How spousal sponsorship application works? What are the eligibility criteria?

spousal sponsorship Inland spousal sponsorship spousal open work permit IRCC will temporarily extend open work permit eligibility to spouses and dependent children of most work permit holders at all skill levels starting January 30, 2023.

Now Canada will process spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months. Canada has aimed to expedite 6,000 spousal sponsorship applications a month till the end of 2020.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made this major announcement in late-September and it shows the path to bring your loved ones together as faster as it can amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Initially, Canada’s target was to add 70,000 new immigrants a year under the spousal, partner, and children family class immigration category.

But recently Canada announced a new  2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan  that shown the addition of 10,000 more application approvals. Ultimately, Canada has aimed to welcome nearly 80,000 new immigrants a year under the spousal, partner, and children family class immigration category.

Most of these immigrants will arrive under spousal sponsorship 

 

Who are eligible under the program & who can sponsor their partners to migrate to Canada?

The citizens and permanent residents of Canada can sponsor their partners to obtain permanent residence. The sponsor & applicant must show IRCC that their relationship falls under one of these three categories:

  • Spouse
  • Common-law partner
  • Conjugal partner

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and prove that they are not getting any social assistance for a reason other than a disability, and can demonstrate you are able to financially provide for the basic needs of your partner. The sponsor will also have to show the plan and prove how they will live in Canada with the sponsored person.

 

Eligibility criteria of partners:

The person you are sponsoring needs to meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Spouse: They must be legally married to you and at least 18 years old.
  • Common-law partner: They must be at least 18 years old and have lived with you for at least 12 straight months.
  • Conjugal partner: They must be at least 18 years old, have been in a relationship with you for at least one year, live outside of Canada, and cannot live with you in their country or marry you due to significant legal or immigration causes. For example, they live in a country where same-sex marriage or divorce is not allowed. You need to prove to IRCC you could not live together or get married in your partner’s country.

 

How to submit a sponsorship application

IRCC asks you to submit two applications together. One is for sponsorship and the other is a permanent residence application.

  • Step 1: Obtain an application package from IRCC.
  • Step 2: Pay your application fees to IRCC which tend to include processing fees, right of permanent residence fee, and biometrics fee. You need to pay these fees on IRCC’s website.
  • Step 3: Mail your completed application to IRCC.

IRCC’s processing standard is 12 months.

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