Sponsoring - Cart before the horse?

[gillespiedc]

As an expat of more than 4 years, I am returning to Canada to start again, this time with my wife and step daughter. I do not have a firm job offer yet, and have only modest savings, and a retirement account (which I cannot withdraw).

Is it impossible or unrealistic of me to think my application for sponsorship will be approved before I go back and secure employment? Is employment enough on it's own or do I have to have loads of cash in the bank to satisfy the criteria? Looking through every site I can find, the mention of being 'financially responsible' and 'meeting financial criteria' is mentioned often, but I find no actual numbers.

In other threads I have been advised to arrange the PR before they come to Canada. Looking at the immigration sites for turn-around times, I think that advise has been supported. I guess the question is, do I submit my application to sponsor now (before I return and get a job), or do I have to wait until I get back, get a job, get through probation, increase my savings, get a mortgage again..... you get the idea.

By the way, thanks to all for the great feedback here so far (in my other threads). I wish I had found this forum a long time ago!

 

[heatherusa]

I have been out of Canada since 1998 and am applying with only a letter from my parents that I will have their support until I obtain employment. I dont know if this will work or not but my understanding is that there is no income requirement for spousal support so I technically shouldnt have to worry. That is just my opinion.

 

[iarblue]

There is no income requirement to sponsor your spouse and child.You might want to apply for their visitors visa way before you go unless they are from a visa exempt country.
And you will likely be required to prove you are going to re establish your self in canada.This can happen in many ways.You can get a job offer from in canada have a letter from whom ever you are going to stay with until you set up.A lease agreement in Canada.
But yes your best bet would be to apply outside canada as if there is an interview required she will have to return to the visa office that is responsible for her country.
But you still need to prove you are going to re establish yourself in canada.
Hope this helps.

 

[iarblue]

And yes heather you are ok the letter is what they are looking for but a job offer is better but if you cant get that then the next best thing is letters.

 

[rachel6992]

As far as I know, the only circumstance in which you have to have a certain amount of money is when you sponsor family members that are not your spouse (i.e., mom, dad, brother, etc). For spouses, the only thing they care about is if you've declared bankruptcy or were on some kind of welfare program. Other members, please tell me if I'm mistaken!

Depending on where you are, it's quite possible that the process will be quicker if you apply outland vs inland. Also, you can stay in that country with your wife while you're waiting for her PR. My partner and I are both residing in the U.S. (I'm a Canadian citizen and have lived in the States almost all my life) because we don't want to be apart during this, plus we have a life here right now. If you include proof that you intend to reestablish yourself in Canada (such as a job offer, or a letter from a relative stating that they know of your plans, or that you're going to stay with them when you arrive) then that should be sufficient and you can be approved to sponsor.

If I were you, I'd get your application together and apply outland. Which country would your wife be applying from?

 

[lands]

Outland is fast and better..

 

[iarblue]

When you sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada, you must promise to support them financially. Therefore, you have to meet certain income requirements. If you have previously sponsored relatives to come to Canada and they have later turned to the government for financial assistance, you may not be allowed to sponsor another person. Sponsorship is a big commitment, so you must take this obligation seriously.

To be a sponsor:

•You and the sponsored relative must sign a sponsorship agreement that commits you to provide financial support for your relative, if necessary. This agreement also says the person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support her or himself.
•You must provide financial support for a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner for three years from the date they become a permanent resident.
•You must provide financial support for a dependent child for 10 years, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
You may not be eligible to be a sponsor if you:

•failed to provide financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor another relative in the past
•defaulted on a court-ordered support order, such as alimony or child support
•received government financial assistance for reasons other than a disability
•were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence—depending on circumstances such as the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred and whether a pardon was issued
•defaulted on an immigration loan—late or missed payments
•are in prison or
•have declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it yet.

 

[iarblue]

If you were married outside Canada:

•The marriage must be valid under the law of the country where it took place and under Canadian law.
•A marriage performed in an embassy or consulate must comply with the law of the country where it took place, not the country of nationality of the embassy or consulate.

 

[gillespiedc]

WOW... thanks heaps for all the great responses. Here are a few more details...

iarblue, yes, the excerpts you pasted from the sponsor criteria are what I have been going on. I meet or exceed all the criteria, I've not been on any social assistance programs, I'm not bankrupt, I am fit and capable to work and support my wife and step-daughter even if I have to wash dishes or sit outside the Beer Store with my guitar and a hat! (not going to happen I'm sure). From what I have been reading in the news, and from chats with friends and former colleagues back home, Canada is looking much better on the employment front. Now I need to get my face in front of the people doing the hiring and it should be golden.

As for proof of re-establishing in Canada, as mentioned there is no letter from any employer at this point. All I have is a heap of correspondence such as sending resumes and applications online, enquiries into apartment leasing, home buying, insurance, so on... This is all intention though and not sure if this is enough.

rachel6992, we are located in China. Guangdong province to be more specific. Today I have been calling visa offices and the immigration office in Beijing and Hong Kong. The visa office (in Guangzhou) does not handle PR at all, so they can only help with a visitor visa. I looked up the turn-around times for BJ and HK for spousal PR apps... BJ was from 2 months to 6 months, HK was from 8 months to 18 months. Guess what?!? Appications from Guangdong province are handled in the HK office.... When I called their office they have only a voice message saying that for privacy reasons they will not talk on the phone or accept email. The only method of communication is fax or letter, and they will respond within 60 days... to me this is not very promising! If our sole outland option is to use the HK offfice, we might consider inland.

heatherusa, I don't have parents that will keep us until we get on our feet. We will be staying with one of my brothers for a couple of weeks while I get an apartment sorted out.

Thanks again to all and best of luck in all your endeavours!

 

[iarblue]

Yes so get your brother to make a letter for you saying he is going to put you up till you locate a home suitable for you and your family.And do include all the letters ,places you sent resumes and that will satify you are trying to re establish yourself.
And if you can get a visit visa for your wife and you feel you will want to apply inland just to warn you the timelines are no different than HK.So again you might want to apply outland but thats up to you.
But i think you got yourself set up fine.

 

[gillespiedc]

Thanks iarblue. The HK timeline is what has me thinking we might just as well go the inland route. We can get a visitor visa (99.9%) sure based on the phone call today. If we come in on visitor visas, we can still apply outland from Canada, of course Hellen will have to fly back for the interview. But if the process through HK could take up to 10 months or more, then unless there is another reason, like maybe a cost difference, we can do inland and be together.

Don't get me wrong here, if being apart for awhile is what it takes, then we are willing to do it, but I would much prefer both my wife and step-daughter to start establishing ties with family and friends here asap (and be with me). At this point I am pretty much convinced we will apply for the visitor visa and come over this summer should all go well. From there we will sort out the "in and/or out" dillema!

Said all this, aside from time are there any other pros and cons to inland vs. outland? Anyone?

 

[canadianwoman]

How long have you been married to this wife? How long ago did your relationship with her and her daughter begin, and can you document the beginning months? The Hong Kong office has a refusal rate for spousal sponsorships of over 40%. If you've been living with her for 3 or 4 years and have a lot of proof of this, OK, but if it is a recent relationship or you don't have much proof, I'd try to get a TRV for them and do it inland.
Getting a TRV is not that easy for a spouse of a CAnadian, though - the visa officer assumes she wants to go to Canada to stay with her husband, thus won't be coming back, thus a refusal.

 

[gillespiedc]

Hi Canadianwoman,

We have been married just over 2 years now. Admittedly, we got married pretty quickly (within 5 months of meeting). I proposed to her on her birthday as I took her and her daughter on a day trip to see the Davinci exhibit in Macau (borders Zhuhai). I had the ring stuffed in my pocket and was freaking out a little crossing the border, but I didn't want to spoil the surprize.

We stopped for ice cream, and a couple stores down there was a flower vendor. I picked up a nice spring bouquet and geve ti to her, then went on one knee and presented her with the ring and asked her to marry me. As far as romantic proposals go, there have likely been better, but this one still made her cry ....

There are few photos of that day, but on previous advice I have started going through the photos I have accumulated over the past few years (well over 5000). Some I have taken, and other have been sent to us by friends, family, and local and provincial media. If I can, I am going to attach the composite I had printed to canvas as a first year anniversary present to Hellen. It is a series of photos from our first year of marriage, and a few from before we were married.

I want to thank you for responding not just once to my threads. Your past experience in China is appreciated and welcome. If I may be forward with you, your response regarding home schooling was quite blunt and perhaps a bit jaded. My wife IS typical Chinese, however, she does recognize that western culture in regard to upbringing is very different. She verbally acknowledges that she wants me to step in when she gets too "Chinese" on Kelly.

It's really hard to "change your spots", especially when you are as old as we are. But I respect that she is open minded enough to appreciate that the way she was brought up is not necessarily how her daughter should be brought up.

Best,

Doug

 

[canadianwoman]

If you've been living together for two years and have thousands of pictures, you should have no trouble documenting your relationship. If you still have evidence of that trip to Macau - like travel tickets, event tickets, photos, a letter from the girl describing the day - include it.
Evidence of a good relationship with your stepdaughter is also important - CIC wants to see that the spouses are both invested in any children brought into the marriage.

Sorry if I was too blunt.

 

[gillespiedc]

Canadianwoman (is CW ok for future?)... there is no such thing as too blunt for me, I prefer it especially in cases that are important...

Now that I think of it, we may have the ticket stubs for the Davinci exhibit we went to see. At the very least, we purchased the photo album and DVD they were selling in the lobby.

Cheers!