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mostkal

Member
Feb 18, 2019
16
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Hi all,

if I'm looking to sponsor my spouse but I'm receiving Welfare, how long do I have to be off Welfare before I can submit my spousal application?

thank you
 
Hi all,

if I'm looking to sponsor my spouse but I'm receiving Welfare, how long do I have to be off Welfare before I can submit my spousal application?

thank you

At least a few months but it also depends on how long you have been receiving welfare. If you have been on welfare for a long period of time you want to show that you are back to fully-time permanent work and will not return to welfare as soon as your wife arrives. You want to eliminate any concern that you won’t be able to care for your family in Canada. Is your spouse already in Canada? If not how long did you leave Canada to get married and were you on welfare at the time?
 
Over 1 year and yes my spouse is here

If your spouse is in Canada and is legally able to work you can also show her work history and income earned as well. Given that you haven’t worked for over a year you really need to show that you are committed to working and supporting your family longterm without government support. Your wife being in Canada has not prompted you to go to work to support and to support your family yet. At a minimum I would not apply until you have been working full-time for 3 months.
 
Thank you for your help. We got married back in August and she is still on visitor visa. No work permit. That said, I started my own business recently and I've managed to get some clients with potential income which will help support both of us. The income was not enough for me to get off WO. If I show potential clients contracts and take myself off WO, do you think I can start the process? I just want my wife to get work permit which will help her find a job too.
 
Thank you for your help. We got married back in August and she is still on visitor visa. No work permit. That said, I started my own business recently and I've managed to get some clients with potential income which will help support both of us. The income was not enough for me to get off WO. If I show potential clients contracts and take myself off WO, do you think I can start the process? I just want my wife to get work permit which will help her find a job too.

I would recommend waiting 2-3 months after you get off OW before submitting the application. You will also want to be able to show actual income and not just potential income. Make sure you do not go back on OW at any time during the process.
 
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