Path for your partner to immigrate to Canada

Till the end of this year, Canada has decided to review 18,000 spousal sponsorship applications. Such an announcement was made last month by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with easing the process they try to reunite the couple in a shorter period.

For a few years, Canada’s target has been nearly 70,000 new immigrants for permanent residence application approval every year under its spousal, partner, and children’s family class sponsorship category. Analogous steps are taken by the government in support of family reunification on high priority.

It has been noticed that due to the coronavirus pandemic spousal sponsorship application processing is getting delayed, yet with the latest regulations announcement of IRCC, such backlogs will be cleared soon.

Below are the details for those who are new and want to submit their spousal sponsorship application –

Process:

Citizens & permanent residents of Canada can sponsor in support of a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence application.

The sponsor (Canadian Citizens or permanent residence status holder) and the sponsored applicant (spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner) need approval from IRCC to get permanent residence status.

Both parties need to prove to IRCC that their relationship falls under one of the below-listed categories:

• Spouse
• Common-law partner
• Conjugal partner

Canada also recognizes same-sex marriages and such applicants are also considered under the same three categories if they meet all of IRCC’s eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria:

One can sponsor his/her partner if,

• He/She is at least 18 years old.
• He/She is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian  Indian Act.
• If he/she is a Canadian citizen living abroad, he/she must prove that they plan to live in Canada with the sponsored person once they become a permanent resident.
• A permanent resident is eligible to sponsor their partner if the permanent resident resides in Canada.
• He/She can prove that they are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than having a disability.
• He/She can afford or support financially to fulfil the basic needs of the sponsored person.

After getting eligible and getting selected with the approval of IRCC, the couple needs to fulfil a few obligations like,

• The sponsor is financially responsible for the sponsored person for three years.
• Sponsored persons are forbidden from sponsoring someone else for five years after they have been sponsored for permanent residence.