FAMILY SPONSORSHIP
Family sponsorship is a compassionate Canadian immigration program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family members for permanent residence in Canada. Under this program, individuals can sponsor their spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents to join them in Canada. It’s a heartwarming way for families to reunite and build their lives together in the welcoming and diverse Canadian communities. Family sponsorship is a testament to Canada’s commitment to keeping families together and fostering strong family bonds among its residents.
COMMON-LAW/SPOUSAL SPONSORSHIP
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a foreign national partner—spouse, common-law, or conjugal—for permanent residency via Outland or Inland sponsorship. The process typically takes 12 months but may vary with case complexity. Correct and complete applications are crucial for faster processing, and open work permits enable eligible partners to work while awaiting a decision.
To be eligible for a visa through this program, both you and your foreign partner must demonstrate a genuine relationship that fits into one of these categories:
- Spouse: you have a legal marriage.
- Common-law partner: you cohabit with your partner in a relationship akin to marriage for at least 12 straight months.
- Conjugal partner: you have maintained a continuous, serious relationship for at least 12 months but face considerable impediments to living together, such as cultural, religious, or immigration hurdles.
PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP DOCUMENTS
To apply for spousal, conjugal, or common-law sponsorship, the documents needed typically include proof of the relationship, which might consist of:
- Joint property deeds or mortgage agreements.
- Shared banking account statements.
- Utility bills naming both partners.
- Photocopies of government-issued identification for both individuals.
- Joint car insurance policies.
- Employment pay stubs or tax documents confirming the same residential address.
For common-law partnerships, the required documentation may include:
- Birth certificates or adoption papers for any children shared with your common-law partner.
- Photographs of both partners together, reflecting a conjugal relationship.
- Evidence confirming cohabitation for a minimum of one year.
Costs Involved
Applying through spousal/common-law sponsorship costs about $1165 in government fees. This includes sponsorship fees, principal applicant processing fees, right of permanent residence fees and biometrics. Other costs an applicant may incur will be from police checks and medicals.
Work Requirments
Employment is not a prerequisite for sponsoring your spouse, conjugal, or common-law partner for Canadian residency. Spousal sponsorship differs from other programs in that it doesn't enforce a minimum income threshold. Nonetheless, sponsors must commit to an undertaking that guarantees they'll meet their partner's essential financial needs.
Processing Time
Sponsorship applications generally have a 12-month processing period. While this timeframe is standard, more complex situations or additional evidence requests may extend the duration. For expedited handling, the key is a correctly filed initial application. Eligible applicants may be able to apply for an open work permit upon receiving confirmation that a complete application has been received.
COMMON CONSULTATION QUESTIONS
Explore answers to common queries about immigration and our services.
A consultation is the essential initial step for any immigration process. It provides an opportunity for a detailed and personalized evaluation of your unique circumstances, which cannot be adequately assessed through generic online quizzes or email correspondence alone. By understanding your history and objectives, an immigration consultant can identify the most efficient and stress-free route for you to achieve your immigration goals. The benefits of a consultation are numerous, including gaining clarity and confidence in your application, reducing the likelihood of errors or delays, and increasing your chances of success.
No, unfortunately, our consult service does not include application reviewing. Instead, our consults are intended to provide you with initial advice and guidance on the immigration opportunities available to you.
Typically, consultations last between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the complexity of your case and the questions you have. However, we book our consultations for 60 minutes to ensure that we have ample time to discuss all aspects of your case.
If we need more than 60 minutes to address all of your questions and concerns, that’s not a problem! We want you to leave the consultation feeling confident and well-informed about your eligibility and the way forward.
Yes, all of our consultations are currently virtual. You will receive a link to your video call after booking.
During a consultation, you will meet with our senior immigration consultant Joe Greenholtz over video chat. He will review your case and assess your eligibility for all immigration routes. You will have the opportunity to discuss your goals and concerns, ask questions, and receive guidance on your application.
After the consult, you will be provided with a roadmap outlining the route decided upon during your consult and the steps that you need to take to get there. You can then use this to complete your application by yourself, or you can choose for us to do the work for you and sign up for one of our services.