Thank you very much! This is extremely helpful. If you don't mind helping me out with another question. In regards to the source of income section on the application, I understand that although sponsoring a spouse doesn't have a minimum income requirement, it's still better to show that at least the sponsor is able to financially support the main applicant for the duration of at least 3 years. My partner and I currently don't have a job (taking time off due to covid) but have more than enough in savings to qualify for the 3+ years of financial support, would a bank statement of the savings be sufficient do you think? Or will I need to provide documents showing that there's steady income coming in, such as from a job, dividend income, rental, etc...any other steady stream passive incomes. Thank you in advance
I'm happy to give you my comments on your question. Although I think it might have been better all-round to start a new thread for this (in the Spousal thread?) so that the thread subject matches this question...you might get more replies, plus it may help others with same question.
My own situation has some similarity to yours with little current income. My wife (sponsor) has Canadian citizenship and we reside in the USA. I am now retired (so I am quite elderly, lol) and we plan to move to Canada to be near her family. At the moment, our income is negligible...a very small pension of $420 per month. I will take delayed Social Security (SS) retirement benefits in a year or so, that will provide $40,000 per year. About 3 years later my wife will take her SS spousal benefit (early, at age 62) for another $10,000 per year. I will also have to draw required minimum distributions (RMD) from IRA accounts...another $60-80 K per year. There are substantial savings and investments in taxable accounts, IRA and Roth IRA accounts. So I am quite confident of our income and ability to support ourselves for the next 40 years (well, 30 years for me and her, another 10 years on top of that for her as a widow). But at the moment all I could show to IRCC on my application is that measly lil' $420 per month!
So I included a full package of all account statements with balances (income tax returns also if I remember correctly) and a net worth statement. Plus a lengthy written description and analysis of anticipated future income (Social Security) and disbursements from investments and cash assets. I have little doubt, and no concern, that this is sufficient to show that I will not become a burden on the Canadian system. There is a fallback plan, just spend 6 months a year in Canada.
In your situation I think you will have to show some similar plan with the available resources to "see you through" (and hopefully beyond) the 3 years...a plan for employment or other income and spending down your current resources. It may make a difference depending on where you are currently located...inside Canada or in the US, and if you and your partner reside together. I don't know your age range but going 3 years without employment may raise some eyebrows at IRCC (unless you are university students, etc). It's also potentially very risky to your own financial well-being.
The covid pandemic is a legitimate justification for the current circumstances of employment. But this state of affairs seems to be rapidly drawing to a close with more vaccinations becoming available. So I would not "push" the story of extended unemployment based on this rationale. Try to have a credible plan for gaining employment. Certainly "things" can happen to torpedo this and any plan, but you'll want to have some concrete positive, optimistic plan for the future, not just for 3 years but thereafter as well.
Just my thoughts.
Good luck!
