quick question about financial requirements

[chipmunklava]

Hello,

I apologize if this question has been answered already, but all the information I could find is at least 5 years old.

My fiancé and I will apply for family sponsorship as soon as we get married. He's Canadian - does he have to have a certain amount in his bank account to be approved during the initial assessment? He talked to an immigration lawyer and was told at least $20,000...? But the information I've been finding states nothing of the sort.

What is the real case?

Thank you!

 

[JAMO1973]

No. There is no financial requirement to sponsor a spouse. The sponsor only has to show that he/she is not on social assistance. If the sponsor is not residing in Canada, he/she will also have to show that they intend to return to Canada when the visa is granted and they will have to detail how they plan to re-establish.

 

[Rob_TO]

No the immigration lawyer is completely wrong. There is no minimum finances for spousal sponsorship. Just need to show that you will not go on social assistance after becoming a PR.

Do not use that particular lawyer for anything else, as they don't know what they're talking about.

 

[Kayaker]

Hello,

I apologize if this question has been answered already, but all the information I could find is at least 5 years old.

My fiancé and I will apply for family sponsorship as soon as we get married. He's Canadian - does he have to have a certain amount in his bank account to be approved during the initial assessment? He talked to an immigration lawyer and was told at least $20,000...? But the information I've been finding states nothing of the sort.

What is the real case?

Thank you!

As long as he has not declared bankruptcy and has not been on welfare, he can sponsor you. He can be unemployed and have no money is his bank account and still sponsor you. (CIC might ask how the two of you plan to support yourselves, though... in that case he might have to explain that he is currently looking for a job.)

The immigration lawyer doesn't seem to know what he/she's talking about. I think you can do this on your own if you are capable of reading CIC's website carefully. You can always ask people here on the forum - the collective knowledge is quite substantial.

 

[chipmunklava]

Oh that is such a relief! Thanks to all of you for such quick responses!

 

[AMJ]

This is what CIC Website states:

•sign an undertaking promising to provide for your spouse or common-law partner’s basic requirements and, if applicable, those of his or her dependent children,
•prove that you have sufficient income to provide basic requirements for your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children. To do this, you must provide documents showing your financial resources for the past 12 months.

 

[rhcohen2014]

This is what CIC Website states:

•sign an undertaking promising to provide for your spouse or common-law partner's basic requirements and, if applicable, those of his or her dependent children,
•prove that you have sufficient income to provide basic requirements for your spouse or common-law partner's dependent children. To do this, you must provide documents showing your financial resources for the past 12 months.

this doesn't mean that sponsors must be employed and receive income. all that is required is that there is no welfare or bankruptcy in the past year. there are many sponsors who are unemployed with no income who are successfully approved as sponsors.