Paying debt from a previou

[owkanada]

Hello,

Many years ago, I sponsored my then wife to come to Canada. After we separated, she got some money from the government before the divorce was finalized and alimony put in place. It was only a couple thousand dollars.

I have left Canada since and remarried. I want to sponsor my current wife and move back to Canada.

One of the requirements to sponsor is to not have any debt from previous family sponsoring.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/eligibility.html

My question is how can I repay the debt that was put in my name and if I pay it back will it make me eligible to sponsor my current wife?

Thank you,

Ali

 

[zardoz]

Hello,

Many years ago, I sponsored my then wife to come to Canada. After we separated, she got some money from the government before the divorce was finalized and alimony put in place. It was only a couple thousand dollars.

I have left Canada since and remarried. I want to sponsor my current wife and move back to Canada.

One of the requirements to sponsor is to not have any debt from previous family sponsoring.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/eligibility.html

My question is how can I repay the debt that was put in my name and if I pay it back will it make me eligible to sponsor my current wife?

Thank you,

Ali

I believe that you need to repay the province that supplied her with welfare. Each province will have it's own procedures. Approach them directly.
Once the debt is purged, they will notify IRCC and clear your records. Then you can apply to sponsor again.

 

[canuck78]

Hello,

Many years ago, I sponsored my then wife to come to Canada. After we separated, she got some money from the government before the divorce was finalized and alimony put in place. It was only a couple thousand dollars.

I have left Canada since and remarried. I want to sponsor my current wife and move back to Canada.

One of the requirements to sponsor is to not have any debt from previous family sponsoring.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/eligibility.html

My question is how can I repay the debt that was put in my name and if I pay it back will it make me eligible to sponsor my current wife?

Thank you,

Ali

What do you mean how? Have you not received notices about how much you owe? Did you just ignore it when you moved out of the country? Doesn’t leave the best impression that you avoided paying the fees until you needed something from the government. You may face more scrutiny. You will also have to prove that you will return. Would also anticipate there may be some penalties on top of the money owed.

 

[Jarvis99]

What do you mean how? Have you not received notices about how much you owe? Did you just ignore it when you moved out of the country? Doesn’t leave the best impression that you avoided paying the fees until you needed something from the government. You may face more scrutiny. You will also have to prove that you will return. Would also anticipate there may be some penalties on top of the money owed.

why are you so negative with your responses....

 

[scylla]

Hello,

Many years ago, I sponsored my then wife to come to Canada. After we separated, she got some money from the government before the divorce was finalized and alimony put in place. It was only a couple thousand dollars.

I have left Canada since and remarried. I want to sponsor my current wife and move back to Canada.

One of the requirements to sponsor is to not have any debt from previous family sponsoring.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/eligibility.html

My question is how can I repay the debt that was put in my name and if I pay it back will it make me eligible to sponsor my current wife?

Thank you,

Ali

Agreed with zardoz. Once you have repaid the debt, you will qualify to sponsor your new file. Contact the social assistance office in the province where she was living at the time. Make sure you clear the debt before submitting the application to sponsor your wife. I would also include evidence in the application to show the debt has been paid. Sometimes it can take a while for government records to be updated synched.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

What do you mean how? Have you not received notices about how much you owe? Did you just ignore it when you moved out of the country? Doesn’t leave the best impression that you avoided paying the fees until you needed something from the government. You may face more scrutiny. You will also have to prove that you will return. Would also anticipate there may be some penalties on top of the money owed.

People are not generally notified about these debts until they actually do something like sponsor someone.

There is no impression for IRCC. The fact that the previous spouse claimed welfare won't lead to extra scrutiny.

 

[GodSend]

why are you so negative with your responses....

Because he speaks the truth. The optics are bad...

 

[GodSend]

People are not generally notified about these debts until they actually do something like sponsor someone.

There is no impression for IRCC. The fact that the previous spouse claimed welfare won't lead to extra scrutiny.

I disagree. I wouldent say it would be a MAJOR factor.. but lets just say that I have done exactly zero research on this specific question I can think of reading multiple documents (in the application guide and in the sponsorship approval) of EXACTLY this scenario. It would not be mentioned as such if it was just a "meh" thing. At the very least its going to delay the application while the debt gets paid and the proof is provided.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I disagree. I wouldent say it would be a MAJOR factor.. but lets just say that I have done exactly zero research on this specific question I can think of reading multiple documents (in the application guide and in the sponsorship approval) of EXACTLY this scenario. It would not be mentioned as such if it was just a "meh" thing. At the very least its going to delay the application while the debt gets paid and the proof is provided.

I'm not sure what you are disagreeing with.

Most people simply aren't aware of such debts, as neither the ex nor the welfare authority notifies them.

It is not a factor for extra scrutiny. A delay is something completely different from scrutiny.

 

[canuck78]

I'm not sure what you are disagreeing with.

Most people simply aren't aware of such debts, as neither the ex nor the welfare authority notifies them.

It is not a factor for extra scrutiny. A delay is something completely different from scrutiny.

Seems like he is aware of the debt since he is mentioning it but never took steps to resolve it until it factors into sponsoring a new spouse.

 

[canuck78]

why are you so negative with your responses....

Don’t particularly enjoy hearing when people don’t follow through when they owe money to the government when they sign an agreement to be financially responsible for something. This person clearly knows they owe money but is only looking to pay now that they want to sponsor another spouse. Same thing when people arrive as PR get student loans and leave and never pay them. Another common thing we see is people racking up debt of various sorts and get some free cell phones and then leave. You see posts 10 years later wondering what would happen if they returned. Could they start paying if they return 10 years later. Same thing as people people signing up for CCB as soon as they land but not cancelling it if they leave Canada for a year.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Seems like he is aware of the debt since he is mentioning it but never took steps to resolve it until it factors into sponsoring a new spouse.

That is not what my comment was addressing. I was responding to your initial comment about OP being sent notices about the debt. As I said, that generally doesn't happen.

 

[Western Mountain Man]

why are you so negative with your responses....

Just putting things into perspective.
It's good to have all the information then decide what you need to do.