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My sponsor thinks I owe him money?

glamourxkills

Newbie
Mar 6, 2012
2
0
Moved to Canada June 26, 2006
Married my now ex husband & sponsor on July 28, 2007
Became a Permanent Resident on May 31, 2010

So between the time of my marriage and the time I finally became a PR, my relationship had significantly gone downhill. I was unable to work since 2006, I had no friends being new to the country and I lived in an underground basement apartment. My ex kept putting off the sponsorship, saving a couple hundred dollars at a time for it then spending it all on other things. I expressed my concerns that I was becoming depressed and my anxiety was starting to become a burden. He even still continued putting the sponsorship off. It was only when I brought it up to him that I was going to leave him that he finally got things in order and started the process. By the time I had my interview I was doubtful of where our relationship was going. I had lost a lot of feelings that I had for him after I saw he didn't care about my depression, but I was still willing to give it another shot and clearly, things didn't work themselves out. I moved out soon after.

We have been separated for over a year but are still married. He has a lot of my personal belongings but he won't give me them until I pay him for the money he borrowed from his parents to pay for the sponsorship ($1,200ish if I remember right). On top of that he says I owe him for all the medical bills and background checks included in getting me sponsored, and he also claims that I owe him half of rent for the month that I moved out. But as I read on the application for sponsorship, his obligations are to provide me the basic requirements of living for 3 years, including rent and personal requirements (such as the sponsorship?).

I never wrote or signed anything stating that I owed him or his parents anything. I believe I paid enough in those 4 years of sitting alone in a basement apartment with no income, no friends, not being able to get an education and not being able to work. I'm 24 now, so losing those years kind of means a lot to me. I guess this isn't really a question as it is looking for advice, what can I say to him that will make him realize that he is responsible for me? And is there anyway for me to get my stuff back without throwing money at him to shut him up? :-\

Any responses are much appreciated.
 

bbiery

Star Member
Aug 7, 2011
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He cannot keep your belongings when you do not owe him money. You do not owe for application fees and if you took the issue to court he would have his ass handed.to him. Have you filed for divorce yet?
 

Jeri27

Star Member
Nov 17, 2010
61
1
He signed the sponsorship immigration papers to sponsor you over. Which means he is responsible for you. It states that in the paper he signed. No matter what he has to support you. If you take him to court, you will win. You can probably get a copy of that paper from immigration that he signed or go to the www.cic.ca website and look for it in the applications.
 

Leon

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Jun 13, 2008
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Tell him if he doesn't give you your stuff back, you will go on welfare and he will get the bill. Tell him to look up his sponsorship obligations. He is responsible for you for 3 years after you got your PR.
 

tiger1627

Newbie
Jan 1, 2012
7
0
Hi, I know nothing about your relationship history but he is probably hurt and feeling used. He is obviously angry with you and you should limit your conversations with him. Go to the closest police station, and they will be able assist you in obtaining your personal belongings that are obviously yours. Clothes jewelry etc. If anything else belongs to you eg. TVs and other other household items, cut your losses and enjoy your new life in Canada. :)
 

glamourxkills

Newbie
Mar 6, 2012
2
0
Thank you all for your responses!
I knew he was responsible for me, I guess my only true question was about who really owes for the application fees and what not. I figured it was him, as HE is sponsoring ME but I don't know. Money has ALWAYS been an issue between us and I guess it's going to continue that way until we are divorced. I have not filed as of yet since I can't afford it ??? And I don't really want to screw him over for going on welfare since I don't need it. And as for the police someone told me that the cops probably won't waste their time but I guess I don't know until I try. I want to avoid any kind of drama because the things of mine he has are quite sentimental and I'd be so upset if he ruined anything.

If he doesn't cooperate with me, is there someone I can call besides the cops? Specifically pertaining to his legal obligations and him thinking I owe him money?
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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Who is responsible for the immigration fees is not covered by immigration law - and I doubt this is specifically covered by any other law. It's something that would have to be decided / determined through the divorce process. The only obligation that is specifically covered by immigration law is that if you go on social assistance within three years of becoming a PR - he is responsible for paying this money back to the government.
 

missmymexi

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Feb 27, 2012
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You are most likely elegible for legal aid, I would suggest calling the family justice centre in your location and setting up a meeting, this is a free meeting with a judicial case counselor that can advise you what your rights are and what steps you should take since this is ultimately about seperation and divorce. Either way, he can NOT hold your belongings hostage and you can get help for this through these services. Go on the legal services society web site ( I cant post links yet), There are alot of good resources on this site for family law and alot of free services available including services for people that have recently immigrated and are in situations such as yours.
 

Leon

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Jun 13, 2008
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You can try the cops. Maybe they will help because you are a woman. I knew a guy who was in a roomate situation and was moving out, the roomies were withholding stuff of his because they said he owed them money and the cops said they would not get involved. They said it is a private matter and if he has a problem he can go to court. Do try it though. Maybe they will help you.

However, if they wont, you could threaten him with going on welfare whether you need to or are planning to or not. That is the only thing you can hurt him with and you can use as a leverage of getting him to give your stuff back without having to give him the money. As for who is responsible for your immigration fees or who is responsible for the rent etc. it will be taken care of in the divorce proceedings. Your assets and debts will be split as far as I know. Money already spent on rent, food, groceries etc. is water under the bridge. I very much doubt that the courts will go into who paid for what at what point in your relationship. If you however have a provable debt with his parents, it is possible that they will decide that it should be split between the two of you.
 

tim maguire

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Jan 5, 2012
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Leon said:
Tell him if he doesn't give you your stuff back, you will go on welfare and he will get the bill. Tell him to look up his sponsorship obligations. He is responsible for you for 3 years after you got your PR.
Here's your answer--he is responsible for you, but he is not responsible to you. He doesn't have to support you directly, but if you go on welfare, he will get the bill.

As for the money he claims you owe--I say pay him. You don't owe it, he isn't entitled to it, but it's a price well worth paying for the ability to walk away and finally get him out of your life. 24 is still very young, you have plenty of time to recover from this mistake and live a good happy life, but don't throw good years after bad. Pay him, it's money well spent.
 

Jamgirl

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Feb 13, 2012
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Hi I am just reading your posts and wanted to give my opinion and personal knowledge....

As far as your property, you will probably will not have much luck with the police because they will say it is a civil matter, which technically it is... because you are married, all property and belongings will be deemed a matter of divorce and police will (usually) not mess with this.

My advice to you, would be to make a list of all items that you feel you are entitled to. Also print copies of his sponorship obligations from the immigration website. write a formal letter to him requesting these items and give him a reasonable time frame to return them to you, for example 2 weeks. Include with the letter the list of items and the printout from immigration and make a copy, for your own records later, and try to hand deliver them to him or if not,mail them.

Now remember, you are always entitled to one free legal consult with a lawyer to obtain legal advise. Call a family lawyer out of the phone book and request this free consult and book an appointment. You can do this with as many different lawyers as you wish***...

Now as far as returning your belongings, if he still refuses to, then you have the option of taking him to court yourself. The venue you would use is small claims court (items you want returned would have to have a value of under a certain $ amount) You would have to pay a court fee, which you would later request from the judge that he pay you back this amount). Court fees usually range from $50 - $200. You do not need a lawyer to take this avenue but you may choose to hire one. If you choose this route, you need to gather all information to use in court as well as the letter that you made copies of... You can request more information on this process from you FREE legal consult.

Please remember that you do not owe your sponsor any money that he incurred as a result of your immigration. He is and will continue to use this against you as a way to hold control over the situation. Before continuing with any type of divorce you need to keep in mind any aspects of the marriage breakdown that would look like you committed marriage fraud. Marriage fraud is very hard to prove but if your husband is being difficult then dont think that he wont try and keep an open mind and your bases covered. I wish you luck!
 

missmymexi

Hero Member
Feb 27, 2012
578
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Category........
Visa Office......
Mexico City
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Pre-Assessed..
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AOR Received.
Ottawa - 09-11-12 / DF 11-26-12
File Transfer...
09-17-12
Med's Done....
02-29-12
If I were her, I would not call the police or make threats since she is going to have to file for divorce at some point and these actions could bite back. The issue is not an immigration issue, this is a family law issue, pure and simple. Depending what province you are in depends on what service can help you but legal aid is available across the country. You have been legally seperated for one year and are eligible for divorce. Depending on the amount of income you make, you are eligible to a ton of free services and they are very helpful. (Usually need to make under approx. $30,0000.00/per year to get assistance). He is also still responsible for you for one more year according to your time line, this can be imposed by immigration.

Here is a great booklet put out by legal services society about what to do in your situation, you are not alone, it has a whole sections about when sponsorship breaks down and what you can do: lss.bc.ca/assets/pubs/sponsorshipBreakdown_eng.pdf