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Sponsoring my wife for PR

koxruz

Full Member
Mar 27, 2023
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I am a Canadian citizen living in US with my wife (who only holds an international passport) and I want to sponsor her for PR.
A couple of questions:

1. What happens if I don't move to Canada with her after she's accepted? Can it have any negative consequences on her status?
2. After becoming a PR, as long as she stays with me (a Citizen), her PR status would still be maintained even we live in US? i.e, she doesn't have to spend 3/5 years in Canada?
 

steaky

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Nov 11, 2008
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I am a Canadian citizen living in US with my wife (who only holds an international passport) and I want to sponsor her for PR.
A couple of questions:

1. What happens if I don't move to Canada with her after she's accepted? Can it have any negative consequences on her status?
2. After becoming a PR, as long as she stays with me (a Citizen), her PR status would still be maintained even we live in US? i.e, she doesn't have to spend 3/5 years in Canada?
Then what's the point of sponsoring her now if you don't live in Canada with her? Why not later until you are willing to move?
 

koxruz

Full Member
Mar 27, 2023
39
0
I wanted to be on the safe side rather than rush things at the last minute: if I don't have a job where I am not now or for whatever reason we have to move to Canada, I don't have to apply then and wait for the application to process, etc.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,605
13,529
You will likely have to present concrete proof that you will be relocating to Canada. No it is not guaranteed that time in the US accompanying a Canadian souse will count towards RO if you never lived in Canada and she has not accompanied you abroad.
 

Copingwithlife

VIP Member
Jul 29, 2018
4,485
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You will likely have to present concrete proof that you will be relocating to Canada. No it is not guaranteed that time in the US accompanying a Canadian souse will count towards RO if you never lived in Canada and she has not accompanied you abroad.
And nor it should be if they’ve never lived in Canada
 

Edmegbc

Star Member
Oct 11, 2023
148
52
You have to prove you intend to settle in Canada after PR as part of the application if you are a Cdn living outside Canada.
 

koxruz

Full Member
Mar 27, 2023
39
0
You will likely have to present concrete proof that you will be relocating to Canada. No it is not guaranteed that time in the US accompanying a Canadian souse will count towards RO if you never lived in Canada and she has not accompanied you abroad.
what do you mean? How did someone become a Citizen without having lived there?

Anyways, I have lived in Canada long enough and here's where it says the person being sponsored living abroad with a citizen maintains their PR status: (except my spouse won't be "travelling" but rather living). Not sure I fully understand what's meant by travelling here...

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1466&top=10
 

steaky

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Nov 11, 2008
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what do you mean? How did someone become a Citizen without having lived there?

Anyways, I have lived in Canada long enough and here's where it says the person being sponsored living abroad with a citizen maintains their PR status: (except my spouse won't be "travelling" but rather living). Not sure I fully understand what's meant by travelling here...

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1466&top=10
Someone can become a citizen without having lived there. For example, by descent.
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
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what do you mean? How did someone become a Citizen without having lived there?

Anyways, I have lived in Canada long enough and here's where it says the person being sponsored living abroad with a citizen maintains their PR status: (except my spouse won't be "travelling" but rather living). Not sure I fully understand what's meant by travelling here...

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1466&top=10
Did you notice it says “may” and also that you are travel with your citizen spouse which typcially implies traveling out of Canada where you lived with your spouse.

IRCC now requires proof that you will be relocating to Canada to sponsor your spouse because so many people didn’t relocate to Canada. If you are not relocating to Canada there is zero need for your spouse to get PR.

If you research this more you will see the word accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse mentioned to count days out of Canada towards RO. You have to be living in Canada first to actually accompany a spouse abroad.
 

koxruz

Full Member
Mar 27, 2023
39
0
> . You have to be living in Canada first to actually accompany a spouse abroad.

Not sure I followed. I am sponsoring my spouse from abroad so ofcourse I am not sponsoring her from within Canada. Yes I have lived in Canada but not at the moment.
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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> . You have to be living in Canada first to actually accompany a spouse abroad.

Not sure I followed. I am sponsoring my spouse from abroad so ofcourse I am not sponsoring her from within Canada. Yes I have lived in Canada but not at the moment.
- You can sponsor her from abroad. You will need to provide evidence with the application that you and your wife plan to relocate to Canada to live here once the PR visa is approved.
- We can't say for certain if your wife will be able to retain her PR status without living in Canada and through living with you outside of Canada. Yes, IRCC has rules that allow people to do this under certain circumstances. However if she never actually moves here after becoming a PR, IRCC may say she cannot claim the time spent outside of Canada with you towards the residency obligation. This would be a bit of a dice roll and there is no way to know the outcome until you actually to renew her PR card many years from now. If you don't plan to relocate to Canada in the near future, it doesn't really make sense to sponsor her now. Wait until you are actually planning to relocate permanently.
 
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Shiny Sunshine

Full Member
Apr 2, 2024
21
1
Hi everyone. I do have a quick question. I recently received my e-copr and I did add my wife as non-accompanying during my PR process (CEC Express Entry). Can I start the spousal sponsorship application based on my ecopr or should I wait for PR card?

furthermore, even though she was non-accompanying during my application, my lawyer did ask me for her PCC and medical. Can I use that PCC or do I need to apply for her PCC again.

Note- I am currently in Canada and she is in India and she has never been to Canada before. Her recent PCC which I did use in my application was issued on 26th June 2024.

Your feedback would be truly appreciated. Thank you.
 

YVR123

VIP Member
Jul 27, 2017
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Hi everyone. I do have a quick question. I recently received my e-copr and I did add my wife as non-accompanying during my PR process (CEC Express Entry). Can I start the spousal sponsorship application based on my ecopr or should I wait for PR card?

furthermore, even though she was non-accompanying during my application, my lawyer did ask me for her PCC and medical. Can I use that PCC or do I need to apply for her PCC again.

Note- I am currently in Canada and she is in India and she has never been to Canada before. Her recent PCC which I did use in my application was issued on 26th June 2024.

Your feedback would be truly appreciated. Thank you.
In theory, you can apply right away. Take a look at the application to see if you can submit copy of e-copr as the proof of your status instead of PR card. If that's available, then you have no issue to start the outland sponsorship now.