Who can sponsor their spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner under the spousal sponsorship program?

1. You may be eligible to sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and meet the following conditions:
2. Are at least 18 years old.
3. Live in Canada, or planning to return to Canada once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident of Canada.
4. Are able and willing to provide for the basic financial needs of your spouse or partner for three years.

In Canada Sponsorship Class

You should apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (Inland) if:

1. You live with the sponsor in Canada.
2. You hold a valid immigration status in Canada.
3. You would like to apply for an open work permit in order to work in Canada while the application is in process.

Couples who both live in Canada—the sponsor and the applicant—are eligible for inland sponsorship. The candidate should be in a temporary situation. They can be a visitor, a student, or a worker . In this instance, the application is conducted from within Canada, and the applicant and sponsor are required to live together throughout the procedure.

The disadvantage to this particular stream, however, is that the applicant should refrain from travel outside of Canada while the application is in process.

Family Class (Outland) Sponsorship Class

You should apply under the Family Class (Outland) sponsorship option if:

Your spouse/common-law partner (i.e. “the applicant”) lives outside of Canada.

You are currently living in Canada with the sponsor but do not plan to stay in Canada for the duration of the application process.

This sponsorship arrangement is carried out when the sponsor resides in Canada and the partner does not. In this situation, the sponsor (the person residing in Canada) must remain in Canada throughout the application process, but the partner may enter or exit Canada if they have the appropriate visa or are citizens of a nation that does not require visas.
The visa officer of the applicant's country of origin processes the outland sponsorship visa. If you've lived in another nation for a year or more, you can also apply for the visa there.

Canada Spouse Sponsorship Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for the sponsor:

1. You must be at least 18 years old.
2. You must be a Canadian citizen/Canadian permanent resident or registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
3. You are either residing in Canada or you are a citizen returning to Canada.
4. You are capable of taking care of the basic needs of your partner and dependent children, if any, which includes housing, utilities, food, clothing, medical expenses, and other necessary items required for basic living.
5. Other than a disability, you do not receive any social assistance.

Eligibility criteria for the applicant:

You must be at least 18 years old.
You must pass all security and background checks.
You must pass the medical exam.
You must be in an authentic relationship with the sponsor. You must belong to one of the three categories.
Spouse: You and the sponsor are legally married.
Common-law partner: You are currently living with your partner or have lived with them in a marriage-like partnership. This duration must be 12-months long, without any gaps.

Conjugal partner: You and your sponsor must have been in a committed relationship for at least 12 months. You have been unable to live together due to situations beyond your control, for example, religious or cultural differences or immigration barriers.

What is common-law sponsorship?

Common-law unions are treated the same as traditional marriages in terms of immigration law in Canada. You must demonstrate that you have cohabited as a couple for a year or more in a marriage- like relationship in order for your union to qualify for common-law sponsorship.

What is conjugal sponsorship?

You might be able to sponsor a conjugal spouse in specific situations where you are unable to wed or cohabitate with your partner. You must have been in a committed relationship for at least a year in order to sponsor a partner if you were unable to live together or get married due to circumstances beyond your control.

Do I need a job to sponsor my spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner in Canada?

You do not need a job to sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner to come to Canada. Unlike other sponsorship programs, there is no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship. However, as you are required to sign an undertaking agreement, promising to fulfil the basic financial needs of your partner, the immigration officer may assess whether you have sufficient funds to sponsor. As such, you should provide some proof of how you will support your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner in Canada.

How much money do you need to sponsor your spouse, conjugal partner, or common-law partner to Canada?

Contrary to most other types of sponsorship in Canada, you are not need to show proof of a minimum level of income in order to sponsor your husband, conjugal partner, or common-law partner. However, prior to bringing a family member to Canada, you must sign an undertaking pledging to support them financially in order to meet their basic necessities.

The type of sponsorship determines how long the effort will last. The duration of the undertaking for spousal sponsorship (including spouses and common-law or conjugal partners) is three years from the date the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

What documents do I need to submit a spousal, conjugal, or common-law sponsorship application?

Completed application forms,
Proof of status in Canada,
Identity documents,
Marriage certificate,
Police Certificate and Clearances from all countries your spouse has lived in for six months or longer past the age of 18,
Medical certificate for your spouse,
Proof of payment for applicable government fees,
Digital photo,
Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation questionnaire,
Marriage certificate (see common-law if you are not married),
Wedding invitations and photos,
Birth certificates or adoption records for any children you and your spouse have together,
Proof of registration of marriage with a government authority.

To demonstrate your relationship, you should provide at least two of the following documents:

Proof that you and your spouse own property together,
Shared bank accounts,
Utility bills with both of your names,
Copies of government-issued IDs,
Car insurance,
Pay stubs or tax forms that show that you live at the same address.

If you are in a common-law relationship and looking into sponsoring your partner, immigration officers will expect to see the following evidence:

Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation questionnaire.
Birth certificates or adoption records for any children you and your common-law partner have together.
Photos of you and your common-law partner that demonstrate that you are in a conjugal relationship.
Proof that you have lived together for at least one year.

And at least two of the following documents:

Documents that indicate that you are recognized as each other’s common-law partner, such as employment or insurance benefits.
Evidence of financial support or shared expenses between you and your partner.
Proof that your relationship is recognized by family and friends (letters, emails, social media).

An expert representative can help you create the strongest application possible because each application is as unique as the relationship itself. If you would like to know more about your options for spousal sponsorship, please contact us on Ph: +1 (647) 676-1982 or email us your query at jaijainimmconsult@gmail.com.