Sponsor's responsibilities

[Raul_Rincon]

Hi! My girlfriend is afraid of having to pay much more taxes and having the government on her shoulders if she sponsors me because of the "social welfare benefits" but according to me that happens just in case that I can't find a job and I ask for money to the government am I right? what other responsibilities would she get if she sponsors me? I hope you can give me an answer, thank you very much in advance.

 

[Kayaker]

Hi! My girlfriend is afraid of having to pay much more taxes and having the government on her shoulders if she sponsors me because of the "social welfare benefits" but according to me that happens just in case that I can't find a job and I ask for money to the government am I right? what other responsibilities would she get if she sponsors me? I hope you can give me an answer, thank you very much in advance.

She will not pay more taxes. If she sponsors you as her husband or common-law partner, she will have to file her taxes as common-law or married, not single. There may be more or less tax returns as a result (if you are unemployed and her dependent, I believe she may get a bigger tax return.)

Her responsibility is that regardless of whether the relationship lasts or not, she will have to pay back the government for any welfare you claim within the first 3 years of landing. Also, you two have to cohabit and stay in your relationship for two years after you get PR. This means that if you two break up, she can report you to CIC and CIC will investigate and will probably revoke your PR status. But this also could mean that you two cannot live apart (for work or study reasons, even if you two are in a real relationship) for the first 2 years. However, if you leave her after 2 years, she is still responsible for you for the remaining 1 year of the 3 year commitment.

 

[Raul_Rincon]

This is so helpful, thank you very much, I got one last question, "she will have to pay back the government for any welfare you claim within the first 3 years of landing" What do you mean by that? it's like if I go to the doctor something that makes the government spend money on me? or it's more like if I ask the government for a loan?

 

[scylla]

It's neither of those things.

If you take social assistance / welfare (which is when the government GIVES you money because you are not working and can't support yourself) and you take assistance within the first three years of becoming a permanent resident, your girlfriend will be responsible for paying this money back to the government - even if your relationship has gone south and you are no longer together. This can amount to tens of thousands of dollars. So sponsoring someone is a very serious undertaking that can have serious financial consequences if things don't work out.

 

[jerryca]

Perhaps my reply is a little late. I am not sure the two year rule is applicable if they have a child together.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Perhaps my reply is a little late. I am not sure the two year rule is applicable if they have a child together.

I believe the OP is referring to the financial undertaking the sponsor is obligated to for 3 years. ALL sponsors are financially obligated for the applicant for 3 years after approval. If the applicant ever goes on welfare during that time, then the sponsor will be responsible for paying it back to the government. it has nothing to do with "condition 51", which is what you are referring to.