I want to sponsor my common law partner and child?...

[British_Bulldog]

Hello all! I hope I can get some advice and see a clearer picture once I've asked this question...

I am a permanent resident of Canada and have been since 1993. I have been with my partner for 11 years and we have a 17 month old daughter. I came back to the UK to give birth to her and I've been here ever since. I would now like to sponsor my family to immigrate to Canada but I am so confused by different information I have read.
According to the Canadian Immigration website I have to show I can finacially support my partner and child in order to sponsor them, yet on this site it says I don't? All very confusing. At the moment I am not working because I am a stay at home mother, but my partner works. I can get a job in Canada no problem when I eventually go back, but do I need to be in employment in order to sponsor?

Also, what other 'proof' do I need to show in order to sponsor my family? There are so many application forms, I'm afraid that I'll fill in the wrong one and pay all the fees only to be rejected.

If anyone can help out there I would be so grateful! I just need to know what to do and how to go about it. Thank you so much for your time.

 

[YorkFactory]

You have to reside in Canada in order to sponsor them. (And you should probably move back anyway because you need to spend two out of every five years in Canada in order to remain a permanent resident.)

 

[Leon]

As a PR, you have to be in Canada to sponsor your family. You do not have to prove income to sponsor your spouse and your child but you can't be bankrupt or on welfare either. The sponsorship process through London does not usually take that long, should be completed within 6 months.

 

[British_Bulldog]

Thanks for your input.

If I have to be in Canada, because I am a PR, how will I show proof that will live together? I can be out of the country for up to three years, but no more. I have only been out for 17 months. I was under the impression you CAN apply from outside of Canada as a PR, but you can't be outside for any longer than three years? All so confusing?! lol.

 

[lonelycanadianwifey]

What is being told to you is that as a PR of canada you Cannot live outside of canada and sponsor your spouse or common law partner...You will have to return to canada and file within...Now as for the common law requirments you need to be living with your spouse for a period of 1 year no less...as you have stated you have been there 17 months which is enough time to file...

Of course the burden of proof lies to you on the evidence that says you did infact live together for 1 year and some..

 

[Leon]

Yes, unless you want to get married to him, you have to prove that you classify as a common law couple. To do that, you have to prove that you have lived together for at least 12 months. If you have proof of a joint bank account, joint lease, joint utility bills, copies of official mail sent to you at the same address, that should all help.

As a PR, you can stay outside Canada for up to 1095 days total in any 5 year period.

As a PR, you must be in Canada if you want to sponsor your family.

If you were a citizen, you would be able to sponsor a spouse and/or dependent children while living outside Canada but you would need to prove that you are intending to move back when they get their PR.

 

[British_Bulldog]

Will more doors open for us if we were to get married? (we're planning on marrying soon anyway.)

 

[Leon]

The only difference between getting married and applying as common law is that with the latter, you would have to prove 12 months of living together to qualify.

 

[Karlshammar]

Yes, exactly, and you have to have proof and notarized statements and other stuff. When you are married you just send a copy of your marriage certificate.

The only difference between getting married and applying as common law is that with the latter, you would have to prove 12 months of living together to qualify.