- Jul 26, 2013
- 75
- Category........
- Visa Office......
- Vegreville
- Job Offer........
- Pre-Assessed..
- App. Filed.......
- 27-09-2013
- Doc's Request.
- 17-10-2013
- AOR Received.
- 18-10-2013
- File Transfer...
- March 2014
- Med's Request
- March 2, 2015. AIP received same day
- Med's Done....
- March 3, 2015.
- Interview........
- "Decision made": 1 April 2015
Hello,
I'm Charles, and I returned to this forum 5 years after being sponsored by my wife (inland) to offer help to people who may be in similar circumstances as I was back in 2013.
I got married in Uganda and came to Canada as a business visitor (applied for and got TRV before our wedding). But my spouse and her family did not know how to go about the sponsorship process. Neither had we discussed it in detail prior. I knew there was a path to permanent residence and I qualified as a new spouse. My wife's family hoped to use a consultant to lodge the application.
Here are some lessons from the whole process:
1. Do not delay application. Often you can apply on your own, paying attention to the guidelines offered online by IRCC. Yes, I know there can be some ambiguity in some areas, but most things are straight-forward if you have all evidence to back up the spousal relationship. I lost 7 months trying to consult 'experts' on the best way to make the application, yet we had all the documents needed to file the application. I initially used a consultant to prepare the application, but she was so slow, kept cancelling appointments, etc. So I took all the documents from her and filed everything on my own. My wife's family was upset, but it paid off. Application was smooth all the way to approval.
2. Prepare documents ahead of time, as much as possible. I needed evidence of an ongoing relationship with my wife prior to marriage. We had Skype call and chat logs for at least 7 months, family visit photos all queued in preparation for the application. What we did not have were police certificates. I needed certificates from the UK, Kenya, Uganda and Canada (I'd been in Canada for 8 months when we applied). It took a while to get the certificates from other countries. It helps to obtain and submit the police certificates when you send in the application.
3. Keep busy as you wait. The waiting period can be very frustrating for spouses in Canada, and can take a toll on the relationship. Back then, we'd wait over 14 months to get PR. Things are are better today, open work permits for spouses don't take too long. Even then, queue up a course to do online as you wait or work you can do online if you're not able to get a job in time (with COVID-19, jobs are now even more difficult to come by). I remember studying programming online at Coursera.org as I waited. I also took writing gigs as a freelancer online.
4. Finding work. Obtaining an open work permit or even PR is just the beginning of the journey for the sponsored spouse (and family members) settling into Canada. I know these times are not conducive to gatherings. But you would do well to broaden your network however you can. This is key to finding a decent job. Sometimes you have to return to school to improve your possibilities, but this should not be the first option for individuals who already had reasonable work experience and college or university training. I resisted going back to school because I had two degrees and over 7 years of work. An acquaintance at a local church recommended me to her husband for employment a few months before I got an open work permit; and I got the job shortly after getting permit.
That's about it. Oh, and how time flies! When I was sponsored, we were only husband and wife. Now we have 3 daughters.
If I can help you with anything, please send me a private message and I will do what I can. It was wonderful being here and sharing with other families going through the sponsorship process.
I'm Charles, and I returned to this forum 5 years after being sponsored by my wife (inland) to offer help to people who may be in similar circumstances as I was back in 2013.
I got married in Uganda and came to Canada as a business visitor (applied for and got TRV before our wedding). But my spouse and her family did not know how to go about the sponsorship process. Neither had we discussed it in detail prior. I knew there was a path to permanent residence and I qualified as a new spouse. My wife's family hoped to use a consultant to lodge the application.
Here are some lessons from the whole process:
1. Do not delay application. Often you can apply on your own, paying attention to the guidelines offered online by IRCC. Yes, I know there can be some ambiguity in some areas, but most things are straight-forward if you have all evidence to back up the spousal relationship. I lost 7 months trying to consult 'experts' on the best way to make the application, yet we had all the documents needed to file the application. I initially used a consultant to prepare the application, but she was so slow, kept cancelling appointments, etc. So I took all the documents from her and filed everything on my own. My wife's family was upset, but it paid off. Application was smooth all the way to approval.
2. Prepare documents ahead of time, as much as possible. I needed evidence of an ongoing relationship with my wife prior to marriage. We had Skype call and chat logs for at least 7 months, family visit photos all queued in preparation for the application. What we did not have were police certificates. I needed certificates from the UK, Kenya, Uganda and Canada (I'd been in Canada for 8 months when we applied). It took a while to get the certificates from other countries. It helps to obtain and submit the police certificates when you send in the application.
3. Keep busy as you wait. The waiting period can be very frustrating for spouses in Canada, and can take a toll on the relationship. Back then, we'd wait over 14 months to get PR. Things are are better today, open work permits for spouses don't take too long. Even then, queue up a course to do online as you wait or work you can do online if you're not able to get a job in time (with COVID-19, jobs are now even more difficult to come by). I remember studying programming online at Coursera.org as I waited. I also took writing gigs as a freelancer online.
4. Finding work. Obtaining an open work permit or even PR is just the beginning of the journey for the sponsored spouse (and family members) settling into Canada. I know these times are not conducive to gatherings. But you would do well to broaden your network however you can. This is key to finding a decent job. Sometimes you have to return to school to improve your possibilities, but this should not be the first option for individuals who already had reasonable work experience and college or university training. I resisted going back to school because I had two degrees and over 7 years of work. An acquaintance at a local church recommended me to her husband for employment a few months before I got an open work permit; and I got the job shortly after getting permit.
That's about it. Oh, and how time flies! When I was sponsored, we were only husband and wife. Now we have 3 daughters.
If I can help you with anything, please send me a private message and I will do what I can. It was wonderful being here and sharing with other families going through the sponsorship process.
Last edited:
