I Need Help *Special Case*

[pheonixia]

I am going to get married in Pakistan.
I understand the sponsorship system in Canada, but it will not work for me and my spouse.

Details:
-I am a permanent resident in Canada (Alberta)
-He is the one that needs to be sponsored

We have both completed our undergraduate degrees (mine was in Canada, and his is in a top University in Pakistan). We both plan on continuing our studies by doing Masters programs in our field of interest. He wants to come to Canada to do his as well.

I am currently paying back student loans, and if I do save any money I am planning to invest it in my Masters program. Or, if I cannot make the necessary money I am planning to sign up for further student loans. So, I am not sure if I meet the criteria for sponsorship (how much yearly income must a person show?).
Also, if my spouse comes in 3 years time it will SEVERELY hinder his academic goals, since he will lose momentum in his studying.

Are there any other methods for him to come to Canada to start studying as soon as possible (before three years time)?
Should/Can he apply for a student visa instead, and then gain citizenship while he is studying here in Canada (because we are married)?

Please guide me on this.

 

[MRS SAM]

yes he can try for student visa,,,,r u guys married or u going to married coz i think after married to canadian pr its difficult for him to get student visa.

 

[pheonixia]

yes he can try for student visa,,,,r u guys married or u going to married coz i think after married to canadian pr its difficult for him to get student visa.

We're going to get married.
The problem is because of this our education will be put on hold for no reason.

 

[keesio]

We're going to get married.
The problem is because of this our education will be put on hold for no reason.

He needs to apply for student visa before getting married.

If you get married first, it may be best if you sponsor him outland and both finish up studies in your respective countries. Since Islamabad has an almost 3 year processing time, he may be done with studies by the time his PR application is done. Of course it will be 3 years of living apart

 

[Avadava]

And FYI, you do not need to meet income requirements for spousal sponsorship. The only thing that will make you ineligible to sponsor your spouse is having received welfare in the past year. Student loans don't count as social assistance. However, you have to have a plan on how both of you are going to support yourselves financially after he becomes a PR. Showing some savings will be sufficient.

 

[pheonixia]

He needs to apply for student visa before getting married.

If you get married first, it may be best if you sponsor him outland and both finish up studies in your respective countries. Since Islamabad has an almost 3 year processing time, he may be done with studies by the time his PR application is done. Of course it will be 3 years of living apart

Yes, this makes sense. But, then our goal is to live in Canada in the end. And education in Pakistan does not count in Canada.

And FYI, you do not need to meet income requirements for spousal sponsorship. The only thing that will make you ineligible to sponsor your spouse is having received welfare in the past year. Student loans don't count as social assistance. However, you have to have a plan on how both of you are going to support yourselves financially after he becomes a PR. Showing some savings will be sufficient.

Thank you this was very helpful. Is there a specific amount of savings that we have to show? For example, I could save 1k-5k in the entire year. Would that be enough?

 

[keesio]

Thank you this was very helpful. Is there a specific amount of savings that we have to show? For example, I could save 1k-5k in the entire year. Would that be enough?

You just need to show CIC some plan on how you will be able to financially support both yourself and him in Canada. Showing some savings can help (though showing just 1K will probably not help too much). If you parents are supporting you, a letter from them saying they will support you and your (future) husband in Canada can help.

 

[pheonixia]

You just need to show CIC some plan on how you will be able to financially support both yourself and him in Canada. Showing some savings can help (though showing just 1K will probably not help too much). If you parents are supporting you, a letter from them saying they will support you and your (future) husband in Canada can help.

Thank you. And I am sorry for so many questions but I still have some more.

My dad is currently in the process of sponsoring my grandma already so he cannot financially support anyone else on my behalf. But, I am living with my parents, and when my spouse moves to Canada he will be too. So for housing we do not have to pay anything. So for the rest (food, clothing medical fees, etc.) do I just need to create a planned budget and then use that as supporting evidence?

 

[keesio]

Thank you. And I am sorry for so many questions but I still have some more.

My dad is currently in the process of sponsoring my grandma already so he cannot financially support anyone else on my behalf. But, I am living with my parents, and when my spouse moves to Canada he will be too. So for housing we do not have to pay anything. So for the rest (food, clothing medical fees, etc.) do I just need to create a planned budget and then use that as supporting evidence?

He (or your mom) can still write a letter saying that you and your (future) husband will be allowed to stay at his house for free as long as needed. I doubt that would conflict with his already made commitment to your grandma. Housing is usually the biggest expense and having some documentation showing it is not a worry for you is good. Otherwise both you and your husband need to create some sort of solid plan on how you two will make a living in Canada. Stuff like saying you are studying for your masters degree and when you are done, you are in good position to get a good job (and same with your husband).

 

[zardoz]

Should/Can he apply for a student visa instead, and then gain citizenship while he is studying here in Canada (because we are married)?

Nobody has commented on this yet. Being married will not give him citizenship. He will have to apply for PR first and then meet all the other requirements, whatever they may be at that time.

 

[Rob_TO]

Also, if my spouse comes in 3 years time it will SEVERELY hinder his academic goals, since he will lose momentum in his studying.

Are there any other methods for him to come to Canada to start studying as soon as possible (before three years time)?
Should/Can he apply for a student visa instead, and then gain citizenship while he is studying here in Canada (because we are married)?

As Zardoz mentioned, he must have PR status for several years before he can apply for citizenship.

He could indeed apply for a study permit to come to university in Canada. Although until he gets his PR status approved, he will need to pay full international student tuition fees, which for a post graduate university course will be ridiculously expensive. You might want to check what costs he is looking at, before applying.

Being married to you does not give him any status whatsoever when it comes to university fees. And in fact being married to a Canadian often makes it more difficult for someone to get a visitor or study visa, since CIC may feel like he may not leave after the visa is expired.

 

[canadianwoman]

He is more likely to get a student visa if he is not married to you. So he could apply for a student visa, come to Canada, then get married to you. You could then apply to sponsor him - either outland or inland. For either, he could stay in Canada studying while waiting for the visa application to be processed.
Applying outland after you get married, then waiting maybe three years for him to be accepted, and then him coming and studying in Canada will mean his tuition will be cheaper, but it is potentially a long time to wait.

 

[scylla]

Keep in mind that studying as a foreign student in Canada is expensive. If he wants to come here before he has PR to complete a Masters, he'll need to show a bank balance of somewhere between $25K and $30K just to be approved for the study permit.