Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class -- define "cohabit"?

[potatopanther]

Hi all,

I wanted to sponsor my spouse under the "Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class". On Immigration Canada's website, it says:

"You can apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class if your spouse or common-law partner cohabits (lives) with you in Canada and has temporary resident status."
​

Does anyone know the definition of "cohabits" when it comes to spouses? Is it the same definition as it is for common-law relationships (i.e. cohabit = living together continuously for at least a year)? Do spouses also have the meet the one year, living together continuously requirement? Or must they just be physically (and legally) IN CANADA during the time of the application?

My spouse is currently living in Canada but as a visitor. She's an Australian citizen so the most she can stay is 6 months at a time. Does anyone know if visitor spouses can apply under the "in Canada class"???

Thank you so much in advance for any help/insight anyone can provide!

 

[zardoz]

Hi all,

I wanted to sponsor my spouse under the "Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class". On Immigration Canada's website, it says:

"You can apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class if your spouse or common-law partner cohabits (lives) with you in Canada and has temporary resident status."
​

Does anyone know the definition of "cohabits" when it comes to spouses? Is it the same definition as it is for common-law relationships (i.e. cohabit = living together continuously for at least a year)? Do spouses also have the meet the one year, living together continuously requirement? Or must they just be physically (and legally) IN CANADA during the time of the application?

My spouse is currently living in Canada but as a visitor. She's an Australian citizen so the most she can stay is 6 months at a time. Does anyone know if visitor spouses can apply under the "in Canada class"???

Thank you so much in advance for any help/insight anyone can provide!

It means living in the same physical residence as a couple. It does not imply any specific length of time OR legal immigration status.

 

[YVR123]

Hi all,

I wanted to sponsor my spouse under the "Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class". On Immigration Canada's website, it says:

"You can apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class if your spouse or common-law partner cohabits (lives) with you in Canada and has temporary resident status."
​

Does anyone know the definition of "cohabits" when it comes to spouses? Is it the same definition as it is for common-law relationships (i.e. cohabit = living together continuously for at least a year)? Do spouses also have the meet the one year, living together continuously requirement? Or must they just be physically (and legally) IN CANADA during the time of the application?

My spouse is currently living in Canada but as a visitor. She's an Australian citizen so the most she can stay is 6 months at a time. Does anyone know if visitor spouses can apply under the "in Canada class"???

Thank you so much in advance for any help/insight anyone can provide!

She can. She just need to apply for an extension of her visitor status before it expires. Search on this forum, a lot of ppl has done it this way to become common law and to continue to live together in Canada during an inland sponsorship.

When you say spouse, do you mean that you and your spouse are married? If so, include an OWP with your inland spousal sponsorship and she will get a work permit in about 4 months. You may still need to apply for visitor extension if you don't hear back from CIC after you submitted your application (in case the OWP/sponsorship application got returned with any mistake).

 

[potatopanther]

Thank you to the both of you for your advice! This was such good news to read.

Yes we are officially married and I do want to also apply for an OWP at the same time that I apply for the spousal sponsorship.

I'm guessing I should apply for the visitor extension AFTER I submit the PR inland spousal sponsorship & OWP application? That way I can say the reasoning for the visitor extension is because I want my spouse to be able to legally stay in Canada while the inland PR application is being processed?

Thanks again for all your guys' help .

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you to the both of you for your advice! This was such good news to read.

Yes we are officially married and I do want to also apply for an OWP at the same time that I apply for the spousal sponsorship.

I'm guessing I should apply for the visitor extension AFTER I submit the PR inland spousal sponsorship & OWP application? That way I can say the reasoning for the visitor extension is because I want my spouse to be able to legally stay in Canada while the inland PR application is being processed?

Thanks again for all your guys' help .

When are you applying for PR and when does your visitor status expire?

 

[potatopanther]

I am applying for PR around Jan 8, 2019 and the visitor status reaches the 6-month expiry on May 24, 2019.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I am applying for PR around Jan 8, 2019 and the visitor status reaches the 6-month expiry on May 24, 2019.

Don't bother with the visitor extension. The OWP should be approved before your visitor status expires.