what is the $$ threshold for proving you can support family sponsorees?

[4maple-1eagle]

can anyone share their experience on this? We want to move our whole family (husb, wife, 3 small kids) to Canada this summer. All are cititzens of Canada, except me, the husband. Neither the wife or I have a job, nor do we intend to seek one in Canada. I run a small laptop based business (US-based) and she is a writer w some coming royalties and probably an occasional advance or two. We definitely can make for the 9-12 (minimum) months we plan to stay, but on paper I'm not sure how convincing we will appear. Anyone know what the minimum standard is? What are they going to ask us for, on the application or at the border, to prove we've got the goods? Any chance they would turn us away?

 

[Baloo]

You can be turned away, are you going to apply for PR or just visit?

 

[canadianwoman]

If you are visiting, just bring proof of both incomes and any savings. The border officials probably won't ask for it, but they might.
For a PR application, again just provide proof of income and savings. Your wife will have to provide her income tax statement; you can include yours as well if you want.
But actually your wife does not need any income to sponsor you; there is no minimum income she has to show. Still, any income or savings that show you will be able to support yourselves will help.

 

[Leon]

If you show up at the border with a u-haul full of your stuff, it depends on the immigration officer if they let you in or not. You are not supposed to be moving to Canada on visitor status. Could get you turned away, even banned. It is safer if you pack the u-haul on one side of the border, then cross over without it to "visit". Wife then leaves you in Canada and goes back to fetch u-haul. Dishonest, yes but definitely not as risky as showing up without having your PR yet and telling them you are moving to Canada.

She can start sponsorship of you now. She would only have to show plans to move to Canada when you get your PR. You can show both your incomes but there is no official minimum for spousal sponsorship.

 

[4maple-1eagle]

Th you for the great responses. After further research, I think going visitor status for me (the US cit) is most appropriate. Since [1] we genuinely don't know how long we want to stay for sure (maybe 3-12 mo) and [2] its impossible to really guess if we would want to apply for PermResidency for me, only time will tell, but honestly I think PermRes is only a small chance of that [3] the PermRes app is 6-12mo long, costs ALOT to accomplish and seems an unlikely need for us at this point, so Visitor status seems best. We have young kids, so we've ruled out a drive and anything Uhaul anyway. So if we drive across at Buffalo, or even just fly through Toronto, how do you think we'd be received, when we tell our actual situation? We bring proof of modest savings, income, two lists of possessions (1- our air luggage) and (2- a small pod of stuff to be shipped, that includes mattresses, toys, tables, dishes, basic living stuff) and tell them our intentions. We're here for 3mo for sure, maximum 12mo, here to be near her 2 dying parents, do our writing, and move back to the US sometime between Sept 2011 and June 2012. A PermResidency app would be a long-shot speculation on our part, at best. But given that Visitor Status (my research says) is typically up to 6mo, I suppose thats all you can really suggest. How do you think we'd be received? Advice?

 

[Baloo]

From what you say visiting seems like the best option at present.

I think the same applies to "a pod" as a u-Haul (see Leon's post).

It may be better that your wife arrives with the pod (or documentation it is coming) and you enter at a separate time.
IMO your "visit" could look like a "move" to the IO, thus increasing the chance of refusal or a ban.
Given all the other explanation that you may offer, the situation looks like a "move" to me. I grant you it is a move with an end date, whatever that my be.

Maybe your wife should travel with the kids and notify immigration that she has a pod arriving, and you arrange to arrive separately, to visit for a couple of months, but once inside Canada you can then apply to extend your stay. If you send the extension application by post it provides about another 125 days of "implied status" during which you can remain in Canada.

The biggest issue is that there is not that much that ties you to the USA, you need more proof of the "ties" to the US.

 

[canadianwoman]

Maybe your wife should travel with the kids and notify immigration that she has a pod arriving, and you arrange to arrive separately, to visit for a couple of months, but once inside Canada you can then apply to extend your stay. If you send the extension application by post it provides about another 125 days of "implied status" during which you can remain in Canada.

I agree. Your wife and kids can move back with no problem. You can't 'move' here. I'd come in separately and say you are just visiting for a couple of months, then extend.