Sponsoring Common Law vs Sponsoring Married Wife?

[jayjimmyjr]

I am a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. Recently I moved to the United States to stay with my common Law spouse whom is an American citizen. However we were thinking of moving back to Canada and I want to sponsor her, yet I have a few questions.

1. I will be attending Law School at the University of British Columbia and will most likely not have enough income to support her as stated in the application. What is the finanical income needed to sponsor or is there even one?

2. Does it make any difference whatsoever if she is my common law spouse versus if we get legally married? Does it matter if we get married in Canada or the U.S?

3. Can my parents who are Canadian citizens help to sponsor her / support her financially or can her parents (Americans) do the same?

4. How long do these applications usually take?

Thanks

James

 

[PMM]

Hi

I am a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. Recently I moved to the United States to stay with my common Law spouse whom is an American citizen. However we were thinking of moving back to Canada and I want to sponsor her, yet I have a few questions.

1. I will be attending Law School at the University of British Columbia and will most likely not have enough income to support her as stated in the application. What is the finanical income needed to sponsor or is there even one?

There isn't one, you just can't be on welfare, except for disability

2. Does it make any difference whatsoever if she is my common law spouse versus if we get legally married? Does it matter if we get married in Canada or the U.S?

No difference, but you still have to prove that you have lived together for a year

3. Can my parents who are Canadian citizens help to sponsor her / support her financially or can her parents (Americans) do the same?

No

4. How long do these applications usually take?

Depends if you apply as in-Canada spousal, probably a year give or take, or out of Canada (she can reside in Canada as a visitor with valid status during the process) 28 days at Mississauga, and 3-9 months on average at Buffalo. Also applying out of Canada preserves appeal rights on refusals

Thanks

James

PMM