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Sponsorship

heroman-20

Full Member
Apr 5, 2021
34
1
Please, if you can help me for this question?
I am married to my Canadian wife since January and we live together in Egypt till now. But she will travel back to Canada on June.My question we fill out the forms for sponsorship now and we will send while we are together in Egypt..they asked in the checklist (Are you and your spouse currently living together)? what am i supposed to answer, please?thank you
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,144
8,798
Please, if you can help me for this question?
I am married to my Canadian wife since January and we live together in Egypt till now. But she will travel back to Canada on June.My question we fill out the forms for sponsorship now and we will send while we are together in Egypt..they asked in the checklist (Are you and your spouse currently living together)? what am i supposed to answer, please?thank you
Is she a Canadian citizen?
 

Canada2020eh

Champion Member
Aug 2, 2019
2,194
887
Please, if you can help me for this question?
I am married to my Canadian wife since January and we live together in Egypt till now. But she will travel back to Canada on June.My question we fill out the forms for sponsorship now and we will send while we are together in Egypt..they asked in the checklist (Are you and your spouse currently living together)? what am i supposed to answer, please?thank you
If you apply while she is still in Egypt your application will require more paperwork on your part. With her out of the country you will have to provide proof that she will be returning to Canada and also proof that she can support the 2 of you when you arrive in Canada. Read the application closely, there are questions that apply to a sponsor living and applying from outside Canada. You might consider to wait for her to arrive back in Canada before submitting the app. It would simplify your app if you wait until June.
 

heroman-20

Full Member
Apr 5, 2021
34
1
If you apply while she is still in Egypt your application will require more paperwork on your part. With her out of the country you will have to provide proof that she will be returning to Canada and also proof that she can support the 2 of you when you arrive in Canada. Read the application closely, there are questions that apply to a sponsor living and applying from outside Canada. You might consider to wait for her to arrive back in Canada before submitting the app. It would simplify your app if you wait until June.
I have booked her ticket for June already.Is not that a proof of her returning to Canada?
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,144
8,798
If you apply while she is still in Egypt your application will require more paperwork on your part. With her out of the country you will have to provide proof that she will be returning to Canada and also proof that she can support the 2 of you when you arrive in Canada. Read the application closely, there are questions that apply to a sponsor living and applying from outside Canada. You might consider to wait for her to arrive back in Canada before submitting the app. It would simplify your app if you wait until June.
It's a good point that a Canadian citizen residing abroad does need to provide more information and whether it is preferable to submit right away or to wait the couple of months to return to Canada and then submit - no-one can say.

Personally I would submit earlier if not too difficult - and provide some information about plans to return to Canada. But I say that without knowing much about the couple and their background, and it may depend on all that relationship history etc as well as what documentation is easily available.

Some factors to consider in deciding:
-since the couple has been married for only a relatively short while (how long have they known each other?), 'residing together' does provide some additional support for the relationship.
-if the sponsor has maintained a fair number of 'residential' links (eg some of residential address to return to and reside in, bank account, employment history, telephone number, family in Canada, etc), the plane tickets to return may be pretty decent evidence of 'intent to return.'
-if in contrast the sponsor has few or zero links to Canada, demonstrating that intent to return may be a bit more difficult and the plane ticket alone may be a bit weak.
-As noted, in any case, the sponsor should definitely update IRCC of the return to Canada once physically in Canada (address in Canada, updated contact info, and employment when possible).
-Note that in all cases the sponsor is expected to show ability to support (even if no specific income requirement), which can be savings, employment plans, and - for the citizen-abroad - the PA's plans for employment as well.
-The 'rub' is that for a citizen-in-Canada-sponsor they seem to usually expect the tax return info and/or actual employment (whereas the Canadian abroad is clearly not employed in Canada - usually) and may need some additional explanation. This may not mean a lot of extra scrutiny for one who has just returned and not yet found employment - I don't know. But my point is it's a bit of a trade-off and not clear whether applying first from abroad is actually better or worse than waiting and applying a few months later. (Then there's the uncertainty of covid and whether plans end up changing for reasons beyond the control of the couple)

On the other hand, if the sponsor has only the plane ticket as evidence of intent to return and no other significant ties in Canada, that would be pretty weak.

So, it's up to the OP. I stated my slight preference based on very little information (and should be adjusted if very different, eg a Canadian citizen who has never resided in Canada might think more carefully). But if the OP actually does return to Canada soon as planned and updates IRCC on arrival, I doubt this aspect alone would be determinative.
 
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Canada2020eh

Champion Member
Aug 2, 2019
2,194
887
I have booked her ticket for June already.Is not that a proof of her returning to Canada?
It's a good point that a Canadian citizen residing abroad does need to provide more information and whether it is preferable to submit right away or to wait the couple of months to return to Canada and then submit - no-one can say.

Personally I would submit earlier if not too difficult - and provide some information about plans to return to Canada. But I say that without knowing much about the couple and their background, and it may depend on all that relationship history etc as well as what documentation is easily available.

Some factors to consider in deciding:
-since the couple has been married for only a relatively short while (how long have they known each other?), 'residing together' does provide some additional support for the relationship.
-if the sponsor has maintained a fair number of 'residential' links (eg some of residential address to return to and reside in, bank account, employment history, telephone number, family in Canada, etc), the plane tickets to return may be pretty decent evidence of 'intent to return.'
-if in contrast the sponsor has few or zero links to Canada, demonstrating that intent to return may be a bit more difficult and the plane ticket alone may be a bit weak.
-As noted, in any case, the sponsor should definitely update IRCC of the return to Canada once physically in Canada (address in Canada, updated contact info, and employment when possible).
-Note that in all cases the sponsor is expected to show ability to support (even if no specific income requirement), which can be savings, employment plans, and - for the citizen-abroad - the PA's plans for employment as well.
-The 'rub' is that for a citizen-in-Canada-sponsor they seem to usually expect the tax return info and/or actual employment (whereas the Canadian abroad is clearly not employed in Canada - usually) and may need some additional explanation. This may not mean a lot of extra scrutiny for one who has just returned and not yet found employment - I don't know. But my point is it's a bit of a trade-off and not clear whether applying first from abroad is actually better or worse than waiting and applying a few months later. (Then there's the uncertainty of covid and whether plans end up changing for reasons beyond the control of the couple)

On the other hand, if the sponsor has only the plane ticket as evidence of intent to return and no other significant ties in Canada, that would be pretty weak.

So, it's up to the OP. I stated my slight preference based on very little information (and should be adjusted if very different, eg a Canadian citizen who has never resided in Canada might think more carefully). But if the OP actually does return to Canada soon as planned and updates IRCC on arrival, I doubt this aspect alone would be determinative.
You add good points @armoured. I was and I believe you also were an expat living abroad when you sponsored your spouse. I had strong ties Canada, still technically employed, bank accounts, credit cards, DL etc. I provided that stuff and we didn't have a problem. IMO, I don't think that just a flight ticket will show enough intent to return but having said that, the time from submitting until the spouse is to move back to Cda in June I doubt that they would have gotten that far into the app to see the lack of supporting docs. OP comes to Canada in June and updates all their info which makes the need for more supporting info being required.

In my mind we are at a point where it will cause confusion why it was submitted as an expat app when that wasn't their intention. As you know applying as an expat for your spouse requires different info being supplied for that app, which is really not their intent to do. IMO, they should wait the 6-8 weeks and file it from in Cda.
 
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armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,144
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You add good points @armoured. I was and I believe you also were an expat living abroad when you sponsored your spouse. I had strong ties Canada, still technically employed, bank accounts, credit cards, DL etc. I provided that stuff and we didn't have a problem. IMO, I don't think that just a flight ticket will show enough intent to return but having said that, the time from submitting until the spouse is to move back to Cda in June I doubt that they would have gotten that far into the app to see the lack of supporting docs. OP comes to Canada in June and updates all their info which makes the need for more supporting info being required.

In my mind we are at a point where it will cause confusion why it was submitted as an expat app when that wasn't their intention. As you know applying as an expat for your spouse requires different info being supplied for that app, which is really not their intent to do. IMO, they should wait the 6-8 weeks and file it from in Cda.
As I said, I don't have a strong opinion and think it does matter for other aspects about the background - eg ongoing ties to Canada. Since this couple is relatively recently married, I think there is some modest plus to applying as still residing together - and as noted, it's quite possible the file won't get analyzed in detail before the sponsor returns.

But yes, it's possibly more work in terms of docs - and to repeat, I do NOT think applying with just the plane ticket as evidence of intent to return would be sufficient. Weighed against the benefit of applying a bit earlier.

Anyway, as before, up to the OP to decide - based on the types of input both of us provided.
 

heroman-20

Full Member
Apr 5, 2021
34
1
Sorry for lateness, Can i write that she lives in Canada and in a sheet i make an explanation that she is in a visit to Egypt and will travel back on June ?
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,144
8,798
Sorry for lateness, Can i write that she lives in Canada and in a sheet i make an explanation that she is in a visit to Egypt and will travel back on June ?
You write "we live together until now" without dates. So we cannot say whether 'visit' is most accurate (or potentially misleading).

But why do you propose approaching this way (by which I take to mean you want to file as her living in Canada with an explanation that she is just 'visiting' now)? What benefit do you expect to get from it?

My suggestion would be to 'pick a lane' and stick to it. Or in more simple terms, keep it simple - but you'll have to decide. If you are living together now and apply before she returns to Canada, apply as living together with her intent to return to Canada (as discussed above). Update address when she does return.

If you apply after she returns to Canada, no longer living together but sponsor is living in Canada. (You would of course show that you lived together for six months or so after the marriage)

In both cases you can write a letter of explanation to clarify anything you feel is not clear.

The advantage of 'living together/abroad' is it should strengthen case for genuine relationship and allows you to apply earlier - and it is clear that she is living with you at time of filing. Advantage of returning first and then applying is there should be no question of intent to reside in Canada and no need to provide any documentation about that.

(There were suggestions above about how much to provide on 'intent to return to Canada' - which no-one can answer as details of her ties to Canada not known. At any rate, if she returns to Canada when planned, updates address with IRCC and remains in Canada and keeps normal docs to show she is resident in Canada, it should not be a big issue).

I don't see any significant benefit in filing now and specifying she is currently just 'visiting' for six months or more; and potentially it would cause confusion whether her sponsorship should be seen as from within Canada or from abroad - and if from abroad, why not living together? (Yes, you'll have the letter of explanation - but that could easily be missed). I don't know how strict iRCC is on this particular issue but if they decide the forms have been improperly completed, could be some issues in handling.
 
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heroman-20

Full Member
Apr 5, 2021
34
1
Also,please, She is with me in Egypt now ,she does not work .Is this cause rejecting of the application ?she was working before she comes to Egypt and she paid her taxes.thank u
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,144
8,798
Also,please, She is with me in Egypt now ,she does not work .Is this cause rejecting of the application ?she was working before she comes to Egypt and she paid her taxes.thank u
I suggest you and your spouse look at the application guides and other threads. You keep saying she is in Egypt but not how long she has been there. Your idea

If/when she applies in Canada, I think she'll need most recent tax filing (notice of assessment) - but please check. "She paid her taxes" may not be specific enough - esp if it was some time ago. Also if she applies to sponsor you when in Canada, it would be preferable for her to be working.

As a Canadian sponsoring you from abroad with intent to return to Canada, she'd have to file a plan of how she would support you - this would include savings, plans to work (specific recent work experience and looking for work for example), and can include/refer to your plans to work. (She can update once back in Canada if/when she starts working)

In both cases for a spouse there is no specific income requirement, but 'ability to support' would generally mean savings or some ability and intent to work.