+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Spousal sponsorship issues

El8

Member
Nov 15, 2018
17
1
Hello,

Well, my husband is a Canada PR and I am an Indian. I have applied for spousal sponsorship but in a week's time my application was returned saying I'm missing some country specific documents, in the month of Feb. We haven't sent the application back yet, since my husband is a freelance developer and right now he is not having proper income because of the pandemic. I want to know if it's okay to proceed with the application mentioning the actual situation in a letter. Or Should we wait until he starts getting paid regularly. Also I will be working once I move to Canada so I won't be depending on him financially.
 

Wolfpmd3

Champion Member
Apr 26, 2015
1,867
455
Canada
NOC Code......
1254
Hello,

Well, my husband is a Canada PR and I am an Indian. I have applied for spousal sponsorship but in a week's time my application was returned saying I'm missing some country specific documents, in the month of Feb. We haven't sent the application back yet, since my husband is a freelance developer and right now he is not having proper income because of the pandemic. I want to know if it's okay to proceed with the application mentioning the actual situation in a letter. Or Should we wait until he starts getting paid regularly. Also I will be working once I move to Canada so I won't be depending on him financially.
Spousal sponsorships don't require a minimum income. Even if he were jobless, it wouldn't matter because again, a minimum income is no required for a spousal sponsorship.

"
Income requirement
In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:

  • you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
  • you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.
"
 

El8

Member
Nov 15, 2018
17
1
Spousal sponsorships don't require a minimum income. Even if he were jobless, it wouldn't matter because again, a minimum income is no required for a spousal sponsorship.

"
Income requirement
In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:

  • you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
  • you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.
"
Thank you!
 

Wolfpmd3

Champion Member
Apr 26, 2015
1,867
455
Canada
NOC Code......
1254
You do still have to show you can support yourselves without government help.
Of course not, you just have to meet the eligibility criteria which includes not being receiving Social assistance other than due to disability.

Show?? You mean he should have bank balance or any job offer?
None of them, just meet the eligibility criteria. I.E not receiving social assistance.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Of course not, you just have to meet the eligibility criteria which includes not being receiving Social assistance other than due to disability.


None of them, just meet the eligibility criteria. I.E not receiving social assistance.
Not true. While there is no minimum income requirement, if a couple cannot show that they can support themselves without welfare, they can be refused.
 

CanUK333

Hero Member
Jun 18, 2019
282
146
United Kingdom
Category........
FAM
As mentioned above there is no financial requirement that you need to meet but you do need to be able to support yourself financially. In fact, i believe in the application checklist it says to provide proof/explanation of how you intend to support the applicant. When we applied, neither of us were working or had an income, so we provided various documents to show that we can indeed support ourselves (specifically that the sponsor can support both themselves and the applicant). We provided documents such as: letter from family member stating exactly how they will be supporting us (accommodation, food, utilities), copy of bank statement showing savings, and I, the sponsor, wrote a letter explaining our situation and how I intend to support us stating family help, savings, that i had secured health coverage for applicant, and plans for job searches. We probably provided more than needed but that's just an example of kinds of proof of support.
 

El8

Member
Nov 15, 2018
17
1
As mentioned above there is no financial requirement that you need to meet but you do need to be able to support yourself financially. In fact, i believe in the application checklist it says to provide proof/explanation of how you intend to support the applicant. When we applied, neither of us were working or had an income, so we provided various documents to show that we can indeed support ourselves (specifically that the sponsor can support both themselves and the applicant). We provided documents such as: letter from family member stating exactly how they will be supporting us (accommodation, food, utilities), copy of bank statement showing savings, and I, the sponsor, wrote a letter explaining our situation and how I intend to support us stating family help, savings, that i had secured health coverage for applicant, and plans for job searches. We probably provided more than needed but that's just an example of kinds of proof of support.
Thank you so much for the clear explanation.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,705
13,559
Of course not, you just have to meet the eligibility criteria which includes not being receiving Social assistance other than due to disability.


None of them, just meet the eligibility criteria. I.E not receiving social assistance.
Would also add that we have seen people being refused even though they were receiving disability payments. Canada wants to make sure that they are not accepting liabilities even another person who is likely to end up on disability in Canada with their spouse without additional financial support.

Having to show that you will be able to support yourselves without government help is not hard for most but can be difficult if extended families are living basically paycheque to paycheque, If the Canadian spouse is working for minimum wage or part-time while their spouse isn’t earning much in a Canadian dollars abroad we have seen requests for more proof that a couple can support themselves financially. Young couples may be asked to show proof that they have family financial support and that the family has the savings are extra income to support them. Just some of the examples of some of the types couples that been asked to provide more proof that they’ll be able to support themselves. Although Canada prioritized family reunification they don’t want to approve people who are likely to end up on welfare, use food banks regularly, etc. Canada is still very flexible and a certain income level is not required to sponsor a spouse like other countries.
 
  • Like
Reactions: El8