Common law sponsorship, but we are both students..

[Toastybuns]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum and I hope you guys will bear with this wall of text.

-At the moment I am a Canadian citizen and a full time university student studying in BC; I plan to graduate within the next year or two.
-My SO is here on a working holiday visa and she is working full time as a foods server (so she probably does not apply for skilled workers visa) and have not completed her post secondary education in her country. She is planning to extend her visa via work or visitor's or PNP.

-We have been living together for the last 8 months and I'm hoping once we hit the one year mark I can sponsor her for PR.
-We have documented lots of evidence such as bill payments and photos, and we are also looking to open up a joint bank account.
-We do not have any debts and we have not applied for any government financial assistance
-We are hoping if the sponsorship works she can finish her education here and get a job in Canada

However, my biggest worry is that I am not able to financially support her as I am a student and it appears that is one of the requirements for sponsorship. I get by with my part-time job but mostly due to my parents' financial support and I am not sure if this can qualify me for a sponsor. My girlfriend and I pay for the smaller utility bills and food together but the larger bills are paid by my parents.

So once that one year mark hits will I be eligible to sponsor my SO? If not are there other ways for her to get PR?

 

[etienbjel]

Hmm that's a toughy. But, it sounds like your SO is the one who will provide financial assistance to you (assuming she gets the work visa extension and the inland PR won't prevent her from working?).

Your Option C printout is not going to be enough. You and your SO will have to provide much more.

Demonstrate that you both will be assisting each other and provide a total income between the both of you (her job + your parents help -- back it up with pay stubs and letters from parents). Then outline your expenses and show CIC that the current arrangement is working and that no additional financial assistance is necessary. But, it all banks on your SO being able to work.

 

[etienbjel]

Here is the CIC procedure for assessing sponsors. There are checklists in the appendices

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/ip/ip02-eng.pdf

 

[tink23]

It won't be a big deal. You can show your earning potential through your schooling, your spouse can show her work pay stubs and any savings, and you can get your parents to write a letter stating that they are allowing you guys to live with them and will help to financially support you and your spouse until you can save some money and get work after finishing school.

I had lived abroad with my husband for three years following finishing school. I made minimal money since it was in a developing country with poor wages, and had just returned home to Canada a week before submitting the application. We had no savings and I had no work. I showed my university degrees, and that I had been applying to school boards (I'm a teacher), and my parents wrote a letter saying they would help us out with living and expenses. I had no problem getting approved as sponsor.

With your parents support, it shouldn't be an issue.