A few questions about spouse sponsorship

[Ste_Vege]

Hi,

My wife (Canadian, from Quebec living and working in Montreal) is going to sponsor me (Italian living in London) via the outland spouse sponsorship application.

We have a few questions:

- What is the minimum salary the sponsor needs to have?
- Can the sponsor change job (moving to a job with a lower salary) during the application process?
- Can the sponsor change job (moving to a job with a lower salary) during the first 3 years of the sponsorship?
- The sponsor is responsible for any welfare support given to the sponsored person for the first 3 years. Can we sign a private agreement saying that the sponsored will be responsible for this costs, i.e. the sponsored person would need to reimbourse the sponsor if welfare support will be required?
- I am a building design engineer and I work as mechanical buiding design engineer in London. Is there any other option for me to move to live and work in Canada apart from via the spousal sponsorship?
- What happens if I move my permanent residency from UK to Italy during the application process?


Thanks.

 

[MilesAway]

There is no minimum income to sponsor your spouse. The sponsor cannot be bankrupt or on welfare. Otherwise they are free to change jobs.

If you move to a different country during the process, you would need to update IRCC. It has no impact otherwise.

 

[Bcboundboy]

Hi,

My wife (Canadian, from Quebec living and working in Montreal) is going to sponsor me (Italian living in London) via the outland spouse sponsorship application.

We have a few questions:

- What is the minimum salary the sponsor needs to have?
There is no minimum. Don't be bankrupt or on welfare, that's it.
- Can the sponsor change job (moving to a job with a lower salary) during the application process?
Yes
- Can the sponsor change job (moving to a job with a lower salary) during the first 3 years of the sponsorship?
Yes
- The sponsor is responsible for any welfare support given to the sponsored person for the first 3 years. Can we sign a private agreement saying that the sponsored will be responsible for this costs, i.e. the sponsored person would need to reimbourse the sponsor if welfare support will be required?
Not a binding one. From the Government's perspective, the sponsor will be responsible for any welfare support the principal applicant claims in the first three years of being a PR. If you want to agree privately that you will reimburse any such payments, you can promise her that, but it won't change who the Government goes after. If you write it down, and don't fulfill, she can try suing you through the courts.
- I am a building design engineer and I work as mechanical buiding design engineer in London. Is there any other option for me to move to live and work in Canada apart from via the spousal sponsorship?
If you are under 30 you can get an IEC permit which is valid for 6 months work for Italians. Or you can visit her in Canada, file an inland application, and request a spousal open work permit as part of that
- What happens if I move my permanent residency from UK to Italy during the application process?
Probably just need to alert CIC of change in address. There's a good chance you'll be processed through Rome as an Italian citizen anyway if you apply outland

 

[BethanyM]

Hi,

My wife (Canadian, from Quebec living and working in Montreal) is going to sponsor me (Italian living in London) via the outland spouse sponsorship application.

We have a few questions:

- What is the minimum salary the sponsor needs to have?
- Can the sponsor change job (moving to a job with a lower salary) during the application process?
- Can the sponsor change job (moving to a job with a lower salary) during the first 3 years of the sponsorship?
- The sponsor is responsible for any welfare support given to the sponsored person for the first 3 years. Can we sign a private agreement saying that the sponsored will be responsible for this costs, i.e. the sponsored person would need to reimbourse the sponsor if welfare support will be required?
- I am a building design engineer and I work as mechanical buiding design engineer in London. Is there any other option for me to move to live and work in Canada apart from via the spousal sponsorship?
- What happens if I move my permanent residency from UK to Italy during the application process?


Thanks.

You can try the 'Come to Canada' wizard to test whether you qualify to apply to immigrate to Canada under a different program instead of the Spousal Sponsorship program http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/cometocanada.asp
BUT
That would only apply if you are Legally Separated (or Divorced).

If you are married to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada, you are required to apply under Spousal Sponsorship.
You would need to provide a Legal Separation Agreement with your spouse, should it be the case that you are separated or do separate before you apply.
I'm just mentioning that to be clear about the conditions required before you can apply under a different program from the Family Sponsorship program.
IF that applies to you, then you could check on the Express Entry thread and Skilled Worker thread.
With your professional skills it would seem to me that Canada should be interested in having you immigrate. That's just my opinion.
No matter what your situation is, be honest about it. If you're not legally separated before you apply, don't apply for a different program as if you are separated.
If you are, then you don't need to apply under the Family class.
I hope you find the best answer. Sorry for mentioning Separation if that's not a factor for you.
Good luck.

 

[Ste_Vege]

IF that applies to you, then you could check on the Express Entry thread and Skilled Worker thread.
With your professional skills it would seem to me that Canada should be interested in having you immigrate. That's just my opinion.

Thanks for your answer, am I correct in understanding that since I am married with a Canadian citizen living and working in Canada I am NOT allowed to go for the Express Entry or Skilled Worker?

BTW - Is there a "thanks" button in this forum?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

That would only apply if you are Legally Separated (or Divorced).

If you are married to a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada, you are required to apply under Spousal Sponsorship.
You would need to provide a Legal Separation Agreement with your spouse, should it be the case that you are separated or do separate before you apply.
I'm just mentioning that to be clear about the conditions required before you can apply under a different program from the Family Sponsorship program.
IF that applies to you, then you could check on the Express Entry thread and Skilled Worker thread.
With your professional skills it would seem to me that Canada should be interested in having you immigrate. That's just my opinion.
No matter what your situation is, be honest about it. If you're not legally separated before you apply, don't apply for a different program as if you are separated.
If you are, then you don't need to apply under the Family class.

I don't know where you got this from but it's incorrect.

A person can most certainly apply for PR through an economic stream if they qualify, regardless of whether they are married to a Canadian citizen/PR. There is absolutely no requirement that they must apply through the Family Class.

Thanks for your answer, am I correct in understanding that since I am married with a Canadian citizen living and working in Canada I am NOT allowed to go for the Express Entry or Skilled Worker?

BTW - Is there a "thanks" button in this forum?

Not correct. You can most definitely apply through EE if you qualify. It doesn't matter if you are married to a Canadian.

I think spousal sponsorship is generally easier because you don't need to do the language test and get your education assessed.

If you found someone to be helpful, you can click on the "Good" button underneath their profile name.

 

[Ste_Vege]

I think spousal sponsorship is generally easier because you don't need to do the language test and get your education assessed.

In addition to this, how free would I be to change job while on the EE visa? Would I be stuck with the employer who sponsored me/are there any limitations in changing job compare to having the spousal sponsorship?

 

[Ste_Vege]

- I am a building design engineer and I work as mechanical buiding design engineer in London. Is there any other option for me to move to live and work in Canada apart from via the spousal sponsorship?
If you are under 30 you can get an IEC permit which is valid for 6 months work for Italians.

From what I understand, I cannot go for the IEC because I am an Italian resident in the UK.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

In addition to this, how free would I be to change job while on the EE visa? Would I be stuck with the employer who sponsored me/are there any limitations in changing job compare to having the spousal sponsorship?

There is no such thing as an "EE visa". If you apply for PR through EE and are approved, you will be a PR, same as if you apply through spousal sponsorship.

Have you actually researched the EE process at all? If you are planning to have an employer sponsor you, do you already have a job offer from an employer with a positive LMIA? Have you had your education assessed? Taken the language test? Have you actually checked to see what your CRS score is?

 

[Ste_Vege]

There is no such thing as an "EE visa". If you apply for PR through EE and are approved, you will be a PR, same as if you apply through spousal sponsorship.

Does it mean that I can change job, let's say, 6 months after I start working for the sponsoring company?

Have you actually researched the EE process at all? If you are planning to have an employer sponsor you, do you already have a job offer from an employer with a positive LMIA? Have you had your education assessed? Taken the language test? Have you actually checked to see what your CRS score is?

I haven't yet because this is a recent idea of my wife, she is slightly concerned about the economic responsibilities she would have if we went for spousal sponsorship.

Assuming I speak French well enough and that I have already got a job offer from an employer, how long would it take the process to get PR?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Does it mean that I can change job, let's say, 6 months after I start working for the sponsoring company?

I haven't yet because this is a recent idea of my wife, she is slightly concerned about the economic responsibilities she would have if we went for spousal sponsorship.

Assuming I speak French well enough and that I have already got a job offer from an employer, how long would it take the process to get PR?

Note that it is very difficult to find an employer willing to go through the whole process, so you really shouldn't be betting on that already.

Once you are a PR, you can work for whoever you want. Whether you can change employer before you are a PR depends on a few things, namely on how you apply for PR.

Concerned about the "economic responsibilities"? If you go on welfare within the first 3 years, she has to pay it back. That's it. It's not something that should be a factor in deciding whether to apply or not. It really would be the easier and cheaper way to apply.