Spousal sponsorship

[alex00]

Hi everyone,

My husband invited me to visit him in Canada while our spousal sponsorship application is in progress, and I was recently approved for a TRV.

I have a few questions:

1. Should I inform IRCC that I’ve obtained a TRV while the sponsorship application is ongoing?
2. I received a Pre-Arrival Services letter some time ago, and now my application status says:
   
   
3. If I enter Canada on a TRV and my permanent residency is approved while I’m inside Canada,
   • Can I complete the landing process virtually?
   • Do I need to switch my application from outland to inland?

Thanks in advance!

Once you are in Canada, you can update your address and request a virtual landing. However, the virtual landing process takes several months, so it may be faster at this stage for you to wait for PPR outside Canada.

 

[CanadianAviator]

Once your approved for PR, and they send you the passport request, and they receive the passport/photos/documents. Does anyone know what the processing times are? I've read around 4 to 6 weeks, but I am planning to take time off work to go pick up my spouse would be nice to get a timeline in advance.

Thank you

 

[armoured]

Once your approved for PR, and they send you the passport request, and they receive the passport/photos/documents. Does anyone know what the processing times are? I've read around 4 to 6 weeks, but I am planning to take time off work to go pick up my spouse would be nice to get a timeline in advance.

Thank you

I've heard mostly 2-4 weeks but some places may be slower (I haven't followed for eg India). Obviuosly if concerned, book your travel somewhat after that to be sure.

 

[S&P108]

Please please help me because I feel like I'm going crazy. There is no place for me the pay the processing fee. The application says upload proof of payment but then it takes me to a page that only has the option to pay the Right to PR fee not the processing fee. Please help.

 

[armoured]

Please please help me because I feel like I'm going crazy. There is no place for me the pay the processing fee. The application says upload proof of payment but then it takes me to a page that only has the option to pay the Right to PR fee not the processing fee. Please help.

Go here:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/pay.asp

Select permanent residence, and then 'no' to the question that appears, "Are you paying the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) for an application you’ve already submitted?"

Then select the appropriate application type and fees.

 

[Mas999]

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate your thoughts on our spousal sponsorship situation.

I’m the sponsor (PR in Canada), and my husband and I have known each other since high school in 2013. We started dating in 2021 and finally met in person for the first time in May this year when we got married.

We don’t have any pictures from our friendship or dating years. The only photos we have are 6 video call screenshots. We lost most of our chat history from 2021 up to mid-2023 because of phone issues, but we do have messages from mid-2023 to now.

Aside from that, we also have:

Proof of money as gift he gave me on few occasions last year, Our wedding photos from traditional and court wedding

I was waiting for my travel document as a protected person in Canada, and he’s a seafarer who was mostly offshore last year.

Do you think this would still be considered a strong application, even without earlier pictures or full chat history? Has anyone been in a similar situation and got approved?

Thanks so much for your help, im a little anxious and would love to hear how others managed.

 

[Nakakaka]

Hi everyone.

I’m feeling stuck and unsure what to do next. My immigration application seems to be delayed. Here’s my situation:

• Application submitted: October 16, 2024
• Current status: All steps completed except the background check, which has been pending for about four months now
• GCMS notes requested: May 5, 2025 — no response
• Follow-up sent: I emailed ATIP-AIPRP@cic.gc.ca and received this automatic reply:

UPDATED May 1, 2023: The ATIP division is receiving a large volume of ATIP requests. As such, if your inquiry is related to the status of your request, you will not receive a reply. Please note, it is not necessary to send multiple inquiries, as it does not speed up the processing of your request. Your patience is highly appreciated while the responsible team processes your request.

I googled around asked GPT and learned that I can contact The Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada to get clarifications, but the website isn't reachable from abroad, I know I can use VPN but they ask for a Canadian address which we don't have.
Both me (applicant) and my wife(sponsor) live outside of Canada.


Has anyone been through something similar? What would you recommend as my next step?

 

[armoured]

Hi everyone.

I’m feeling stuck and unsure what to do next. My immigration application seems to be delayed. Here’s my situation:

• Application submitted: October 16, 2024
• Current status: All steps completed except the background check, which has been pending for about four months now
• GCMS notes requested: May 5, 2025 — no response
• Follow-up sent: I emailed ATIP-AIPRP@cic.gc.ca and received this automatic reply:

Perfectly normal, unfortunately - background checks can be highly variable in terms of time. But applying October, nothing out of ordinary until about 12 months have passed.

GCMS notes delayed: it happens, you can complain. Info here: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=464&top=1

(I can't check this right now, it seems the internet is having trouble today)

I googled around asked GPT and learned that I can contact The Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada to get clarifications, but the website isn't reachable from abroad, I know I can use VPN but they ask for a Canadian address which we don't have.
Both me (applicant) and my wife(sponsor) live outside of Canada.


Has anyone been through something similar? What would you recommend as my next step?

I don't really understand what clarifications you're looking for here.

 

[Nakakaka]

Perfectly normal, unfortunately - background checks can be highly variable in terms of time. But applying October, nothing out of ordinary until about 12 months have passed.

GCMS notes delayed: it happens, you can complain. Info here: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=464&top=1

(I can't check this right now, it seems the internet is having trouble today)

I don't really understand what clarifications you're looking for here.

Thanks a lot for your reply.
As I mentioned I did email ATIP-AIPRP@cic.gc.ca as suggested in the article you have shared, but received this automatic reply:

UPDATED May 1, 2023: The ATIP division is receiving a large volume of ATIP requests. As such, if your inquiry is related to the status of your request, you will not receive a reply. Please note, it is not necessary to send multiple inquiries, as it does not speed up the processing of your request. Your patience is highly appreciated while the responsible team processes your request.

Since they won’t respond to status inquiries, I wanted to know if there are any other ways to get an update on my GCMS notes?

 

[armoured]

Thanks a lot for your reply.
As I mentioned I did email ATIP-AIPRP@cic.gc.ca as suggested in the article you have shared, but received this automatic reply:



Since they won’t respond to status inquiries, I wanted to know if there are any other ways to get an update on my GCMS notes?

Try using the IRCC contact address listed in this one, and make it clear it is a complaint that you have not received in the 30 days NOR a notification of extension.

https://www.tbs-sct.canada.ca/ap/atip-aiprp/coord-eng.asp#I

Note though: it's quite likely you'll only get an extension notice. After 60 days the statutory time has passed and it's a full-on complaint. It may be easier/better to simply wait until 60 days has passed.

I would also ask your MP and make clear it's a complaint about ATIP being late. (Same comment about 60 days)

 

[SinghRaj]

Hi,
I submited sponser app last month , May 16 and got file number on June 06. Now i am thinking of submitting visitor visa app on behalf of my wife.
My question is since we havent yet recived biometrics request, if i submitted visitor visa app, we will ghet 2 diff viometrics request? and do we need to complete only 1. Also how long does it take for biometrics request to come after AOR in case i decided to wait for biometrics request.

 

[armoured]

Hi,
I submited sponser app last month , May 16 and got file number on June 06. Now i am thinking of submitting visitor visa app on behalf of my wife.
My question is since we havent yet recived biometrics request, if i submitted visitor visa app, we will ghet 2 diff viometrics request? and do we need to complete only 1. Also how long does it take for biometrics request to come after AOR in case i decided to wait for biometrics request.

To avoid any issues, strongly suggest you make sure to give biometrics for the spousal app - otherwise may have to give twice. Usually that comes not long after the AOR (that you just got).

You could decide to wait for that before applying for TRV or not.

Personally I'd give it a week or two and see if the biometrics request for the spousal app comes.

 

[Nakakaka]

Try using the IRCC contact address listed in this one, and make it clear it is a complaint that you have not received in the 30 days NOR a notification of extension.

https://www.tbs-sct.canada.ca/ap/atip-aiprp/coord-eng.asp#I

Note though: it's quite likely you'll only get an extension notice. After 60 days the statutory time has passed and it's a full-on complaint. It may be easier/better to simply wait until 60 days has passed.

I would also ask your MP and make clear it's a complaint about ATIP being late. (Same comment about 60 days)

thanks a lot for your advice. I will try to contact them. I am also thinking this may be the extension case.


MPs aren't going to help us since we both live abroad and they care about being re-elected only. We contacted one and they literally replied that they will only provide assistance to the people from their riding.

 

[armoured]

MPs aren't going to help us since we both live abroad and they care about being re-elected only. We contacted one and they literally replied that they will only provide assistance to the people from their riding.

Your MP's staff are poorly informed (probably new staff, quite possibly stupid). Pick a place where your family live or where you expect to settle, contact them. Tell them the other MP refused - this works best if it's a different party. When you get help from one, write a short note to that MP and the head of that party telling them they refused to help, and now you know how that party helps their constituents.

 

[armoured]

Your MP's staff are poorly informed (probably new staff, quite possibly stupid). Pick a place where your family live or where you expect to settle, contact them. Tell them the other MP refused - this works best if it's a different party. When you get help from one, write a short note to that MP and the head of that party telling them they refused to help, and now you know how that party helps their constituents.

To be clear: for ages now, Canadians living abroad have been able to vote. I did it when I was abroad, and you vote according to the 'most recent' place of residence in Canada (if I remember correctly).

Your spouse - the citizen at any rate - should write and make it very clear to that MP that the attitude to citizens abroad of their staff is costing them votes.