Spousal sponsorship and working in Quebec

[LadyAmrie]

I made my first post here awhile back :

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/bringing-american-boyfriend-to-canada.555794/

We are planning to get married. What do we need to do to start the sponsorship/immigration process and do we need to be married before applying for anything?

What can we do to speed up/improve the sponsorship/immigration process?

I live in Quebec, and realize this may mean additional hurdles; what would those be, and how would we best deal with them? I am planning on sponsoring my future husband, and ideally we both want him to be able to get a job during the immigration process. I'm concerned that because he only speaks English at present, that this may cause problems, even though he does want to learn French and has been using Duolingo to get a head start. We would like to get him a work permit, so that he can get a job up here, having recently lost his through no fault of his own. I have not been able to find any information as to whether Quebec would allow him to job hunt in Ottawa, and I suppose doing so might seem to imply that he is not willing to learn French which is not the case; we just want him to have the best chance possible at finding work.

 

[Hurlabrick]

We are planning to get married. What do we need to do to start the sponsorship/immigration process and do we need to be married before applying for anything?

No you don't need to be married as long as you can meet the CIC 'common law' requirements - which is to have lived together continuously for at least 12 months and prove it, and your financial 'entanglement'. But being married makes it a bit easier for sure.

What can we do to speed up/improve the sponsorship/immigration process?

What can you do to speed it up? Nothing. They will take as long as they will take. But you can help yourself by getting all of the forms right and making sure the package is complete according to the CIC checklist which would stop them returning it or asking for additional information.

I live in Quebec, and realize this may mean additional hurdles; what would those be, and how would we best deal with them?

The only additional 'hurdle' is a CSQ - an additional form that you are asked to complete and send in after you send in the spousal sponsorship package. You send it in when they ask for it and it isn't a big deal.

I am planning on sponsoring my future husband, and ideally we both want him to be able to get a job during the immigration process. I'm concerned that because he only speaks English at present, that this may cause problems, even though he does want to learn French and has been using Duolingo to get a head start. We would like to get him a work permit, so that he can get a job up here, having recently lost his through no fault of his own. I have not been able to find any information as to whether Quebec would allow him to job hunt in Ottawa, and I suppose doing so might seem to imply that he is not willing to learn French which is not the case; we just want him to have the best chance possible

He can job hunt on Ottawa, as long as he plans to live in Quebec! I live near Ottawa and like you, I know it is very bi-lingual and also that many people that live in Gatineau QC and commute to work in Ottawa - no big deal!​