Spousal Sponsorship of father with dependents from previous marriage.

[Forester2000]

Hi all,

I hope you will be able to help me out here.
I am a South African who is resident in the UK. I have two children under the age of 18 from my previous marriage. I am married to my Canadian wife and we plan on making an application for sponsorship so that we may live together in Canada.
I pay child support regularly and see my children once a month (I would see them more often but my ex lives a long way away from me).
I understand that the Canadian Immigration authorities might take an unfavourable view to me leaving the UK because in their view it wouldn't be in the childrens best interest.
I plan on visiting them in the UK and having them visit me in Canada during summer and Xmas holidays. I will also continue to pay child support from Canada.
My Canadian wife has no status in the UK and would not choose to live here anyway. We both know that we would be able to provide a far better lifestyle for my children in Canada...hence the move.

Am I likely to have my sponsorship denied due to my children living in the UK?

Does anyone have any experience with this delema?

[Kedeisha]

As long as your wife is eligible to sponsor you it should not be a problem, meaning she is not on welfare, not undischarged bankrupt or prison.

Your kids although non-accompanying need to have medical done and that is as far as immigration is concerned; if you run into a prbolem with you not being able to get them examined thats where the problems lies and thats what CIC frown upon. Parents leave kids back all the time get settled and then sponsor them at a later date obviously you presently dont have the intent to sponsor but a medical examination leaves that door open in the future.

The child support whether you pay or not is not really a concern as they just want the kids submit for exam, again if you could get access to having them examined then it would be another story

You won't be denied as long as you have not been banned from Canada for any reason as that may make your processing time longer than avergae but if you have a straight forward case as it seems then it should be no problem.

Have you wife submit an application following the guide for your region and all her proof that you 2 are in a genuine marriage.

Good luck

[Forester2000]

Thank you so much for your reply.
One more question...
Do I need consent from my childrens mother to get a medical for them.....She is very difficult and unlikely to consent. Can I book a medical for my children and simply have it done without her consent?

Thanks again 

[canadianwoman]

You could get their medicals done when they are visiting you, without the mother's consent. She might get angry, though, so I would try to get her consent. Try explaining that you are not going to be taking the kids away with you, but you need to get the medicals done just in case something happens to her. If she dies, and the medicals weren't done, you won't be able to take them to Canada.

[Forester2000]

Thanks so much for your great replies...has sorted a lot of confusion out for me.

[Ryffa_Q]

I am in the same predicament. My 2 dependent children from previous marriage will not be accompanying and getting medicals for them was difficult with the limited access, they dont live with me either. But it was successfully managed and I have also included a note in my application that although they are not accompanying me now (in the form they actually ask you why), i have included them and their medical to maintain my eligibility to sponsor them in the future should custody arrangement change. I hope too that iy would not affect my application.

[Forester2000]

Is anyone aware of the most likely waiting times for a spousal visa to be processed from the UK based on the best case scenario? I have read it could be 52 days for sponsors application + 8 months 

[Baloo]

Is anyone aware of the most likely waiting times for a spousal visa to be processed from the UK based on the best case scenario? I have read it could be 52 days for sponsors application + 8 months 

Correct in 80% of cases. (That is what the government tells us).

Every case is different, get on with living, the time will pass.