Where to start?

[Xerakitty]

We are SO overwhelmed by the Canadian immigration process, we have no idea where to start!

Background: I am a Canadian citizen, I have lived in the US for 5 years. We were married 6 days after I arrived here on a fiance visa. We now wish to move to PEI to be with my family.

We planned on bringing my husband into the country on a spousal visa, but are unsure if I can qualify as a sponsor as I too will be moving and have no means to provide support. My parents are willing to provide housing and "basic needs" until we sell our home in NJ and buy a new home in PEI. We've already spent months going over cic.gc.ca websites and checklists, and everything seems to be contradicted in some way. We would be so amazingly grateful for any help!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

We are SO overwhelmed by the Canadian immigration process, we have no idea where to start!

Background: I am a Canadian citizen, I have lived in the US for 5 years. We were married 6 days after I arrived here on a fiance visa. We now wish to move to PEI to be with my family.

We planned on bringing my husband into the country on a spousal visa, but are unsure if I can qualify as a sponsor as I too will be moving and have no means to provide support. My parents are willing to provide housing and "basic needs" until we sell our home in NJ and buy a new home in PEI. We've already spent months going over cic.gc.ca websites and checklists, and everything seems to be contradicted in some way. We would be so amazingly grateful for any help!

The application is here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp.

There is no minimum income requirment and you don't need to be employed. You need to show that you can support yourselves in Canada without welfare. You can show family support, savings, investments, current income, potential future income etc.

Just follow the checklist, it's pretty straightforward. Outland American apps average about 4-6 months.

 

[Xerakitty]

Thank you so much canuck_in_uk! The plan is to include things like a notarized letter from my parents stating they will provide us with a home and support until we get settled, as well as letters from jobs that I have lined up, and my husband's resume showing he is a highly employable medical technician. I just wasn't sure if that would be enough. The US immigration process was so terrible it has me on edge with worry that we're going to miss something and be stuck here even longer.

 

[Hurlabrick]

By contrast to the US process, the Canadian process is relatively simple and the vast majority of people do it all themselves (without the use of immigration consultants and lawyers etc).

Just work through the forms and checklists methodically and you will be fine, it is more of a b*lls ache than a highly tricky and involved exercise!

 

[Hurlabrick]

Thank you so much canuck_in_uk! The plan is to include things like a notarized letter from my parents stating they will provide us with a home and support until we get settled, as well as letters from jobs that I have lined up, and my husband's resume showing he is a highly employable medical technician. I just wasn't sure if that would be enough. The US immigration process was so terrible it has me on edge with worry that we're going to miss something and be stuck here even longer.

Spousal sponsorship as a married couple couldn't care less about how employable your husband is. The only reason the process cares about how you will support yourselves and jobs you may have lined us is as 'proof that you intend to return to Canada' if / when your husband is granted PR.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you so much canuck_in_uk! The plan is to include things like a notarized letter from my parents stating they will provide us with a home and support until we get settled, as well as letters from jobs that I have lined up, and my husband's resume showing he is a highly employable medical technician. I just wasn't sure if that would be enough. The US immigration process was so terrible it has me on edge with worry that we're going to miss something and be stuck here even longer.

That sounds perfectly fine, you will have no issues.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Spousal sponsorship as a married couple couldn't care less about how employable your husband is. The only reason the process cares about how you will support yourselves and jobs you may have lined us is as 'proof that you intend to return to Canada' if / when your husband is granted PR.

Incorrect. In terms of showing the financial capacity to support themselves in Canada without welfare, IRCC will look at the family income/finances as a whole, including the income potential of the sponsored spouse.