Common Law Sponsorship - Moving Provinces - Help!

[suzi405]

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping someone can give us some advice on our current situation.

I am from the UK and have been living in Montreal for the past 2.5 years on an IEC permit and now currently an extended visitors record until April 1st 2014. My partner is a Canadian citizen from Montreal. We have been together almost 2 years and have been living together for over a year now (officially common law from December 2013).

We were unsure what we were going to do at the time I applied for the Visitors Record so I asked only until April as that was when our lease was finishing. We have since decided that he will sponsor me for PR, however we have also decided that we would like to move to Toronto since it would mean better job opportunities for my both me (eventually) and my partner and we both have family there. We plan to move in April so that he would have some time to save up some money.

I am aware of the steps for PR however we are unsure of when to send in our application forms. We were advised not to send in our PR forms until we settled in Toronto since my partner will need to find a job.

I am worried about my status beyond April. I am currently filling out another Vistors Record extension but since we haven't sent in our PR forms yet, I'm hoping that they understand that I want to stay in Canada to be with my partner and accompany him on the move to Toronto and we are in the process of applying for PR.

I even tried going to the border directly to see if I could apply for an extension in advance which I regretted as the officer told me that it was too soon to ask as anything could happen in 3 months...whatever that means. She also asked me why I haven't sent in my PR forms yet and it shouldn't make a difference whether we send it from Quebec or Ontario. When I tried to explain why, she shut me down and told me that was personal.

Should we try and send in our PR forms before April?

If not, what evidence can I include with my next VR Extension request? A letter from my partner explaining the move and that he will be sponsoring me? A letter from my uncle stating that he will be supporting us until my partner settles in Toronto?


If anyone has any input, that would be very helpful...I'm aware we have made things a little harder on ourselves with the move but we really just want to be together and look forward to the future. Thanks in advance!

 

[truesmile]

Your BF has a job now right? I would send in your application as soon as you can ready it. You fill out his employment income and other related questions based on that, and should it change in the future that's fine. Who suggested that you should wait until you settle in Toronto. One of the forms will ask you specifically, where do you plan to settle once you are PR.

 

[Rob_TO]

Your BF has a job now right? I would send in your application as soon as you can ready it. You fill out his employment income and other related questions based on that, and should it change in the future that's fine. Who suggested that you should wait until you settle in Toronto. One of the forms will ask you specifically, where do you plan to settle once you are PR.

Agreed. Whoever suggested you wait until you get to Toronto and find a job, gave you some very bad advise.

The income requirements for spousal sponsorship is extremely light, so as long as put your current income in and option C printout from previous tax year that is fine as CIC will expect that no matter where you are living that is the income that you could reasonably expect in the future.

PR sponsorship is a federal program, and it's designed so that a sponsor or applicant can live wherever they want in Canada. There are a few different steps for Quebec applicants, but if you make it clear that by the time PR is granted you will be residing in Ontario, then CIC should process the application accordingly. There is no need to delay submitting anything.

 

[suzi405]

Agreed. Whoever suggested you wait until you get to Toronto and find a job, gave you some very bad advise.

The income requirements for spousal sponsorship is extremely light, so as long as put your current income in and option C printout from previous tax year that is fine as CIC will expect that no matter where you are living that is the income that you could reasonably expect in the future.

PR sponsorship is a federal program, and it's designed so that a sponsor or applicant can live wherever they want in Canada. There are a few different steps for Quebec applicants, but if you make it clear that by the time PR is granted you will be residing in Ontario, then CIC should process the application accordingly. There is no need to delay submitting anything.

He has payslips but no tax returns from this current job yet as he started it end of 2012.

Ok this is very helpful, thank you. I guess we'll have to scramble and get the application complete and sent ASAP. If things take a turn for the worst and we don't manage to send it we move, should we still declare his current income?

And my Visitors Record, I need to send that it in by March 1st - do I just state that we're in the process of applying for PR?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

If things take a turn for the worst and we don't manage to send it we move, should we still declare his current income?

And my Visitors Record, I need to send that it in by March 1st - do I just state that we're in the process of applying for PR?

Declare his current income as whatever it is when you apply. If it's zero, declare zero; you can include other financial evidence such as a letter explaining how you guys plan to support yourselves (job prospects, earning potential etc.), family support letters, proof of savings or investments, offers from family/friends for a free place to live while you get settled in Toronto.

In the extension app, explain that your partner is sponsoring you for PR. Pay the full PR fees and include that receipt to show that you are serious. You can actually submit the extension up to a day before your current status expires, though it's not recommended to cut it that close.

 

[suzi405]

Declare his current income as whatever it is when you apply. If it's zero, declare zero; you can include other financial evidence such as a letter explaining how you guys plan to support yourselves (job prospects, earning potential etc.), family support letters, proof of savings or investments, offers from family/friends for a free place to live while you get settled in Toronto.

In the extension app, explain that your partner is sponsoring you for PR. Pay the full PR fees and include that receipt to show that you are serious. You can actually submit the extension up to a day before your current status expires, though it's not recommended to cut it that close.

Ok great, thank you for the clarification. "When you apply" means the day we send the application I'm guessing? Sorry I just want to be very clear on timing!

Also can I show my own financial evidence e.g. evidence of savings account from the UK?

Lastly, we can pay the PR fees before we send in the application I'm guessing?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You would want the information to be current on the day that you send the app.

Yes, you can show your financial evidence as well. They don't expect just the sponsor to have enough money; a combination of both of your finances is fine. Even if you were fully supporting him and he had no income, he could still sponsor you. Or if neither of you was working or had any money but family members declared they would 100% support you. Basically, CIC just needs to know that you guys won't have to go on welfare.

Yes, you can pay the fees ahead of time.

 

[suzi405]

You would want the information to be current on the day that you send the app.

Yes, you can show your financial evidence as well. They don't expect just the sponsor to have enough money; a combination of both of your finances is fine. Even if you were fully supporting him and he had no income, he could still sponsor you. Or if neither of you was working or had any money but family members declared they would 100% support you. Basically, CIC just needs to know that you guys won't have to go on welfare.

Yes, you can pay the fees ahead of time.

Thank you for the clarification.

I just went onto the Online payment page of the CIC. Can I confirm that these are the right categories for our application:

Spouse and Common-Law Partner In Canada Class

• Principal applicant (including $75 for sponsorship) x1
• A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner x1
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee x1

Are these the total amount of fees we have to pay for the PR? Plus the fee for the Extension app.

 

[suzi405]

Thank you for the clarification.

I just went onto the Online payment page of the CIC. Can I confirm that these are the right categories for our application:

Spouse and Common-Law Partner In Canada Class

• Principal applicant (including $75 for sponsorship) x1
• A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner x1
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee x1

Are these the total amount of fees we have to pay for the PR? Plus the fee for the Extension app.

Additionally I read elsewhere on the forum that we could just pay the first two fees and the RPRF later, is that correct?

So would it be ok to send the receipts of the first two fees for my extension app and then include the RPRF receipt when we're ready to send the PR application?

 

[Rob_TO]

Additionally I read elsewhere on the forum that we could just pay the first two fees and the RPRF later, is that correct?

So would it be ok to send the receipts of the first two fees for my extension app and then include the RPRF receipt when we're ready to send the PR application?

Fees are:
Sponsorship app: $75
Principal Applicant: $475
RPRF fee: $490

So total is $1040

Yes you can pay the RPRF fee later, but it could cause a delay in processing time and for that reason it's recommended to pay the $1040 all up-front.
i.e. if you don't pay now, the visa office may later request your RPRF, then just put your app "on hold" for a set time of a couple of months and not proceed again until that time, regardless of whether you pay it as soon as they ask.