Spouse or Common-Law Partner

Through the Family Sponsorship program, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for permanent residence, promoting family reunification and bolstering the country’s social cohesion.

Spousal Sponsorship Categories

A variety of relationships are recognized by Canada under the spousal sponsorship program:

• Spouse: Partners who are legally wed.
• Common-Law Partner: A couple who have been married for at least a year and have lived together consistently.
• Conjugal Partner: Partners who are prevented from living together by extraordinary circumstances such as marital status or immigration restrictions.

Responsibilities of the Sponsor

Sponsors are subject to certain requirements and duties:

• To qualify you must be at least eighteen a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and free from certain legal restrictions.
• Financial Support: To guarantee the sponsored partner will not need social assistance pledge to provide them with financial support for three years

Outland and Inland Sponsorship

There are two application streams available to applicants:

• Outland Sponsorship: For partners who do not live in Canada. During processing, this stream permits the sponsored individual to stay overseas and may even allow them to visit Canada.
• Inland Sponsorship: Partners who currently reside in Canada are eligible for inland sponsorship. Candidates may be able to work while their application is being processed if they are granted an open work permit.
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Applying for Spousal Sponsorship

Several steps are involved in the application process:

• Get the Application Package: On the official website of the Government of Canada.
• Processing Fee: Processing fees, right of permanent residence fees, and biometrics fees are all included in the pay fees.
• Application Submission: To prevent delays, make sure all forms and supporting documentation are accurate and complete.
• Proof of Relationship: Showing that your relationship is sincere is essential.
• Documentation: Offer supporting documentation including joint bank accounts, leases, photos, correspondence logs, and testimonies from loved ones.
• Interviews: In certain situations, immigration officers might interview people to determine how genuine the relationship is.

Steps to Apply for Family Sponsorship

Step 1: Verify that you are eligible to sponsor.

Step 2: Verify that the family members you plan to sponsor are eligible.

Step 3: You must apply to the Ministry of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at the federal level and to the Ministry of Immigration Francization and Integration (MIFI) at the provincial level if you reside in Quebec. Together with your sponsorship application, you must submit your family members or relatives’ applications for permanent residence (PR) status. Your PR application will be examined after it has been determined that you are qualified to sponsor.

Step 4: The application fee for family sponsorship must be paid.

Step 5: Apply to the correct address. The government website offers a sponsorship guide for download which contains this information.

How CWC Can Help?

The process of spousal sponsorship can be difficult to navigate. To guarantee a successful application and receive individualized support, contact CWC today for a FREE assessment!