Spousal sponsorship

[navn47]

Hi Forum,

What are the next steps for spouse sponsorship visa after Biometrics and Medical? Any timeline is very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[sm99]

Hi All,

I am a permanent resident of Canada since 2018, working full-time with a Canadian employer. I recently got married in Jan 2021 and due to the COVID pandemic and travel ban from Canada I got stuck in India. I arrived in Canada yesterday and would like to sponsor my wife ASAP.

I wanted to check with the forum members if it is advisable to apply right away after staying outside of Canada for more than 6 months or shall I wait for a month before applying? Please advise.

I came across PERMANENT RESIDENCE PROTAL and would like to check if spouse PR visa for outland category can be applied through this online portal?
https://prson-srpel.apps.cic.gc.ca/en/login

Thanks
SM

 

[armoured]

I wanted to check with the forum members if it is advisable to apply right away after staying outside of Canada for more than 6 months or shall I wait for a month before applying? Please advise.

I came across PERMANENT RESIDENCE PROTAL and would like to check if spouse PR visa for outland category can be applied through this online portal?
https://prson-srpel.apps.cic.gc.ca/en/login

As long as you are in Canada when you apply (and remain through the process), you can apply right away.

I don't know about that particular link/portal. This one has a link and discussion of the new pilot programme for spousal sponsorship.
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/outland-sponsorship-online-application.737998/

If you look carefully, it is a new, pilot programme - only a few weeks old - so there are very few who have reported here applying through it.

Obviously in principle online should be quicker and subject to 'data issues'/confirmation. But it's new and no-one knows. The paper applications at least here are well known and people can say how to do them (mostly); online you may be on your own a bit.

Up to you to decide.

 

[sm99]

As long as you are in Canada when you apply (and remain through the process), you can apply right away.

I don't know about that particular link/portal. This one has a link and discussion of the new pilot programme for spousal sponsorship.
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/outland-sponsorship-online-application.737998/

If you look carefully, it is a new, pilot programme - only a few weeks old - so there are very few who have reported here applying through it.

Obviously in principle online should be quicker and subject to 'data issues'/confirmation. But it's new and no-one knows. The paper applications at least here are well known and people can say how to do them (mostly); online you may be on your own a bit.

Up to you to decide.

Thanks for the quick reply. I am planning to apply online and also contemplating the thought of sending manual/paper based application. Any idea on the processing times for the 2020 outland applicants?

 

[armoured]

Thanks for the quick reply. I am planning to apply online and also contemplating the thought of sending manual/paper based application. Any idea on the processing times for the 2020 outland applicants?

Why 2020? If you're interested in the more recent applications, look at the threads for 2021 outland here, or the tracker spreadsheet, a link for which is in almost every monthly thread.

 

[vishnusk1995]

What are some of the seasons for lengthy spouse sponsorship processing time other than COVID delays or denial, even if the marriage is legit? If you can share your experience that would be great.

 

[sm99]

Why 2020? If you're interested in the more recent applications, look at the threads for 2021 outland here, or the tracker spreadsheet, a link for which is in almost every monthly thread.

Sorry I meant to say 2021*

 

[esam99]

What are some of the seasons for lengthy spouse sponsorship processing time other than COVID delays or denial, even if the marriage is legit? If you can share your experience that would be great.

 

[SpousalVisaforWife]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update everyone, and ask a question. It seems that many people I know are getting their PPRs today (from India).

Application submitted: May 2020
Medical and biometrics request: March 2021
Pre-arrival letter: July 2021
Status updated to "Decision Made": July 2021
PPR: August 2021

One of the requests they are asking is submitting height and eye colour? How does this work? Should I just create a word document that says what the eye colour and height is, along with name, DOB, and file number?

 

[palkash]

Hello All,

I recently got married in May 2021 and my wife is in Canada on visit visa. I am looking to submit her PR application asap but I am unable to provide proof of Cohabitation since she just moved to Canada and my current house is under my name only. How do I proceed in this case and what supporting details can I add? We have been dating since 8 and half years so I have many letters, photos etc but not sure on what bills etc I can attach. Will my application be rejected if I am unable to provide proof of cohabitation?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[armoured]

Hello All,

I recently got married in May 2021 and my wife is in Canada on visit visa. I am looking to submit her PR application asap but I am unable to provide proof of Cohabitation since she just moved to Canada and my current house is under my name only. How do I proceed in this case and what supporting details can I add? We have been dating since 8 and half years so I have many letters, photos etc but not sure on what bills etc I can attach. Will my application be rejected if I am unable to provide proof of cohabitation?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Provide whatever you can, her paying bills there, adding her to bank account, insurance, anything.

It isn't strictly be required for you to show cohabitation - just helps. Your other relationship info might be sufficient on its own but living together since marriage is good.

 

[MJSPARV]

Hello All,

I recently got married in May 2021 and my wife is in Canada on visit visa. I am looking to submit her PR application asap but I am unable to provide proof of Cohabitation since she just moved to Canada and my current house is under my name only. How do I proceed in this case and what supporting details can I add? We have been dating since 8 and half years so I have many letters, photos etc but not sure on what bills etc I can attach. Will my application be rejected if I am unable to provide proof of cohabitation?

Thanks in advance for your help.

There might be some things that are easier than changing house/bills etc to get like if you both get library cards etc that show the same address. You can also write a letter of explanation that you're living together but because she just moved and is on visitor status, she isn't in your lease/mortgage or utility bills etc.

 

[sm99]

Hello Everyone,

Quick question - my wife's sister (a permanent resident) has applied for her visit visa before our marriage and they received biometrics request before the marriage but due to COVID-19 pandemic in India, the visa offices were either closed or not providing biometric services for an extended period of time.

Now as the visa offices in India are taking biometrics appointments, should we proceed with the biometrics for the visit visa or shall we abandon the visit visa process altogether as we are going to apply for spouse PR visa by mid August?

Will IRCC use the biometrics given for visit visa while processing spouse visa and exempt biometrics test in the PR application?

Thanks,
SM

 

[Jcr]

So you are in the situation that you want to sponsor your foreign spouse for permanent residency of Canada and don't know where to start. Here are some tips:

Married, common law or conjugal partners

First you need to pick an application class. There are three of them: married, common-law and conjugal. For all of them, you need to prove the genuineity of your relationship. For common-law, you need to prove that you have lived together for 12 months or longer. For conjugal, you need to prove that you have combined your affairs as much as possible but there are real immigration barriers or other barriers preventing you from living together or getting married. Conjugal is the hardest to prove. For example, if your partner could get a visit visa to come to Canada for 6 months and then apply for an extension to get the full year, even though they will not be allowed to work, that is not considered an immigration barrier. An immigration barrier is if your partner tries to get a visit visa to come to Canada and is repeatedly refused. Some people have had luck with the conjugal class but try to avoid it if possible.

Outland or inland?

Now you need to decide if to apply outland or inland. If your spouse is not in Canada and can not get a visa to go to Canada, you must apply outland. That means that you will send your application to Mississauga and they will approve you as a sponsor. The time that takes is usually 1-2 months to but current processing times can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#sponsorship After that, the application is forwarded to your local visa office. If your spouse is residing in a country other than the country of their nationality, you can pick which of the two visa offices you want. Otherwise it will be processed in their country of nationality. You can see the processing times here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp

If your spouse is staying in Canada as a visitor or on some other visa, you can pick whether you want to apply outland or inland. Outland is generally faster and has appeal rights but a downside to outland is that if an interview is required, your spouse will have to travel to the visa office in the country where it's being processed. Inland has the downside that it's generally not advised that your spouse travels while you are waiting for your processing because it is a requirement of inland that they reside in Canada and if they are denied entry at the border for some reason, your application is gone. If an interview is required for inland, you may also have to wait a long time for it. The inland application would be sent to Vegreville and if all goes well, you would get a first stage approval, usually in 6 to 8 months. The current processing times can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#perm_res Then the file is forwarded to your local CIC office where you live and they will contact you for a landing appointment. Getting the PR with inland usually takes 12-18 months. If an interview is required for inland, Vegreville will not give first stage approval but instead will forward the application to the local CIC office without it and you will have to wait for them to have time for your interview. In some cases that can take a year or two. If you do get the first stage approval, your spouse will usually be eligible for health care and an open work permit. It is actually a good idea when applying inland to send an application form for a visit visa extension as well as the open work permit to be given at first stage approval all in one package so it's tied together.

Which method to pick depends on your situation. If your spouses country of nationality has a long processing time or your spouse does not want to have to travel there for a possible interview, then inland is the way to go. For faster processing and freedom of travel during the processing time, outland would be better. You can find the application forms for inland at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp and the application forms for outland at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

Avoiding potential problems with your application

The most common reason for people to be called for an interview is that the visa officer has doubts about the relationship being genuine. It is up to you to send immigration some quality data, emails, chat logs, phone records, photos, letters and other material to prove to them that your relationship is the real thing. Other reasons you might have problems with is eligibility of the sponsor. The sponsor can not be on social assistance, can not be bankrupt and can not have a record of violent crimes or crimes against family members. If that is the case, better talk to a lawyer and get that cleared up before attempting to apply.

Dependent children

If your spouse has dependent children, they must be included in the PR application, even if they are not coming to Canada. They will need to have medicals as well to keep the option open to sponsor them later. The only way that immigration will accept the application without those medicals is if the children are no longer minors and refuse to have it or if the children are in the full custody of their other parent who refuses to make them available for medicals. In that case, your spouse needs to sign a statement stating that they know that they will never be able to sponsor these children to Canada in the future.

Dependent children are classified as single and either under 22 years of age or if they are older, they must have been full time students since before age 22 or dependent on their parent due to a disability or medical problem.

Refusals due to income and medicals

You will be asked to provide information about your income but you will not be denied to sponsor your spouse and dependent children because you do not make enough money. It is possible though that if you make absolutely no money at all that immigration may ask you how you plan to support yourselves.

Spouses and dependent children are also exempt from the clause about excessive demand on health care so you do not have to worry about them being refused for that reason.

Sponsoring your spouse while living in another country

If you are a Canadian citizen, you can sponsor your spouse without being in Canada but you do then have to prove that you are planning on moving to Canada when your spouse gets approved for permanent residency. Such proof can include having arranged jobs, being accepted to college, having arranged housing or letters from friends & relatives stating that they know of your plans and that you can stay with them while you look for housing etc.

If you are a PR, you must reside in Canada in order to sponsor your spouse. You can chance short vacations (remember that a Canadian vacation is generally no longer than 2 weeks) but if immigration finds out that you are not in Canada, you risk getting your application refused.

Hi I received my pre arrival letter a lil over 2 months ago , I was wondering when I should hear something back , my wife and daughter are in Canada and is so difficult, thank you .

 

[Cherrypaul]

No.

Thanks. Could you please elaborate more.