Are you planning to sponsor your common-law partner or spouse for Canadian immigration? The steps to do so will depend on where your partner is living.
If your partner lives with you in Canada, the steps involved will vary compared to the person staying outside the country. The Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class is meant for permanent residents and Canadian citizens who are already in Canada with their partners and wish to stay that way forever.
It is important for foreign national partners to have valid immigration status. It may either be as a worker, student, or visitor.
They also need to apply under the same class if they wish to get an Open Work Permit. This will help them work while waiting for their application to get processed.
For Canadians who wish to sponsor their common-law partner or spouse, the first step will involve you making sure that you are eligible.
- You need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or First Nation above 18 years of age.
- You need to prove that you can afford basic needs for yourself and your partner along with any dependent kids.
- You should not be convicted of a violent crime of any type.
Your partner should also be eligible.
- Should be minimum of 18 years of age.
- Should clear medical, security, and background checks.
- Should share a genuine relationship with you and not something just to get a PR status.
Canada offers a document checklist and an application guide online. These are useful for those going through the process.
After completing everything properly, you need to submit the application. If the government considers it to be incomplete, they will return the application.
IRCC requires around 12 months to process spousal sponsorship applications. This includes two or three months of wait time during which they ensure that the application is indeed complete.
During the period of processing, IRCC may ask the applicant for permanent residence to submit their biometrics. The applicants will have 30 days to submit the information.
IRCC may also ask for any further information if they need it. They may also ask for an in-person interview at any time. The person who gets sponsored will have 30 days to go through a medical exam.
Applicants get an opportunity given by the IRCC to track and also update their applications online.
Once the IRCC takes a decision on your application, you shall receive further instructions. These instructions will include the last steps that your common-law partner or spouse needs to take to get the PR status.
They need to visit a port of entry to meet an immigration officer. This officer will conduct the landing interview.
IRCC will also inform you about the necessary documents that your partner needs to carry along with the place and time of the interview.
After this step is completed, your common-law partner or spouse will officially become a PR holder. All you need to do is wait for the PR card to arrive by mail.
Get in touch with us on WhatsApp or Call us at 905-671-4442. You may even email us at info@immigrationterminal.ca if you have any queries about your spousal sponsorship application.