When can I sponsor my wife?

[roygbiv]

Hello everyone,

Two years now I've been seeing a Vietnamese woman. We married last month here in Vietnam and I am going back to Canada to serve in the military next month (I only bring that up because my wife said it will help her immigration process).

I'm somewhat familiar with the process but not overly. How long do we have to be married before we can try and open a Visa for her?

My wife is also financially dependent upon my person atm. So is there anyway she could get listed as a dependent or something as well to help the process?

I spoke to a Vietnamese guy in Canada he said it took him 3 years and a personal letter he wrote to Trudeau before his wife could immigrate. But a Dutch fellow told me I'm a native Canadian and headed for military service so it'll take a shorter time.

It's difficult to explain to family as they do not understand why it's so difficult for her to even visit Canada.

Thanks for your time.

 

[k.h.p.]

You can do it as soon as you are married, provided you have the paperwork and certificates ready.

It takes about a year to process the sponsorship provided you have all the documentation and fill out the forms appropriately.

There is no ability to list your wife as dependent on you to speed anything up. 80% of all normal applications are processed within 12 months. If CIC suspects your marriage is one of convenience or fake or your wife has any background or criminality issues (or you do) the 12 month timeframe is out the window.

I wouldn't trust the Dutch guy to be an immigration advisor - he's given you horrid advice. Military service will not at all speed up the process. Hopefully you wanted to serve (and thank you for your service.) I guess the advice wasn't horrid if you wanted to be in the military.

I don't believe your status as a military member would result in any more stringent background checks hopefully you don't work in intelligence or anything that may give cause for special treatment.

 

[Jaskal75]

Congratulations! You can sponsor her as soon as your married. You will need documents from her and your marriage certificate needs to be translated and notarized as well as other documents . Go onto the Canadian immigration website and download the application with the manual. You will need alot of answers from her ex. Her siblings address, email, date of birth. I would reccomend completing it there. You can apply online for her.

 

[21Goose]

Are you a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident? If you're either of those two, you can sponsor her immediately after getting married. If you're a citizen, you can sponsor her from outside Canada. If you're a PR, you have to be resident in Canada before you can sponsor her.

Either way, the spousal sponsorship process is well documented here -> https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html

And no, you don't have to write a letter to the PM or anything like that. I don't know if military service will speed up the process, but in normal applications it takes anywhere between 6 -12 months.

 

[k.h.p.]

Congratulations! You can sponsor her as soon as your married. You will need documents from her and your marriage certificate needs to be translated and notarized as well as other documents . Go onto the Canadian immigration website and download the application with the manual. You will need alot of answers from her ex. Her siblings address, email, date of birth. I would reccomend completing it there. You can apply online for her.

Mostly right but also completely wrong. You cannot apply online.

 

[roygbiv]

I see there was similar threads open already I should have read those first so apologize for a duplicate sort of thread but every situation has it's own nuances.

@k.h.p.
No, no I'm just going to be infantry again. It's a long story about that. I was in the reserves for 4 years, go out tried for the French Foreign Legion didn't get in and just decided to go back to the military again. As reg force this time though. I like the military life and it's a good job with a pension. Your welcome for your support. I'm modest about it; alot more guys have really sacrificed so much more than me.

Thank you for the info there. I thought it was a wait of one full year. I have a copy of my marriage certificate (for Vietnam). Me and my wife will take a gander at the other forms and certificates shortly I dont have them memorized off by heart but I've looked at them a few times.

Yea alot of people I meet think it's just your married it's easy now for her to visit and such. I'm a bit skeptical but optimistic of it so I have to "ask" ha.

@Jaskal75
Alright sounds good. I wasn't really aware of that. Thanks friend.

@21Goose
I'm a Canadian citizen; born and raised in Canada. Thanks for the resources. Yes, the Vietnamese guy who wrote a letter for his wife did it out of frustration really went through hell and back for 3 years.

 

[canuck78]

A letter to Trudeau didn't get his application approved. Might just be a coincidence. Agree that she is unlikely to get a TRV. Hope you have met each other in person more than one time. Visiting her during sponsorship would also help your application. As a citizen you don't have to remain in Canada during sponsorship so you can visit when you want.

 

[k.h.p.]

It takes a year to wait in some cases before you can apply if you're not a citizen. In your case, you're all good.

I know the frustration - my partner lives in Shanghai and I can't get her a tourist visa at the moment. I know she's no risk to Canada, but I also get the laws. They just frustrate me.

 

[canuck78]

It takes a year to wait in some cases before you can apply if you're not a citizen. In your case, you're all good.

I know the frustration - my partner lives in Shanghai and I can't get her a tourist visa at the moment. I know she's no risk to Canada, but I also get the laws. They just frustrate me.

It is really hard to deport someone so you prevent them from coming in the first place. Also less incentive for fraud. Most provinces don't give medical coverage to family sponsorship applicants so that would also creat issues especially around pregnancy or other health conditions. As we have seen on this forum, many women get pregnant but don't have coverage and can't cover their expenses easily. If you marry someone who lives abroad it comes with complications.

 

[k.h.p.]

It is really hard to deport someone so you prevent them from coming in the first place. Also less incentive for fraud. Most provinces don't give medical coverage to family sponsorship applicants so that would also creat issues especially around pregnancy or other health conditions. As we have seen on this forum, many women get pregnant but don't have coverage and can't cover their expenses easily. If you marry someone who lives abroad it comes with complications.

Yep. Not arguing, just waiting on process.