Getting married to the spouse of your dreams is a beautiful thing but this can be difficult to achieve if you’re miles apart. Immigrants whose spouses are permanent residents or citizens can sponsor them to Canada once they are ready to start living together.
Contrary to popular belief, you can’t gain Canadian citizenship or permanent residency instantly by marrying a Canadian. Both parties must meet all the requirements that are laid down for spousal sponsorship and apply.
Your sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and financially stable. Sponsors are usually verified first before their spouses can apply for Canadian PR.
Applying for spousal sponsorship in Canada
The spousal sponsorship program is currently protected by some stringent rules. This is because of the increase in the number of marriage fraud cases. These rules apply to legitimate marriages too. If you’re going through this route, make sure that you prepare all the necessary documents.
In case you’ve entered Canada via a study or work permit and got married to a citizen, you will be allowed to stay in the country while waiting for the approval of your spousal sponsorship application. This approach is known as inland spousal sponsorship.
On the other hand, you can’t move into the country until your spouse-sponsored PR visa has been approved. This can be referred to as outland spousal sponsorship.
The entire process involves being sponsored as a conjugal partner, spouse or common-law spouse. The next thing is to apply for Canadian PR.
If you intend to become a Canadian citizen, you must have lived in the country for a specific period and meet all the requirements.
Presenting a marriage certificate or displaying love won’t convince the immigration officers that your marriage is valid. Be ready to go the extra length to prove that your relationship is genuine.
Is the spousal sponsorship different from other Canadian immigration programs?
One of the perks of entering Canada via the spousal sponsorship program is that you don’t need to reveal your financial strength before you will be granted the PR visa. This is because your spouse would have been evaluated based on certain criteria.
More so, the Canadian government is concerned about maintaining the family unit.
Are there any major concerns when filing for spousal sponsorship?
Issues can arise when couples can’t prove the authenticity of their union. Apart from presenting a legit marriage certificate, ensure that you prepare other evidence like pictures.
The ability to provide financial support is an important requirement for every sponsor. Both parties are still eligible for a social program. S/he must also be able to support a sponsored child for at least 10 years or until the child is 25 years old.
Although the Canadian government prioritizes entering the country for work-related purposes, they are not against family members who are longing to reunite.
As a rule, you must remain in a real relationship with your spouse for a minimum of two years after obtaining your PR Card. Anything contrary to this can attract removal.
Passing background checks and medical screenings will increase your chances of getting a PR Card.
How long will I have to wait for spouse sponsorship approval?
Processing the spouse sponsorship immigration program usually takes around a month. Once this period is over, you will know whether your application was approved or not. Try to avoid making any mistake when filling your application form.
What can I do while waiting for approval?
You will have the opportunity to track your applications as your spouse prepare for your arrival. Make sure that you carry all your immigration documents with you when moving to Canada.
1 comment
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