guess well find out in the next 2 weeks when they notify me whether im approved or not lol

 

[jomz]

The below is from CIC Manual IP - 2 Spousal Sponsorship.

Table 15: Ineligibility for sponsorship

They are in receipt of social assistance other than for reasons of disability Since receipt of social assistance demonstrates an inability to provide for one's own basic requirements, the recipient would be
unable to support other family members, including spouses, common-law or conjugal partners and dependent children. The sponsor may be eligible once social assistance is discontinued.
This bar to sponsorship may, upon request by the foreign national, be waived for humanitarian and compassionate reasons or public policy provided the sponsor requests that the application continue despite their ineligibility.

 

[scylla]

We've definitely seen people on this forum be approved after being off welfare for only a few months. So it's certainly possible. I'm assuming CIC looks at the complete profile (i.e. why / how the sponsor has now moved off welfare) to satisfy themselves that supporting the applicant won't be a problem.

 

[Aenthicut]

The below is from CIC Manual IP - 2 Spousal Sponsorship.

Table 15: Ineligibility for sponsorship

They are in receipt of social assistance other than for reasons of disability Since receipt of social assistance demonstrates an inability to provide for one's own basic requirements, the recipient would be
unable to support other family members, including spouses, common-law or conjugal partners and dependent children. The sponsor may be eligible once social assistance is discontinued.
This bar to sponsorship may, upon request by the foreign national, be waived for humanitarian and compassionate reasons or public policy provided the sponsor requests that the application continue despite their ineligibility.

Do you know of any people where this was the case, yet they still were approved?