Sponsoring spouse outside Canada

[immirohn]

Hi everyone, I’m a Canadian citizen currently in India with my wife and preparing an outland spousal sponsorship application. I have been outside Canada since July 2025 for travel and work and got married in December during that time, including spending time in Spain on a Nomad Visa, and returned to India in September 2026.

I plan to return to Canada in February 2027 and settle there with my wife. I have maintained my Canadian ties, including active bank accounts, filing my taxes, and maintaining a valid driver’s licence. However, I do not currently have a job or property in Canada.

I have a few questions about the application:

1. Could the length of time I have been outside Canada affect my eligibility to sponsor my wife or create concerns with the application?
2. I am currently in India, but my wife and I are temporarily living in different cities because of her work commitments. We meet when we can. Could living at separate addresses cause any concerns with the application?
3. We maintain regular communication through WhatsApp and have call/message records. We also travelled together internationally for about 10 days. Is this type of evidence generally sufficient to demonstrate that we have maintained an ongoing relationship while living apart?
4. How should I answer IMM 5532E, Part C, Q3: “Are you living together now?" Yes or No? We have lived together while travelling, but currently live separately in India due to her work.
   
   I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone, I’m a Canadian citizen currently in India with my wife and preparing an outland spousal sponsorship application. I have been outside Canada since July 2025 for travel and work and got married in December during that time, including spending time in Spain on a Nomad Visa, and returned to India in September 2026.

I plan to return to Canada in February 2027 and settle there with my wife. I have maintained my Canadian ties, including active bank accounts, filing my taxes, and maintaining a valid driver’s licence. However, I do not currently have a job or property in Canada.

I have a few questions about the application:

1. Could the length of time I have been outside Canada affect my eligibility to sponsor my wife or create concerns with the application?
2. I am currently in India, but my wife and I are temporarily living in different cities because of her work commitments. We meet when we can. Could living at separate addresses cause any concerns with the application?
3. We maintain regular communication through WhatsApp and have call/message records. We also travelled together internationally for about 10 days. Is this type of evidence generally sufficient to demonstrate that we have maintained an ongoing relationship while living apart?
4. How should I answer IMM 5532E, Part C, Q3: “Are you living together now?" Yes or No? We have lived together while travelling, but currently live separately in India due to her work.
   
   I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.

1. You will need concrete proof that you intend to move to Canada to sponsor your spouse. If you will be moving back to Canada in February I would plan on updating your file with proof of employment, proof of housing, other bills, etc.
2. Would explain why you aren’t living in the same place. As long as you have sufficient time spent together in person shouldn’t be an issue. Are you saying you spent the majority of the time since you got married living apart while you traveled?
3. Assume you have spent substantially more time living together in India than the 10 days. If not yes that may appear strange if you decided to get married with no intention of spending much time together for the next year.
4. Be honest the answer is no.