Spousal sponsorship

[Nakakaka]

To be clear: for ages now, Canadians living abroad have been able to vote. I did it when I was abroad, and you vote according to the 'most recent' place of residence in Canada (if I remember correctly).

Your spouse - the citizen at any rate - should write and make it very clear to that MP that the attitude to citizens abroad of their staff is costing them votes.

I know she could vote but we didn't know that it is according to her last address. This makes sense.
We contacted David McGuinty office (people should know their "heroes" ) since he is the MP for where my wife's sister lives and it is going to be our temporary residence for some time before we settle.
The office response was blunt and dismissive.
We explained everything and they went like " your family members who live here already can request anything, you cannot".
But thank you for advise we will contact the MP from her prev residence.

 

[armoured]

I know she could vote but we didn't know that it is according to her last address. This makes sense.
We contacted David McGuinty office (people should know their "heroes" ) since he is the MP for where my wife's sister lives and it is going to be our temporary residence for some time before we settle.
The office response was blunt and dismissive.
We explained everything and they went like " your family members who live here already can request anything, you cannot".
But thank you for advise we will contact the MP from her prev residence.

Drop McGuinty's office a line, remind that citizens abroad are voters and those returning will vote where they settle - and he lost that vote. You can copy his office as Minister of Defence, and he may have an Ottawa office (in parliament).

And even if his people thought it was more appropriate to direct to another MP's office, it's no reason to be dismissive - they could have simply directed to that other office.

 

[Tarhata YU]

any updates from applicants of December 2023? Our medical will expire this July. My daughter's medical expired in April but no email to renew hers.

 

[Hemit]

Hi Folks,

Today, I received an update that an additional document is required to process my application. That additional document is Proof of relationship; however, when I was applying, I provided all the documents and the timeline, but I am still being asked the same details.

Here is what IRCC is asking :

Proof of Relationship: Provide a detailed written timeline with regards to the development of your relationship. Include complete dates to all milestones such as when you first met, when you began dating, when you openly advertised your relationship as a couple amongst friends and family members, when you began residing together, when you began sharing rooms, when you began to share finances, when you got engaged, when you made major purchases together (e.g. car, pet, applicances), when you married, when you had a child, etc.


I have provided all that applies to my case. Any lead or suggestion is much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Nakakaka]

Drop McGuinty's office a line, remind that citizens abroad are voters and those returning will vote where they settle - and he lost that vote. You can copy his office as Minister of Defence, and he may have an Ottawa office (in parliament).

And even if his people thought it was more appropriate to direct to another MP's office, it's no reason to be dismissive - they could have simply directed to that other office.

thanks a lot for your reply.

Unfortunately, our experiences with Canadian MPs and the system in general have been disappointing. We’ve been asked to prove we’re really moving into their riding even to get friends or family there to sign off on it.

I know it might sound like I’m whining, but these interactions are making us seriously rethink our move.

Sure it is 8 months only and some people are waiting for double that, but GCMS notes request and follow-up email ignored, dismissiveness and borderline almost bribing like attitude of MPs offices like `promise to vote for us then we will help you, or make your friends sign that they will vote` I feel like I am back to Eastern Europe of 95.

 

[armoured]

thanks a lot for your reply.

Unfortunately, our experiences with Canadian MPs and the system in general have been disappointing. We’ve been asked to prove we’re really moving into their riding even to get friends or family there to sign off on it.

I know it might sound like I’m whining, but these interactions are making us seriously rethink our move.

Sure it is 8 months only and some people are waiting for double that, but GCMS notes request and follow-up email ignored, dismissiveness and borderline almost bribing like attitude of MPs offices like `promise to vote for us then we will help you, or make your friends sign that they will vote` I feel like I am back to Eastern Europe of 95.

Fundamentally your file is not late - eight months is still well within normal, and your gcms request is - by my calc - less than two weeks late. And while ordering gcms notes CAN be useful, it's usually not for those that aren't actually delayed (although interesting).

I’m feeling stuck and unsure what to do next. My immigration application seems to be delayed. Here’s my situation:

• Application submitted: October 16, 2024
• Current status: All steps completed except the background check, which has been pending for about four months now
• GCMS notes requested: May 5, 2025 — no response
• Follow-up sent: I emailed ATIP-AIPRP@cic.gc.ca and received this automatic reply:

And you had an MP's office give not great service and be a bit dismissive. You can still write to the coordinator of ATIP as provided, but may not get an answer right away (again - it's not very late). (And it's sort of second derivative anyway - just complaining that ATIP is late without the required notice - not going to affect speed of your file).

You just feel stuck - but the answer is sometimes you just have to wait.

So yes, it does sound like you're whining.

Focus on what is productive. Since you're a Canadian abroad, you may still get asked for further proof of your intent to relocate. Work on that stuff. Or even better, just move (alone or separate) and provide evidence of arriving in Canada to IRCC, that may move things forward.

 

[Nakakaka]

Fundamentally your file is not late - eight months is still well within normal, and your gcms request is - by my calc - less than two weeks late. And while ordering gcms notes CAN be useful, it's usually not for those that aren't actually delayed (although interesting).

And you had an MP's office give not great service and be a bit dismissive. You can still write to the coordinator of ATIP as provided, but may not get an answer right away (again - it's not very late). (And it's sort of second derivative anyway - just complaining that ATIP is late without the required notice - not going to affect speed of your file).

You just feel stuck - but the answer is sometimes you just have to wait.

So yes, it does sound like you're whining.

Focus on what is productive. Since you're a Canadian abroad, you may still get asked for further proof of your intent to relocate. Work on that stuff. Or even better, just move (alone or separate) and provide evidence of arriving in Canada to IRCC, that may move things forward.

fair point, but I was mainly thinking about the attitude. For me personally it is a big deal when something supposed to happen within a given time (ATIP) and it doesn't and when you ask for clarifications they tell you "well, we won't give any".
I understand that this is the framework and there is no other way but waiting.
The situation is frustrating only, that is all.

The interactions with the MPs was a good hint on what to expect when we are there, I guess I just have to be ready.
And to be fair "a bit dismissive" doesn't really describe the attitude. it was more like a "quid pro quo" kind of a thing - which is vote buying essentially, which I wasn't expecting to be done so blatantly I guess.

 

[armoured]

fair point, but I was mainly thinking about the attitude. For me personally it is a big deal when something supposed to happen within a given time (ATIP) and it doesn't and when you ask for clarifications they tell you "well, we won't give any".
I understand that this is the framework and there is no other way but waiting.
The situation is frustrating only, that is all.

If this type of delay is too much frustration, moving to a different country may not be for you. I don't say that as a criticism - but you're going to need thicker skin than that. (Wait until you meet the health care sector). Systems are different everywhere, and the 'match' to expectations inevitably is not perfect.

I repeat the basic point: gcms notes generally don't show much. I still encourage complaining, but it's a couple steps away from important.

The interactions with the MPs was a good hint on what to expect when we are there, I guess I just have to be ready.
And to be fair "a bit dismissive" doesn't really describe the attitude. it was more like a "quid pro quo" kind of a thing - which is vote buying essentially, which I wasn't expecting to be done so blatantly I guess.

Some MPs and there staff are better, some worse. We had very professional interactions with our MP's office. Yours sounds quite bad.

 

[Nakakaka]

If this type of delay is too much frustration, moving to a different country may not be for you. I don't say that as a criticism - but you're going to need thicker skin than that. (Wait until you meet the health care sector). Systems are different everywhere, and the 'match' to expectations inevitably is not perfect.

I repeat the basic point: gcms notes generally don't show much. I still encourage complaining, but it's a couple steps away from important.

Some MPs and there staff are better, some worse. We had very professional interactions with our MP's office. Yours sounds quite bad.

Yeah this is going to be a short stay after all.

I feel like expectations are way different in Canada from what I am used to, especially with the government sector.
I understand what you're saying, but to be fair I feel like we are talking about completely different things here.

P.S. Canada is going to be my 4th country of residence and by far the least professional and cooperative one.

 

[armoured]

Yeah this is going to be a short stay after all.

I feel like expectations are way different in Canada from what I am used to, especially with the government sector.
I understand what you're saying, but to be fair I feel like we are talking about completely different things here.

P.S. Canada is going to be my 4th country of residence and by far the least professional and cooperative one.

I can't speak to your experiences, and every country is different - and one's situation in any given country can matter more (eg if relatively privileged).

My point overall - from experience - is as I referred to above, one's expectations may not match local - not necessarily because one is 'better' but because they're quite different. Or if we think of, say, a list of 10,000 'services' (interactions), and half are 'better' (in some way) and half 'worse', we're mostly going to notice the ones that are worse - just as individuals perceive inflation as higher than it is - because their brains notice and remember the prices going up for some goods and pay little attention to prices staying the same or going down.

Which is to say: worth keeping an open mind, the measure of any place can only be done with a bit of distance and time. But yep, Canada also not for everyone.

For spousal sponsorship, for most, it's a bit slow but manageable.

 

[Prettyheart05]

Hi i just received letter today from IRCC stating that there office is currently reassessing your eligibility as a sponsor(my husband) who is sponsoring my spousal PR inside canda. Please disregard the letter sent to you on 2024/08/20. Our office will contact you should additional information be required.


What does this mean ? And is there any problem ?

 

[armoured]

Hi i just received letter today from IRCC stating that there office is currently reassessing your eligibility as a sponsor(my husband) who is sponsoring my spousal PR inside canda. Please disregard the letter sent to you on 2024/08/20. Our office will contact you should additional information be required.


What does this mean ? And is there any problem ?

Potentially. We don't know. You should order gcms notes.

 

[Prettyheart05]

Potentially. We don't know. You should order gcms notes.

What’s that ? Gcms i don’t know

 

[armoured]

What’s that ? Gcms i don’t know

GCMS notes are IRCC's internal notes on the file; you have the right to order/access them under access to information policy:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...rmation-privacy/requests-information-act.html

 

[Tir13]

Hi i just received letter today from IRCC stating that there office is currently reassessing your eligibility as a sponsor(my husband) who is sponsoring my spousal PR inside canda. Please disregard the letter sent to you on 2024/08/20. Our office will contact you should additional information be required.


What does this mean ? And is there any problem ?

What is your application date?