Canada is one of the most open and tolerant countries in the world. The government to Canada welcomes relationships between Canadians and foreign nationals, and for that reason introduced a Spousal Sponsorship Program. Permanent residents and citizens of Canada can sponsor their foreign spouses, as well as common-law partners, for permanent residence. The application must meet the requirements of the Immigration authorities of Canada, and your case must fall into one of the three categories.
- Spouse
- Common-law Partner
- Conjugal Partner
Canada equally treats all couples, including same-sex partners. It doesn’t affect the eligibility criteria.
The quota
The Government of Canada allocated the quota of 68,000 candidates for the spousal and child sponsorship in 2019, and in 2020 and 2021 it will be slightly increased to 70,000.
Eligibility
To sponsor your husband or wife, one must be 18 years old. A sponsor must prove that he or she does not receive any social assistance (except disability) and to be able to provide basic financial assistance for the sponsored person. In the case, if you live outside Canada, you must show the intent to reside in Canada after the sponsorship application is completed.
In the process of application, you will be required to attach all the required documentation proving your marital/common-law status. If the couple has lived together in Canada, you should show that it was for no less than 1 year. To prove that you can show various evidence of cohabitation: lease agreement, hydro bills, etc.
Other requirements
There are some other conditions for permanent residence that was received via the Spousal Sponsorship program. For instance, the sponsor is responsible to financially support his/her spouse for three years from the day the sponsored person received a status of Canadian permanent resident. The sponsored spouses cannot sponsor a new spouse for five years after becoming a permanent resident. The province of Quebec has some additional requirements for the spousal sponsorship.
How long the whole process may take?
On average, the processing time for the spousal sponsorship application is twelve months.
Did you fell in love with a foreigner? Performance Immigration will help you to apply for a Spousal Sponsorship and bring your beloved spouse to Canada! Contact us for details!