+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Non-Routine Sponsorship Application – Sponsor Eligibility Check

YVR123

VIP Member
Jul 27, 2017
7,407
2,883
we were in a relationship for the past 11 years.
4 years back home and 6 years long distance and in that 6 years I visited her 3 times.
I added all the documents along with explanations.
amir1993 said:
When I completed the forms, I wasn’t married at the time.
Were you married to your wife when you landed as a PR? When you posted about "the forms", do you mean your PR application forms or your citizenship application forms.

If you were married before landing (or virtual landing), and if you didn't add her as a spouse in your PR application, you can NEVER sponsor her.
You failed to declare her as your family member and so she is excluded to be sponsored under family class sponsorship.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amir1993

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
Were you married to your wife when you landed as a PR? When you posted about "the forms", do you mean your PR application forms or your citizenship application forms.

If you were married before landing (or virtual landing), and if you didn't add her as a spouse in your PR application, you can NEVER sponsor her.
You failed to declare her as your family member and so she is excluded to be sponsored under family class sponsorship.

Thanks for your help.

I landed in Canada on a study permit in 2018, transitioned to a work permit in 2020, received PR in 2021, and am now in the citizenship process. I didn’t inform IRCC about my marriage in my citizenship application because I wasn’t married at that time.

While researching, I noticed that sponsorship applications can be classified as non-routine if the sponsor is in the process of filing a citizenship application. Is this true? Since all the steps are completed and I am now waiting for my ceremony, is there any chance that my application could be removed from non-routine status?

Thanks again for your help.
 

YVR123

VIP Member
Jul 27, 2017
7,407
2,883
Thanks for your help.

I landed in Canada on a study permit in 2018, transitioned to a work permit in 2020, received PR in 2021, and am now in the citizenship process. I didn’t inform IRCC about my marriage in my citizenship application because I wasn’t married at that time.

While researching, I noticed that sponsorship applications can be classified as non-routine if the sponsor is in the process of filing a citizenship application. Is this true? Since all the steps are completed and I am now waiting for my ceremony, is there any chance that my application could be removed from non-routine status?

Thanks again for your help.
So were you married in 2021 when you received your PR. (btw you came to Canada in 2018 on study permit and you LAND as a PR in 2021.)

citizenship application is irrelevant. If you were not married when you landed as PR and you recently got married after you applied for citizenship, then I don't know what is the reason for non routine. Order GCMS notes and see what is in it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amir1993

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,587
13,518
Assume there is a good chance that he fact that you were in such a long relationship and didn’t spend much time together in 6 years may be a factor. How much time did you spend together after moving to Canada and why marriage now versus earlier if dating for around a decade? 10 months is likely unrealistic for certain countries. It has only been 4 months so it is impossible to know what processing times will end up being.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amir1993 and YVR123

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
So were you married in 2021 when you received your PR. (btw you came to Canada in 2018 on study permit and you LAND as a PR in 2021.)

citizenship application is irrelevant. If you were not married when you landed as PR and you recently got married after you applied for citizenship, then I don't know what is the reason for non routine. Order GCMS notes and see what is in it.
I got PR in Feb 2021
Applied for Citizenship in April 2024
Got married in May 2024.

I just raised a GCMS to see what is going on.
 

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
Assume there is a good chance that he fact that you were in such a long relationship and didn’t spend much time together in 6 years may be a factor. How much time did you spend together after moving to Canada and why marriage now versus earlier if dating for around a decade? 10 months is likely unrealistic for certain countries. It has only been 4 months so it is impossible to know what processing times will end up being.
My country is Iran and our cases are already under lots of question marks.
I visited her 3 times, each time 1 month. even we travelled to Turkey for a month.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,834
22,109
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Thanks for your help.

I landed in Canada on a study permit in 2018, transitioned to a work permit in 2020, received PR in 2021, and am now in the citizenship process. I didn’t inform IRCC about my marriage in my citizenship application because I wasn’t married at that time.

While researching, I noticed that sponsorship applications can be classified as non-routine if the sponsor is in the process of filing a citizenship application. Is this true? Since all the steps are completed and I am now waiting for my ceremony, is there any chance that my application could be removed from non-routine status?

Thanks again for your help.
A citizenship application will not make a sponsorship application non routine unless there is a serious issue of some kind with the citizenship application itself, such as serious misrepresentation or criminality or inadmissibility.
 
  • Like
Reactions: YVR123 and amir1993

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
A citizenship application will not make a sponsorship application non routine unless there is a serious issue of some kind with the citizenship application itself, such as serious misrepresentation or criminality or inadmissibility.
So that's also off the table because I finished all the checks and I'm waiting just for the ceremony.
I requested the officer's note just now.
Will update this thread if I got any update.
Thanks
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,241
8,861
So that's also off the table because I finished all the checks and I'm waiting just for the ceremony.
I requested the officer's note just now.
Will update this thread if I got any update.
Thanks
Going off what you were told - "The reason given was the need to verify my (the sponsor's) eligibility, even though all required documents were uploaded and submitted" - and even though you were told it was 'non-routine' , but more importantly that it is only four months old ...

...it's quite possible that it's no serious issue at all and just gone up for another re-check and/or a reconfirmation at some point (eg after citizenship approved).

These system flags are not always reliable and if someone less informed just pulls it up and checks the flags (eg sponsor eligibility) they may think there's more there than there is in reality. It could be as simple as that flag being reset temporarily while someone else looked at it.

The only q of importance at this stage (IMO) is why it was classified as non-routine.

One possibility is that PA from Iran is flagged non-routine. Another is that it's something related to citizenship (but that could be benign, such as only an issue if you are not eligible for citizenship, which would be a fairly rare case). Another is just that the non-routine flag is meaningless when only four months in.

Order your gcms notes and don't stress about it at this stage.

One warning however: applicants from Iran seem to face longer processing times. I don't know if 10 months is realistic. Delays mostly seem to be security clearances.

Two questions just checking: you were not a refugee/protected person? File is not to Quebec?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,587
13,518
Agree that 10 months for sponsorship from Iran is likely unrealistic. Also very early on in the process. IRCC may want to request an interview for sponsorship 3 1 month visits since 2018 is not a lot of in person time together if in a relationship and I assume one of the visits was for the wedding. The fact that you waited to marry until citizenship also is unusual. Doesn’t mean there wasn’t a good reason but you had the ability to live together/marry much earlier and you had already been a longterm relationship when you moved to Canada in 2018.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amir1993

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
Going off what you were told - "The reason given was the need to verify my (the sponsor's) eligibility, even though all required documents were uploaded and submitted" - and even though you were told it was 'non-routine' , but more importantly that it is only four months old ...

...it's quite possible that it's no serious issue at all and just gone up for another re-check and/or a reconfirmation at some point (eg after citizenship approved).

These system flags are not always reliable and if someone less informed just pulls it up and checks the flags (eg sponsor eligibility) they may think there's more there than there is in reality. It could be as simple as that flag being reset temporarily while someone else looked at it.

The only q of importance at this stage (IMO) is why it was classified as non-routine.

One possibility is that PA from Iran is flagged non-routine. Another is that it's something related to citizenship (but that could be benign, such as only an issue if you are not eligible for citizenship, which would be a fairly rare case). Another is just that the non-routine flag is meaningless when only four months in.

Order your gcms notes and don't stress about it at this stage.

One warning however: applicants from Iran seem to face longer processing times. I don't know if 10 months is realistic. Delays mostly seem to be security clearances.

Two questions just checking: you were not a refugee/protected person? File is not to Quebec?
No, I came to Canada as an international student in 2018, switched to a work permit in 2020, and obtained PR in 2021.

Half an hour ago, I received the ceremony time for my citizenship.

I’m applying from Toronto, but the application is being processed in Sydney.
 

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
Agree that 10 months for sponsorship from Iran is likely unrealistic. Also very early on in the process. IRCC may want to request an interview for sponsorship 3 1 month visits since 2018 is not a lot of in person time together if in a relationship and I assume one of the visits was for the wedding. The fact that you waited to marry until citizenship also is unusual. Doesn’t mean there wasn’t a good reason but you had the ability to live together/marry much earlier and you had already been a longterm relationship when you moved to Canada in 2018.
Quick question:
If I request the notes and see something that could be resolved with a document or a letter of explanation, can I submit that document even if IRCC hasn't specifically requested any additional documents?
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,241
8,861
Half an hour ago, I received the ceremony time for my citizenship.

I’m applying from Toronto, but the application is being processed in Sydney.
Congrats. There is one type of check that some refugee applicants (i.e. former protected persons now applying for citizenship) may be subject to, which is why I was asking.

Toronto: main question is that your app is not Quebec, which has terrible delays for spousal sponsorships.

Quick question:
If I request the notes and see something that could be resolved with a document or a letter of explanation, can I submit that document even if IRCC hasn't specifically requested any additional documents?
Yes.

Note again: although I know you have seen this 'non-routine' line, you do not actually know that there is an issue nor a delay.

That said, getting the GCMS notes is the right way to proceed.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: amir1993

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
Hello, my friend,
As you advised, I requested the officer's notes and received them after a month. This is where my application is stuck. Could you please advise what might be the issue and what you suggest?

NOTES: 1

  • Created Date: Early Sep 24
  • Updated Date:
  • Restricted: N
  • Label: General
  • Office: Montreal Call Centre
  • Text: MCMPS-M contacted XXX from the office of XXX. Status enquiry (no action). File status provided.
  • ID:
NOTES: 2

  • Created Date: Late July
  • Updated Date: Late July
  • Restricted: N
  • Label: General
  • Office: Centralized Intake Office
  • Text:
    • Sponsor Eligibility: In progress.
    • Case referred for secondary review.
    • GCMS Check: No relevant/material information found.
    • Correct fees received and allocated.
    • SPR is a PR residing in Canada.
    • SPR landed in 2022 as a CE1.
    • SPR has submitted the following documents as proof of relationship:
      • Marriage certificate.
    • SPR married to PA in 2024.
    • Application locked in on May 24.
NOTES: 3

  • Created Date: Same day as Note 2
  • Updated Date: Same day as Note 2
  • Restricted: N
  • Label: Entered in Error
  • Office: Centralized Intake Office
  • Text:
    • Sponsor Eligibility Decision: Passed.
    • GCMS Check: No relevant/material information found.
    • Information disclosed under the Access to Information Act.
    • Correct fees received and allocated.
    • SPR is a PR residing in Canada.
    • SPR landed in 2022 as a CE1.
    • SPR has submitted the following documents as proof of relationship:
      • Marriage certificate.
Based on these details, on the same day, I first passed the eligibility, and then my eligibility was sent for a secondary review.

The only thing I can think of is that my citizenship application was open until the end of September. I uploaded my citizenship certificate on the same day, but this file was gathered before I uploaded my certificate. Other than this, I can't think of anything else. I have NO criminality, GOOD income, all the files updated with care. I passed the citizenship eligibility and background check.

What else might be questioned? Please advise.
 

amir1993

Star Member
Dec 23, 2021
75
9
Going off what you were told - "The reason given was the need to verify my (the sponsor's) eligibility, even though all required documents were uploaded and submitted" - and even though you were told it was 'non-routine' , but more importantly that it is only four months old ...

...it's quite possible that it's no serious issue at all and just gone up for another re-check and/or a reconfirmation at some point (eg after citizenship approved).

These system flags are not always reliable and if someone less informed just pulls it up and checks the flags (eg sponsor eligibility) they may think there's more there than there is in reality. It could be as simple as that flag being reset temporarily while someone else looked at it.

The only q of importance at this stage (IMO) is why it was classified as non-routine.

One possibility is that PA from Iran is flagged non-routine. Another is that it's something related to citizenship (but that could be benign, such as only an issue if you are not eligible for citizenship, which would be a fairly rare case). Another is just that the non-routine flag is meaningless when only four months in.

Order your gcms notes and don't stress about it at this stage.

One warning however: applicants from Iran seem to face longer processing times. I don't know if 10 months is realistic. Delays mostly seem to be security clearances.

Two questions just checking: you were not a refugee/protected person? File is not to Quebec?

Hello, my friend,
As you advised, I requested the officer's notes and received them after a month. This is where my application is stuck. Could you please advise what might be the issue and what you suggest?

NOTES: 1

  • Created Date: Early Sep 24
  • Updated Date:
  • Restricted: N
  • Label: General
  • Office: Montreal Call Centre
  • Text: MCMPS-M contacted XXX from the office of XXX. Status enquiry (no action). File status provided.
  • ID:
NOTES: 2

  • Created Date: Late July
  • Updated Date: Late July
  • Restricted: N
  • Label: General
  • Office: Centralized Intake Office
  • Text:
    • Sponsor Eligibility: In progress.
    • Case referred for secondary review.
    • GCMS Check: No relevant/material information found.
    • Correct fees received and allocated.
    • SPR is a PR residing in Canada.
    • SPR landed in 2022 as a CE1.
    • SPR has submitted the following documents as proof of relationship:
      • Marriage certificate.
    • SPR married to PA in 2024.
    • Application locked in on May 24.
NOTES: 3

  • Created Date: Same day as Note 2
  • Updated Date: Same day as Note 2
  • Restricted: N
  • Label: Entered in Error
  • Office: Centralized Intake Office
  • Text:
    • Sponsor Eligibility Decision: Passed.
    • GCMS Check: No relevant/material information found.
    • Information disclosed under the Access to Information Act.
    • Correct fees received and allocated.
    • SPR is a PR residing in Canada.
    • SPR landed in 2022 as a CE1.
    • SPR has submitted the following documents as proof of relationship:
      • Marriage certificate.
Based on these details, on the same day, I first passed the eligibility, and then my eligibility was sent for a secondary review.

The only thing I can think of is that my citizenship application was open until the end of September. I uploaded my citizenship certificate on the same day, but this file was gathered before I uploaded my certificate. Other than this, I can't think of anything else. I have NO criminality, GOOD income, all the files updated with care. I passed the citizenship eligibility and background check.

What else might be questioned? Please advise.