yes it is confusing , I'm looking for the best way forward , I think my question would probably be if you were me what would you do?
Return to Canada - PR
- Thread starter return2025
- Start date
As a PR, you cannot apply to sponsor your spouse abroad, you must physically be in Canada.
You really only have one choice in near term: whether spouse applies for visa now or not. That has no significant impact if refused.
If spouse gets visa, you can travel together and apply to sponsor 'inland'*. If spouse doesn't, you apply outland when you arrive.
Spouse can then apply for visa again after AOR is received.
This is pretty much the only sequence of decisions, I think.
*As noted, you can also apply outland sponsorship even if in Canada. In my view this doesn't make much difference. You can start preparing the documents as 'outland'.
Agree with @armoured. IRCC will likely actually dictate what happens because the outcome of the TRV application(s) will narrow down your possibilities. If your spouse applies for TRV now and gets denied you gave no other option but to return to Canada on your own and start the sponsorship process. TRV processing can take up to months so you also may not have the results before you have to book flights and travel to Canada. Would suggest that your spouse remain employed since that can have a big impact on TRV approval because it creates ties to your home country.
I guess a little bit of context would help , I'm right now in USA on H1B and my wife is doing her masters as of now in US
Then she may have better chance of getting a TRV (assuming she's not from a visa waiver country). Otherwise all still basically the same.
Nothing wrong with that approach. Note that OWP app is after AOR and the applicant has arrived in Canada.
Since I got my PR in Oct 2022 and haven't been to Canada since 2022, if i come to Canada in August 2025 and immediately apply for spousal sponsorship, will there be any issues with wife's application since I have not been residing in Canada for the past 3 years?
If you return BEFORE you have been out of Canada for more than three years - before October - it should be okay. Note, this will not leave you much travel time while remaining in compliance, so sooner the better. And you'll need to remain in Canada while sponsoring.
It's possible it will take a bit longer if you're not employed and obviously settled. Update IRCC eg when you get a job and actual address where you reside, etc.
thanks, but is there any downside/problem in immediately sponsoring my wife after I reach Canada?
No, apart from employment/financial aspect and that they may check carefully if they think you're not staying in Canada.
Again: don't leave during the process given circumstances.
You can , but you want to STAY in Canada .
The officer can pull exit data and if it shows you’ve left , you’re putting the application in jeopardy
It’s 2025. They can tell when you’ve entered the country , and subsequent exits
In other words , no fuckery
I want to STAY in Canada and I have no intention of leaving Canada during the process as well , I was only curious of issues that i might face with spousal sponsorship since I have not been there in the last couple of years
No issues since you are not out of compliance with the residency obligation.
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