That request could be answered by addressing the applicant's situation as well, not only the sponsors...
39. A foreign national is inadmissible for financial reasons if they are or will be unable or unwilling to support themself or any other person who is dependent on them, and have not satisfied an officer that adequate arrangements for care and support, other than those that involve social assistance, have been made.
ENF 2. Evaluating Inadmissibility (CIC Manual)
Financial reasons
CIC has the policy responsibility with respect to financial inadmissibility [A39].
A39 describes people who are or will be unable or unwilling to support themself or any
person who is dependent on them for care and support. If the person satisfies an officer
that adequate arrangements for care and support (not involving social assistance) are in
place, then they do not fall within this inadmissibility provision.
So the typical question is:
Are there funds available for the person‘s trip (to cover the cost of such things as
food, accommodation, transportation)? An officer should determine how the person
plans to pay their expenses to be sure they are not inadmissible for financial reasons
[A39]
I would start by identifying your start up costs to immigrating (savings you may have); then moving on to explain how employable you are (school, degrees, job experience, etc). Finally I would include the support from your sponsor (where you guys will live, her income and savings, if any).
It seems that CIC Officers usually will used A39 when they have these types of evidence:
Obtaining evidence for A39
The officer may obtain evidence for A39 by collecting:
• statutory declaration supported by evidence of statements made to an officer including
evidence of the person's current financial situation; the likelihood that they will have access to
funds; and what arrangements, if any, have been made for their care and support. This
evidence may consist of bank statements, bank books, letters from employers, pay cheque
stubs and testimony from friends or relatives;
• documentary evidence of an individual's dependence on social assistance or failure to provide
for him/herself and/or any dependants. This evidence may consist of letters from the social
services authorities (indicating that the individual is in receipt of social assistance), benefit
payment cheque stubs, cancelled receipts, etc.;
Has your canadian spouse been on social assistance of any kind? If her income is too small, you may be able to overcome this by proving that you either or both have funds and are employable, so you will not depend on social assitance.
Although there is no minimum income to become a sponsor, an applicant may be refused for reasons related to financial situation.
