Will I meet the financial requirements to sponsor my common-law partner?

[hilmack]

I am a Canadian citizen by birth and am in a common-law relationship with an Australian. We had to move to Australia in June 2012 because his 2 year work visa expired in Canada. Since moving to Australia I have not been able to find work and my partner has been supporting me. We are trying to apply for him to get his Canadian residency, with me sponsoring him. The last two years we lived in Canada I worked as a Surveyor and earned between $65,000-$75,000/year. I am also getting my old employer to write a letter to say that I can have my job back when I return. As well, my parents will write a letter saying we can stay at their house rent free as long as we need.
Will this be enough proof that I will be able to support him even though I have been unemployed the last 6 months? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[amikety]

Good news. There isn't a minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship.

What you will need to do is show CIC how you plan to support yourselves once you come to Canada. The letters from your parents and former job are great, probably enough. You can also include your spouse's ability to work as well.

In the applicant's paperwork, it will ask about education and intended occupation. When I wrote out my extra notes, I addressed intended occupation and education, making sure to explain my previous work experience and what types of jobs I could get in Canada.

The only thing is, you can't be on social assistance. Since you're in Australia, that's probably very unlikely

 

[sounion]

I second what was said above.

However, they will probably stress that you are responsible for your Australian common-law husband financially, even if you two go separate ways. Just a heads up.

 

[Sweden]

You should be fine - my partner was approved to sponsor me despite being outside of Canada for 3 years as an international student, and having only worked 5 months in the last 3 years (summer jobs)... he wrote a plan explaining what type of job he intended to get when he was back, to support us, (he didn't even have a letter from an employer), and he was approved. So being unemployed for the last 6 months is not a problem as long as you can explain what is your plan when coming back to Canada.
Good luck,
Sweden