Yes, it's true that two of the forms that Mississauga looks at ask if the sponsor is currently outside of the country, and specifically the sponsor questionnaire asks when the sponsor plans to return, where he plans to live, and for photocopies of certain documents that prove this intention. I just do not know how much they scrutinize that proof at stage 1 as opposed to stage 2, at the visa office.
Assuming the OP's sponsor is a citizen and not a PR (since a PR would not be able to sponsor another for PR if he or she were living outside Canada), this is what the CIC processing manual states:
• may sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent children without dependent children of their own
• must satisfy immigration officials that they will reside in Canada once their spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and dependent children become permanent residents in Canada
•
must forward their applications directly to CPC-M, where their plan to return to Canada will be assessed based on documentary evidence and/or interview assistance from the visa office where necessary
che.the.spy said:
actually, they do take this into consideration for sponsors living outside of Canada. Part of the application to sponsor while living abroad is to produce proof that you intend to return to Canada with your spouse (so you're not just sending someone to Canada and abandoning them there) I sent proof of a couple job offers and a letter from my parents about their intent to help us settle in their city.