Spousal Sponsorship - Sponsor and Applicant (both living abroad)

[osgoz99]

Im working on an application for my sister. She is a Canadian Citizen who married a US citizen about a year ago. He is studying in the Middle East at the moment, and so they both live there for the time being, but they plan to return and live in Canada in about 8 months time.

She would like to sponsor her husband (from outside Canada). Apparently you are allowed to sponsor your spouse even if you are both living outside Canada, but IMM Canada will require some proof that you eventually intend to return and live in Canada.

They will visiting Canada in mid-march for a period of one month, and then again during the summer (when her husband is off from University), but they won't permanently be returning until december of 2012. They would like to have the application worked out as quickly as possible so that when they return his application will have already been processed.

My questions are as follows:
(1) Should they apply now while living abroad?
(2) Will the fact that she (the sponsor) is living outside Canada reflect poorly on the application?
(3) What kind of proof will immigration Canada require that she intends to return and live in Canada? (She (sponsor) has no job lined up upon her return)
(4) Would it be better to wait and apply when they are here in the summer? or december when they are here for good?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CharlieD10]

1) They can begin the process while abroad, but as they intend to return Stateside at the end of the year, they might want to wait until then to start. One thing they can do is apply for a police certificate from whatever country he is in, as they will need one for the application.

2) No, her place of residence will have no impact as a citizen. Additionally, it speaks to their relationship that she remains outside the country with him.

3) Proof includes plans (not necessarily purchase) on where to live, what to do for work, continuing studies in a school etc. They can also include moving personal belongings back to Canada.

4) He's a US citizen, so he could actually visit with her in Canada while his application is being processed, so if they choose to wait, they still have options for being together. It's really up to them to weigh their circumstances and decide when they want to apply. The process of gathering all necessary documents and completing all the forms should be allotted at least 3 months.

 

[osgoz99]

Appreciate the advice Charlie. I actually didn't think of applying for the police certificate now.

Do they not send it directly to Immigration Canada though? If so, they will have no file to match it up to and I imagine it will get lost in the system. (They lost an overseas police certificate on a previous application I filed for another sibling).

Thoughts?

 

[CharlieD10]

Well, I wouldn't recommend you apply for the police certificates immediately, as these must reach CIC within 3 months of their issue date to be valid, so you really want to wait until the application is almost ready to get those. Additionally, those Gulf states can be particular about issuing those things to foreign nationals, so he might want to do it not too long before he leaves to come back Stateside for good.

 

[osgoz99]

Right. Thats a good idea. Thanks for the help!