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Citizen wanting to sponsor non Canadian husband but not living in Canada

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,147
8,800
This may be obvious but if the marriage/relationship is also under scrutiny, it may lead to overall higher level of check of both factors.

The one thing that I think clearly does make a difference: an application with just letters of support and an expression of intent, no matter how beautifully written and sincere - i.e. with no 'third party' evidence - is more likely to get additional document requests.
 

expatgoingback

Hero Member
Sep 10, 2020
211
96
App. Filed.......
02-09-2020
My strong suspicion is that the level of scrutiny (and hence documentation requirements) varies a fair bit, and likely in part based on country of principal applicant. Some countries have more of these attempts to get PR status 'for backup'. And for applicants from visa waiver countries or who have visited multiple times and/or with long tenor visitor visas, logically the effort is less likely to be invested just to be able to travel. (Looked at another way, many who have visas/waivers could have simply arrived in Canada and applied inland - another reason to not overdo it with scrutiny as fairly obvious that the sponsor/applicant are serious and want to work legally, etc.)

It's also possible that there is more scrutiny for eg sponsors who have fewer ties to Canada and would appear to have returned to their 'home country.'

But that said, too little information from reports here to draw firm conclusions. It's still wise to collect information and make modest preparations in the event that you get an additional documentation request.

For what it's worth, our application and documentation was somewhat similar to what you described above, and we had no additional document request. But we also had some additional info such as university preps for one child - and some aspects a bit less than yours - so I do not know what was decisive. (And all the family had long-term visitor visas and had visited multiple times, so possible the scenario above about inland application was the main factor - no idea).
Thank you for sharing. I'm comfortable enough with what I've provided to IRCC and my profile in general. I don't feel there's a lot I can do when my application has not even received AOR. I've done due to dilligence to make sure I can afford to rent a house in my desired location in Toronto and provided financial proof demonstrating that my intention is realistic. I had originally intended on moving back in July in order to settle in and get the kids in school on time but it's now look like it won't be happening for another year, c'est la vie.
 
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expatgoingback

Hero Member
Sep 10, 2020
211
96
App. Filed.......
02-09-2020
This may be obvious but if the marriage/relationship is also under scrutiny, it may lead to overall higher level of check of both factors.

The one thing that I think clearly does make a difference: an application with just letters of support and an expression of intent, no matter how beautifully written and sincere - i.e. with no 'third party' evidence - is more likely to get additional document requests.
Yes fair enough, in my case I just celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary and have been in a relationship with my wife for 18 years.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,147
8,800
Yes fair enough, in my case I just celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary and have been in a relationship with my wife for 18 years.
Yes, I was thinking more of another poster who was planning to get married and moving back.

If you have not got AOR yet, it likely is too early to get more concerned. You may not get additional document request at all, but if you do modest preps along the way, you'll have something to respond with should it come.
 
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Kiva667

Hero Member
May 9, 2019
226
107
Just curious regarding the 17 months: did you go through the whole process waiting for approval outside of Canada?
Yes, We did the whole process while outside Canada - in Cuba. And that’s not a country that gets much love from IRCC. My wife had been denied a visitor visa prior, due to lack of “travel history.” A laughable denial considering she had spent 6 months legally in Europe a few years back and we’d traveled all around the Caribbean!

However I was able to demonstrate that we lived together in Cuba for two years before application for PR; I imagine that may have been a deciding factor in the final decision. And 17 months isn’t really very slow for Cuba; I know people who have been waiting over two years.
 

cjr

Star Member
Oct 5, 2020
112
74
And 17 months isn’t really very slow for Cuba; I know people who have been waiting over two years.
I see. I was curious since I'm also an expat of nearly 30 years heading back. I'm hoping ours will be a little quicker!