American immigrating to Quebec (Montreal)

[alansang]

Hello, I am new to this forum and very thankful to have found it as this process seems very daunting. If it is ok, I'd like to ask a few questions before I start applying in April.

First a bit about me: I am American living in New Jersey, about 6 hours from Montreal. I got married to my wife who is a Canadian citizen from Quebec, living in Montreal. We got married in the US and have been going back and forth (a few weeks in Montreal and a few weeks in New Jersey with a bit of time apart from time to time) for over a year since we got married in November 2020 during the pandemic. We got married very quickly (a month after meeting) in order to keep seeing each other while the borders were locked down to non-essential travelers. I say this because I am a bit worried about the Canadian/Quebec Government thinking it might be a false marriage, but we have legal proof, pictures, texts, and friends that can vouch for the legitimacy of our marriage. I am an artist/freelancer and shortly after we got married she locked down a sweet remote job which allows us to travel freely back and forth but also meets the financial requirements to sponsor me. She will have been working there for 1 year in April 2022 which is why we are going to start applying in April.

Sorry for the detailed life story but I want to be thorough with our situation. I realize we are very lucky to be close to each other as I have read many people who are oceans apart, but here are my questions:

1. As a sponsored spouse, do I need to be proficient in French Language in order to apply? Is there a French Language requirement when applying for Quebec Spousal Sponsorship? (I plan on learning French and taking the free classes when/if I receive my PR)

2. I read it is best to apply with an Outland Application in my situation as we are going to continue traveling back and forth. Is this true? Does that mean I am sending my application to a US Canadian Embassy? (sorry for my ignorance)

3. Can someone link me to a post detailing a step by step process for the Quebec Spousal Sponsorship? Do I just apply to Canada first and then Quebec again some how?

4. How much does the whole process cost in fees?

5. Do I need to reach a certain number of points a sponsored spouse?

I may have more questions in the future, but I very much appreciate your answers. Thank you.

 

[armoured]

1. As a sponsored spouse, do I need to be proficient in French Language in order to apply? Is there a French Language requirement when applying for Quebec Spousal Sponsorship? (I plan on learning French and taking the free classes when/if I receive my PR)

2. I read it is best to apply with an Outland Application in my situation as we are going to continue traveling back and forth. Is this true? Does that mean I am sending my application to a US Canadian Embassy? (sorry for my ignorance)

3. Can someone link me to a post detailing a step by step process for the Quebec Spousal Sponsorship? Do I just apply to Canada first and then Quebec again some how?

4. How much does the whole process cost in fees?

5. Do I need to reach a certain number of points a sponsored spouse?

1. No. You might find a few of the forms in French only, I forget. Presumably your spouse can help.
2. Yes, outland. Outland apps get sent to an address in Nova Scotia.
3. Basically the same: https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv...ents-sponsor/specific-requirements/index.html . There is the step where your spouse will get approval from Quebec.
Or you can read here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...mily-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html
Note, the core requirements are substantially the same for spousal apps, it's a minor difference.
4. Read the instructions - ballpark $1000 Cdn.
5. No points calculated or applied whatsoever.

 

[alansang]

1. No. You might find a few of the forms in French only, I forget. Presumably your spouse can help.
2. Yes, outland. Outland apps get sent to an address in Nova Scotia.
3. Basically the same: https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv...ents-sponsor/specific-requirements/index.html . There is the step where your spouse will get approval from Quebec.
Or you can read here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...mily-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html
Note, the core requirements are substantially the same for spousal apps, it's a minor difference.
4. Read the instructions - ballpark $1000 Cdn.
5. No points calculated or applied whatsoever.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the quick response @armoured . This eases my mind as we come close to our time to apply.

 

[armoured]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the quick response @armoured . This eases my mind as we come close to our time to apply.

Good luck. Doesn't sound like genuineness of your relationship should be an issue, just document as best you can.

"She will have been working there for 1 year in April 2022 which is why we are going to start applying in April."

I didn't understand what this meant or why it's relevant - but honestly you should download the forms and start going through them, they take a while. You may find it takes a couple months to get all the stuff together anyway.

And it is really, really important to check carefully and not leave anything out - after submitting it can take ~3 months to get the confirmation it's been submitted correctly (acknowledgement of receipt), and if there is a problem, it is sent back and you have lost those three months +.

Check again and again. Stupid little errors like not signing where needed gets them sent back.

 

[alansang]

Good luck. Doesn't sound like genuineness of your relationship should be an issue, just document as best you can.

"She will have been working there for 1 year in April 2022 which is why we are going to start applying in April."

I didn't understand what this meant or why it's relevant - but honestly you should download the forms and start going through them, they take a while. You may find it takes a couple months to get all the stuff together anyway.

And it is really, really important to check carefully and not leave anything out - after submitting it can take ~3 months to get the confirmation it's been submitted correctly (acknowledgement of receipt), and if there is a problem, it is sent back and you have lost those three months +.

Check again and again. Stupid little errors like not signing where needed gets them sent back.

Ok, great. I will get started soon then. Thanks for that insight. I saw there is an online form, I guess I'll download the paper forms and then reference those to see what I'll need for my application?
I mentioned her work history because I saw there is a financial requirement of about $27,000 annually to be eligible in Quebec to be a sponsor.

 

[armoured]

Ok, great. I will get started soon then. Thanks for that insight. I saw there is an online form, I guess I'll download the paper forms and then reference those to see what I'll need for my application?
I mentioned her work history because I saw there is a financial requirement of about $27,000 annually to be eligible in Quebec to be a sponsor.

You can decide for yourself whether you want to apply online or paper. So far there is no clear advantage - and online is a pilot programme (think BETA). Only advantage really is avoiding having to send physical forms and docs back and forth between couples (an issue for those whose spouses are on the other side of the world) or submit heavy packages by courier from far away. (I didn't have the option but I'd do paper - everything can be done on computer until final print-out, i.e. you complete them in acrobat anyway).

I admit I'm not fully clear on Quebec requirements - but I think the specific financial requirements do not apply when sponsoring a spouse (but only eg parents and other family members). Anyway, April will come sooner than you think.

 

[alansang]

You can decide for yourself whether you want to apply online or paper. So far there is no clear advantage - and online is a pilot programme (think BETA). Only advantage really is avoiding having to send physical forms and docs back and forth between couples (an issue for those whose spouses are on the other side of the world) or submit heavy packages by courier from far away. (I didn't have the option but I'd do paper - everything can be done on computer until final print-out, i.e. you complete them in acrobat anyway).

I admit I'm not fully clear on Quebec requirements - but I think the specific financial requirements do not apply when sponsoring a spouse (but only eg parents and other family members). Anyway, April will come sooner than you think.

Ah, ok. Yea i just signed up for the online registration before I saw your message and saw that I need to apply for my CSQ before I can start the process because I am applying to be in Quebec. I think I also need my sponsor to apply for an undertaking as well.

 

[armoured]

Ah, ok. Yea i just signed up for the online registration before I saw your message and saw that I need to apply for my CSQ before I can start the process because I am applying to be in Quebec. I think I also need my sponsor to apply for an undertaking as well.

Please check the instructions carefully - I thought the process was to apply for the CSQ after getting AOR from the feds, but I have no personal experience with the Quebec process.

 

[canuck78]

Ok, great. I will get started soon then. Thanks for that insight. I saw there is an online form, I guess I'll download the paper forms and then reference those to see what I'll need for my application?
I mentioned her work history because I saw there is a financial requirement of about $27,000 annually to be eligible in Quebec to be a sponsor.

You must show that you can support yourselves without government help. If she is onlymaking 27k and you aren’t working that may be tough to show. Do you have extra savings? Are you currently working? Will you be easily able to work when you move to Quebec?

 

[citizenshipcanada]

You must show that you can support yourselves without government help. If she is onlymaking 27k and you aren’t working that may be tough to show. Do you have extra savings? Are you currently working? Will you be easily able to work when you move to Quebec?

there is no financial requirement while applying to sponsor your wife ,but your spouse could be asked i front of an immigration officer how would she be supporting you if she was unemployed or have a very low income .
for the process :
To apply to sponsor someone, you must send the following to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

• The sponsorship application forms
• All required documents
• Payment of the fees charged to process your application
  

If IRCC finds your sponsorship application is eligible, you will be invited to continue the process by submitting an undertaking application to Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).