Sponsoring my husband , no income, not in canada now, help ! thank you!

[1998we]

I'm a neutralized Canadian and I have been living in China for 2 years (Visiting only, I don’t have Chinese work-permit or Chinese citizenship). I'm planning to complete all sponsorship forms myself in China and send it over to Canada and ask my sister to mail it to Immigration office.

Here are some of my questions:

1. What does "living exclusively outside of Canada” mean? In my case, am I living exclusively outside of Canada? (I'm currently not in Canada and I want to sponsor my husband while I'm in China.)

2. I have absolutely no income for the past 12 months and the past few years. Will this affect my sponsorship procedure? What other documents might be helpful in this case? I have never had any social assistance from Canadian government. My husband has some saving in his bank in China.

3. “Have you resided in countries other than Canada?” How to answer this question? Does “Visiting” count as “Residing”? I’m sorry that my English is not strong enough.

4. I understand that I have to reside in Canada at the time my husband becomes PR in Canada. After his arrival, can I leave him alone in Canada and go to other countries? How long do I have to be residing with him in Canada before he and I can leave?


Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate your help!

 

[mitamata]

1.) Considering you've been away for 2 years, yes, you are living exclusively outside of Canada.

2.) Shouldn't be an issue, there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse. But it would be a good idea to explain what you and your husband plan to do for income once in Canada.

3.) Since you've been away for 2 years, yes, you resided in China. I know technically it is visiting, since you're not legally a resident there, but due to the length of time, you can't really say you're just visiting anymore.

4.) Yes, you can leave him alone in Canada. After he becomes a PR, they will not check on you to make sure you're living in Canada. You and him can leave Canada on the same day he becomes PR - keep in mind it will take some 6 weeks for him to receive his PR card, which has to be mailed to an address in Canada and he will need it to return to Canada. Also, in order to keep his PR status, he has to live in Canada for 2 out of every 5 years.


Oh, and btw... the term is naturalized Canadian, not neutralized

 

[toby]

Hi Mitamata:

Good to hear from you again, after what seems like a few weeks of silence.

Given how traumatized or at least uncertain the Immigration bureaucracy makes so many applicants feel, "neutralized" describes residents just as well as "naturalized".

On your point 3.) , when you say

"Since you've been away for 2 years, yes, you resided in China. I know technically it is visiting, since you're not legally a resident there, but due to the length of time, you can't really say you're just visiting anymore.",

are you basing this on common sense or on actual legal text produced by CIC?

The reason I ask is that --as I read the many regulations and clauses on the subject -- it is possible for a Canadian to be out of the country for (say) two years, but if he or she has access to a residence in Canada for the entire period, is considered to be a resident (for tax-paying purposes anyway). I know that Immigration and CRA define residence differently (just to keep us guessing, I guess), so if you have any further light to cast on this issue, I'd appreciate it.

 

[walletwally]

hello where are you now

 

[walletwally]

hi

 

[dair2dv8103100]

Given how traumatized or at least uncertain the Immigration bureaucracy makes so many applicants feel, "neutralized" describes residents just as well as "naturalized".

hehehehe ... amen to that...

 

[canadianwoman]

Given how traumatized or at least uncertain the Immigration bureaucracy makes so many applicants feel, "neutralized" describes residents just as well as "naturalized".

Or perhaps 'neutered.'

On your point 3.) , when you say

"Since you've been away for 2 years, yes, you resided in China. I know technically it is visiting, since you're not legally a resident there, but due to the length of time, you can't really say you're just visiting anymore.",

are you basing this on common sense or on actual legal text produced by CIC?

The reason I ask is that --as I read the many regulations and clauses on the subject -- it is possible for a Canadian to be out of the country for (say) two years, but if he or she has access to a residence in Canada for the entire period, is considered to be a resident (for tax-paying purposes anyway). I know that Immigration and CRA define residence differently (just to keep us guessing, I guess), so if you have any further light to cast on this issue, I'd appreciate it.

For this issue, do not think of the definitions of 'reside' and 'visit'. CIC really just means that if you have been in another country for 6 months or longer (in one block of time) they want a police check from that country. CRA is just trying to get as much tax as they can, so their definition differs.
I lived in South Korea for more than 3 years, going back and forth to Japan on visa runs every few months. I guess technically I was just visiting, but really I was living there. A would-be immigrant with a similar history should just get the police certificate.