Sponsoring Spouse-do I skip questions about minimum necessary income? Help!!

[thaihubbie]

Hi Forum,
I understand english perfectly well yet these sponsorship forms are getting the best of me! If you are sponsoring your spouse you are exempt from specific income requirements, correct? So do I skip the question #19 on IMM5491?
Help please!

[Leon]

Write your income on there.  You will not be denied if it's too low.

[thaihubbie]

I just got back from an Immigration Services Community Centre where after a few odd looks because I am not an immigrant (well at least not first generation) I received very helpful advice and I qualify for free legal aid. I have an appointment with an Immigration Lawyer in October. I would highly recommend all members of this Forum to visit there local Immigration Community Services office/centre. There was free daycare and very well-informed staff.

[canthai]

thaihubbie,
Good job and good luck!  Keep us posted...

Maybe, if it's possible, you could start a thread of useful information you get there for those of us that are unable to receive this free benefit!  If you have a chance to write it, that is...

canthai

[thaihubbie]

Leon,
You wrote 'write your income, you won't be denied if it's too low'. What does that mean? It seems very vague about minimum necessary income and spousal sponsorship. Especially regarding Outland sponsorship whereby someones income abroad could be considered low by Canadian standards but very high by the standards of the country where it was earned.
Can you clarify this for me?
thanks

[Leon]

When you read the sponsorship guide, they say that you have to have such and such income and then they say that this criteria DOES NOT apply if you are sponsoring a spouse or dependent children.  On the other hand, you have no reason not to disclose your income to CIC when they ask for it.  Are you leaving any other questions blank that they are asking?  Why leave out the income?  Even though they don't use it to disqualify you, they are still asking for it.  Of course it's totally up to you if you leave it out but it will delay you if they return it and say it's incomplete.

[thaihubbie]

The other concern I have is regarding Option C printout. I haven't lived in Canada for 5 years and haven't kept my Canadian taxes up to date. Do I call Revenue Canada and get a printout from whenever year I last filed or do I put something from my taxes from the country I have been living in abroad instead? This is for Outland Sponsorship.
thanks.

[Leon]

As I see it, your income from several years ago is irrelevant.  You don't have to prove income for spousal sponsorship but you should state it because they are asking so either skip the tax paper and just state your income or get your last tax printout from your country of residence.  Or call CIC and ask them what they think.  What is your neighbourhood immigration center saying about this?

[thaihubbie]

Thanks! I have my appointment with a lawyer in a couple weeks but of course I am worrying my head off in the meantime trying to get as much info. as possible. Maybe I'm worrying too much? I wish I could know how many sponsorship cases get approved each year and how many get rejected and the specific reasons for both. It is all soooo vague as far as I can see.
thanks!

[thaihubbie]

Yesterday, I spoke on the phone with the lawyer's assistant. I have my appointment next week. She said that to sponsor a spouse, you still have to make 20,000 approx. a year and that it's not true that spouses don't have specific minimum necessary income requirements. Again: What does this mean on the forms that spouses 'may' not have to have specific minimum income? My income can vary a great deal depending on which country or city I choose to work. In addition, there are many riots in Bangkok these days which dissuades me from working there where I could be earning more money than in other parts of Thailand which are calmer. I have to keep my child's safety in mind. Is this a factor for Immigration Canada??

[Leon]

In the application documents it says that income requirements do not apply when you are sponsoring spouse only and that is all I know.  Why don't you try the CIC call centre?

[thaihubbie]

Got through to the CIC call centre and they confirmed that I should write N/A for questions regarding income and N/A for questions regarding taxes for the Outland Sponsorship of my husband. I am surprised by this but hopefully this is the truth.