I'm a permanent resident and sponsoring my husband. I have a family issue back home and need to visit them for around 1-2 months. My husband - the sponsored person- will stay inland. Should I notify IRCC about my absence for this short time? If so, how? We have a representative, but it's difficult to get in touch with him. I'm not even sure if I can leave outside and I can't ask this question for him ... please advise me.
Can a sponsor (PERMANENT RESIDENT) travel abroad while sponsoring the spouse?
- Thread starter JonaMJ
- Start date
This is a risky proposition. Technically you need to be in Canada to sponsor your spouse as a PR. A short trip is typically overlooked but we’re talking about a much longer absence.
There is no exact safe period of time but anecdotally less than a month seems to be overlooked. You may be able to justify having to leave Canada for your mother’s surgery as an unplanned emergency but not your brother’s wedding. Were you not aware that a PR applying to sponsor a spouse must be in Canada to qualify? If you filed inland you also are spending 2 months not living with your spouse which also problematic.
My understanding of staying in canada is as a resident, which is I am. Didn’t thought about traveling outside in the beginning, though. My lawyer told me not to worry about traveling. But I saw some controversial opinions from here and there... I guess there's no right answer and I just hope my mom's health issue will be taken into account to justify my leaving.
Would it be acceptable if I write a letter with a round ticket and a doctor's note for my mom?
You could write a letter if explanation citing the family emergency ( your moms surgery) that they might consider. So talk to ircc officials in canada. But 2 month could be but risky. Also visiting the spouse is also considered good for sprrof of relationship. You could show flight ticket booking. 15 days to 1 month is ok i feel .
He is not visiting spouse. His spouse is staying in Canada while he travels outside for 2 months.
Not sure how any lawyer could say that there were no potential consequences. You are supposed to live with your spouse who you are sponsoring inland and a short trip would be ok but we’re talking 2 months. Most Canadians get 2 weeks vacations so that is much longer than a short trip. If it was purely for your mother’s emergency health issues that may be able to be justified as an unexpected absence but you are also attending your brother’s wedding. Hopefully the majority of the time is being spent caring for your mother in and out of hospital and you keep medical records of her condition and the care she needed and why being there could not be avoided even knowing the terms of your sponsorship. If IRCC does find out that you have been out of Canada for 2 months I would expect them to send you a PFL.
Be careful. There was this example posted recently
Difference is you’re the sponsor leaving
Couple weeks maybe ok . Pushing the envelope for one to two months
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/officer-is-not-satisfied-that-i-am-cohabiting-in-canada-with-my-sponsor.867381/#post-11017121
All they have to do is do a data pull to see if anyone has left the country
Thank you for the advice. I'm on parental leave so there's no issue for me to take a long travel. But I also understand 2 months of vacation is not common for average people. So I won't be out more than 4 weeks. Hope I don't get the interview request in the meantime.
Thank you for pooling out the similar case. I read thoroughly and it seems this person is sponsored and needs TRV. I hope the difference between his case and ours brings positive outcome.
There are other cases where the sponsor left and the case was refused (or considered dropped, which is same thing).
Note that if you applied inland, any refusal cannot be appealed - start over.
Thank you. To prevent what happened to others, I'm going to send a letter including my return tickets and my mom's treatment plan sorts of. If the officer can reply me back before I leave, it would be great for the peace of my mind. Wish me luck!
You're not going to get a response, certainly not any kind of permission, and I wouldn't recommend doing so either (as mentioned above).
You have the information, you know the risks, it's up to you. Best is keep it short if you must go, but it's your decision.