Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Spousal Sponsorship

Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Spousal Sponsorship

1.What relationships does the Canada spousal sponsorship program cover?

The three main types of relationships that the program covers are: spouses (legally married partners, whose marriage is recognized by Canadian law); common-law partners (couples of diverse sex or the same sex who have lived in marriage-like relationship for at least one year); and conjugal partners (couples prevented from cohabiting or marrying because of exceptional circumstances like sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or other major barriers but who can show strong attachment and mutual dependence).
What are the key eligibility criteria for a sponsor who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor their partner?

For eligibility, a sponsor must have reached the age of 18, must be either a Canadian citizen, person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or a permanent resident, and has made his or her permanent home in Canada and is not receiving social assistance (with the exception of disability reasons), and must assume full financial support for the partner he or she is going to be sponsoring, and in the case of a spouse, the marriage must be valid in law. The additional responsibility of the sponsor is to provide proof of sponsorship, which includes identification such as a passport, PR card, proof of residence, and financial support.
What level of financial support does the sponsor undertake for the sponsored partner, and how long does it last?

The sponsorship commitment extends for three years after the sponsored partner becomes a permanent resident. Whereas the sponsor has a legal duty to provide their basic needs including food, shelter, clothing, and one-off expenses among others, not complying with this would involve legal actions, such as the sponsor's requirement to repay some amounts in social assistance that were already given to the sponsored partner. 

What do I prove to show the credibility of my relationship in the application?

The application needs to show that the relationship is genuine and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes. The kind of proof varies on whether the applicant lives outside or inside Canada. For couples who live together in Canada, joint ownership documents, shared utility bills, documents showing both at the same address, financial support evidence, and recognition from friends and family can be made use of. For non-cohabiting couples, acceptable proof can include letters, texts, call logs, proof of visits (like stamps on a passport), and proof of recognition from families and friends. An additional must for all applicants is photos as evidence of the relationship over time, plus a letter explaining when you met and how the relationship evolved to what it is now.

If my wife and I live together in Canada, what nationalities should we apply within, and what are the main distinctions?

If you and your spouse live together in Canada, you likely would apply for an Inland Spousal Sponsorship. If your spouse is common-law and makes plans to return to their home country for a while, you would apply under the Family Class. There are key differences in where processing of the application will take place. Inland spousal sponsorship applications are processed in Mississauga in Ontario, and the Family Class applications are processed in Sydney in Nova Scotia.
What are some common challenges in spousal sponsorship applications, and how can I face them?

Common challenges in spousal sponsorship applications often include delays in processing time, past criminal acts committed either by the sponsor or the applicant, complicated family circumstances involving prior commitments and children, the applicant is barred from sponsorship due to past sponsorship issues, and refusal of applications. To tackle these challenges, you have to keep yourself cognizant of the time for processing, ensure complete and precise documentation, if needed, obtain expert advice, insist on rehabilitation documents for past crimes, if they fall within the rehabilitation timelines, and provide 

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