spousal financial responsibility period

[Hello121]

I believe that a sponsor is financially responsible for his or her spouse for a period of 3 years.

Didn't it used to be 5 or 10 years?

If so, does anyone know why they changed it?

 

[SenoritaBella]

No. I believe the 10 years was applicable if you sponsored your parents and their dependents. It has always been 3 years for spouses.

 

[scylla]

No. I believe the 10 years was applicable if you sponsored your parents and their dependents. It has always been 3 years for spouses.

Spousal sponsorship used to be 10 years. The rules change around 2003 or 2005 or something like that.

 

[SenoritaBella]

Wow!!! 10 years? That would be quite crappy for sponsor who is duped!!

 

[mikeymyke]

No bella, it's even worse now if you sponsor a con artist who has a dependent, because you have to support the dependent for 10 years, or until he/she turns 25 I believe? I don't remember the exact numbers.

 

[screech339]

Worst part is that the 3 year limit for spouse sponsorship is not retroactive to existing 10 year spouse obiligations. In other words, they are still stuck on 10 years if spouse landed 1 day before the new 3 year limit.

Screech339

 

[Hello121]

Does anyone know why they changed it from 10 years to only 3 years?

 

[zardoz]

Probably to reflect the reality of spousal relationships. You might reasonably expect it to last 3 years but the odds of lasting 10 are much reduced. You would just end up with more sponsors in default. Maybe for once, common-law sense prevailed?