The Canadian government offers a spousal sponsorship program as part of its immigrations system. The program is an important component that Canadian citizens or permanent residents may take advantage of to sponsor loved ones for immigration to Canada.
while immigration is filled with beautiful stories of reunion and new beginnings, it may also feel like a daunting task. Don’t fret ! we’re here to reassure and make the process as simple as possible for you. Here are 5 things to know about sponsoring your spouse or partner for immigration to Canada.
your spouse may visit you while waiting for a sponsorship visa, but it’s not recommended
yes, foreign nationals may join their Canadian spouse or partner while their application is being processed, but if you’re eager to reunite it might be worth the wait. There is no visa or special status for spouses whose applications are under going processing. Moreover, having a pending application for permanent residence may complicate the process of obtaining a temporary or visitor visa.
Your spouse may work in Canada as their application is in process
If your Inland sponsorship application for permanent residence is being processed, spouses and common-law partners of Canadians or permanents residents can obtain an Open Work Permit to start working . Still, you must have already submitted an application under the immigration program and have a valid temporary resident status to be eligible.
your spouse may stay with you in Canada while the application is in process
As long as your spouse or partner retains their legal status, they can stay in the country. That means your temporary resident status must remain valid while you are in Canada. If you whish to stay longer, you must apply for a Visitor Record to obtain visitor status. Be sure to apply for a Visitor Record before the expiration of your current status to avoid any problems.
you can leave Canada while your sponsorship application is in process
you in fact have the right to leave the country while your application is being processed, but you must be sure to provide all the necessary documents upon your return. That includes a valid passport and travel documents, as well as a valid work or study permit, or a valid visa or electronic travel authorization, if applicable.
your spousal application may be prioritized
If you’re hoping to reunite with your family as quickly as possible, you may be in luck as Canada considers family reunification a top priority. Applications under the spousal sponsorship program are highly regarded as necessary and the government takes step to help reduce backlogs and processing times for these types of applications.
If you’re looking for assistance at any stage in the sponsorship application process, we can help. Get in touch.
