Spousal sponsorship

[John Immanuel]

could anyone tell me what is the schedule A online

Schedule A online is an IMM5669E :- Background Declaration. Find here @ https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5669e.pdf

 

[Ro34]

So, I contacted my MP for an update and found out that eligibility has passed and criminality checks are taking place now. Interesting to note that GcKey still says eligibility in process and we've received no messages at all about eligibility passing. So...contact your MP to get a real sense of what's happening with your app because it might be better than you think!

Timelime in my profile.

How you have contacted your MP ?
I check my progress daily on ECAS no updates till now it shows in process

 

[Clinicals1?]

So you are in the situation that you want to sponsor your foreign spouse for permanent residency of Canada and don't know where to start. Here are some tips:
Hello
Pls I was asked to submit my refugee Basis of claim form by Ghana office before a decision will be made for my wife sponsorship.
Every other documentation has been made both biometrics and medicals.
Does anyone e know why they would ask for basis of claim form

Married, common law or conjugal partners

First you need to pick an application class. There are three of them: married, common-law and conjugal. For all of them, you need to prove the genuineity of your relationship. For common-law, you need to prove that you have lived together for 12 months or longer. For conjugal, you need to prove that you have combined your affairs as much as possible but there are real immigration barriers or other barriers preventing you from living together or getting married. Conjugal is the hardest to prove. For example, if your partner could get a visit visa to come to Canada for 6 months and then apply for an extension to get the full year, even though they will not be allowed to work, that is not considered an immigration barrier. An immigration barrier is if your partner tries to get a visit visa to come to Canada and is repeatedly refused. Some people have had luck with the conjugal class but try to avoid it if possible.

Outland or inland?

Now you need to decide if to apply outland or inland. If your spouse is not in Canada and can not get a visa to go to Canada, you must apply outland. That means that you will send your application to Mississauga and they will approve you as a sponsor. The time that takes is usually 1-2 months to but current processing times can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#sponsorship After that, the application is forwarded to your local visa office. If your spouse is residing in a country other than the country of their nationality, you can pick which of the two visa offices you want. Otherwise it will be processed in their country of nationality. You can see the processing times here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp

If your spouse is staying in Canada as a visitor or on some other visa, you can pick whether you want to apply outland or inland. Outland is generally faster and has appeal rights but a downside to outland is that if an interview is required, your spouse will have to travel to the visa office in the country where it's being processed. Inland has the downside that it's generally not advised that your spouse travels while you are waiting for your processing because it is a requirement of inland that they reside in Canada and if they are denied entry at the border for some reason, your application is gone. If an interview is required for inland, you may also have to wait a long time for it. The inland application would be sent to Vegreville and if all goes well, you would get a first stage approval, usually in 6 to 8 months. The current processing times can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#perm_res Then the file is forwarded to your local CIC office where you live and they will contact you for a landing appointment. Getting the PR with inland usually takes 12-18 months. If an interview is required for inland, Vegreville will not give first stage approval but instead will forward the application to the local CIC office without it and you will have to wait for them to have time for your interview. In some cases that can take a year or two. If you do get the first stage approval, your spouse will usually be eligible for health care and an open work permit. It is actually a good idea when applying inland to send an application form for a visit visa extension as well as the open work permit to be given at first stage approval all in one package so it's tied together.

Which method to pick depends on your situation. If your spouses country of nationality has a long processing time or your spouse does not want to have to travel there for a possible interview, then inland is the way to go. For faster processing and freedom of travel during the processing time, outland would be better. You can find the application forms for inland at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp and the application forms for outland at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

Avoiding potential problems with your application

The most common reason for people to be called for an interview is that the visa officer has doubts about the relationship being genuine. It is up to you to send immigration some quality data, emails, chat logs, phone records, photos, letters and other material to prove to them that your relationship is the real thing. Other reasons you might have problems with is eligibility of the sponsor. The sponsor can not be on social assistance, can not be bankrupt and can not have a record of violent crimes or crimes against family members. If that is the case, better talk to a lawyer and get that cleared up before attempting to apply.

Dependent children

If your spouse has dependent children, they must be included in the PR application, even if they are not coming to Canada. They will need to have medicals as well to keep the option open to sponsor them later. The only way that immigration will accept the application without those medicals is if the children are no longer minors and refuse to have it or if the children are in the full custody of their other parent who refuses to make them available for medicals. In that case, your spouse needs to sign a statement stating that they know that they will never be able to sponsor these children to Canada in the future.

Dependent children are classified as single and either under 22 years of age or if they are older, they must have been full time students since before age 22 or dependent on their parent due to a disability or medical problem.

Refusals due to income and medicals

You will be asked to provide information about your income but you will not be denied to sponsor your spouse and dependent children because you do not make enough money. It is possible though that if you make absolutely no money at all that immigration may ask you how you plan to support yourselves.

Spouses and dependent children are also exempt from the clause about excessive demand on health care so you do not have to worry about them being refused for that reason.

Sponsoring your spouse while living in another country

If you are a Canadian citizen, you can sponsor your spouse without being in Canada but you do then have to prove that you are planning on moving to Canada when your spouse gets approved for permanent residency. Such proof can include having arranged jobs, being accepted to college, having arranged housing or letters from friends & relatives stating that they know of your plans and that you can stay with them while you look for housing etc.

If you are a PR, you must reside in Canada in order to sponsor your spouse. You can chance short vacations (remember that a Canadian vacation is generally no longer than 2 weeks) but if immigration finds out that you are not in Canada, you risk getting your application refused.

 

[KYVAN2019]

This might be off the topic but hopefully someone can give me an insight...

I applied for PR under family class. I’m the principal applicant and currently living outside Canada.
I’m going to Canada to visit my husband next month and I have some concern about visa.
Right now i still have a valid PGWP which is expired at the end of October. I’ll leave Canada before the expiry and will have a returning ticket to prove my departure.
But the PGWP is under my maiden name and it’s different from my passport and the name on PR application (both are my husband’s last name)
Do you think this will be an issue? Both PGWP and PR app have my UCI, so I first thought they would have two last names connected in their file, but I got worried...
Also, should I apply for visitor visa to enter Canada this time instead of using PGWP?
Any thought will be appreciated.

 

[Geno.uss]

Ya, I've been reading that. It's too bad. Let's utilize those MP's! Feels amazing to get an update

I hope you get the decision made soon

 

[Geno.uss]

LOL. Don't you think this is up to the MP to decide? Many, many people report reaching out to their MP for updates. Mine was happy to oblige and even asked me to reconnect in October so she could check on it again. Not sure why you would try to discourage people desperate for an update from receiving one, especially since it doesn't affect you or anyone else.
Not to mention, the IRCC site actually says not to contact them within normal processing times.

Yeah I don't think anything is wrong in contacting MPs, they are there for a reason which is helping people, trying to get an update on behalf of someone is helping people figure it out, people gave them their votes for a reason so they are obligated to help you when you are in need
But also you can still contact IRCC by calling them even if your file is still in the normal processing time, some agents are very nice and helpful and can tell you what are the latest updates on your file, I used to call them and ask while my file was in the normal processing time

 

[Geno.uss]

This might be off the topic but hopefully someone can give me an insight...

I applied for PR under family class. I’m the principal applicant and currently living outside Canada.
I’m going to Canada to visit my husband next month and I have some concern about visa.
Right now i still have a valid PGWP which is expired at the end of October. I’ll leave Canada before the expiry and will have a returning ticket to prove my departure.
But the PGWP is under my maiden name and it’s different from my passport and the name on PR application (both are my husband’s last name)
Do you think this will be an issue? Both PGWP and PR app have my UCI, so I first thought they would have two last names connected in their file, but I got worried...
Also, should I apply for visitor visa to enter Canada this time instead of using PGWP?
Any thought will be appreciated.

Not sure, maybe call IRCC or CBSA to confirm?

 

[lccliff]

How you have contacted your MP ?
I check my progress daily on ECAS no updates till now it shows in process

I googled it, MP and the city I live in and emailed him. I waited until the 6 month mark thinking by then something would have happened and it would be worth the update. I wouldn't bother them before that, personally because it might be a waste of their time so early in the process but, that's up to you

 

[Ro34]

I googled it, MP and the city I live in and emailed him. I waited until the 6 month mark thinking by then something would have happened and it would be worth the update. I wouldn't bother them before that, personally because it might be a waste of their time so early in the process but, that's up to you

What according to you should i do?
As i have shared my time line also should i wait or contact them?

 

[Geno.uss]

What according to you should i do?
As i have shared my time line also should i wait or contact them?

It is up to you

 

[lccliff]

What according to you should i do?
As i have shared my time line also should i wait or contact them?

You are past the 1 year mark so you should definitely contact your MP. In your case, they can inquire but also apply a bit of pressure for agents to finish up. Some people say they can question officers as to why it hasn't been completed within the estimated time frame. Some people even say that with an MP enquiry AFTER THE 12 MONTH MARK their app starts to get active again right away. At the very least, you would surely like to hear that they are working on it and it's just taking some time and your MP can get that done pretty quickly.

 

[Roxy c]

Our updated timeline as of today:

June 10 - Submitted Spouse Sponsorship application via Canadapost
June 13 - IRCC received the application (tracked via Canapost & with signature)
August 1 - My husband received AoR (has application # & UCI)

-Checked CAS tool - IN PROCESS for both Sponsorship & PR Application Status​

August 9 - I received Biometrics Instruction Letter thru email from IRCC

- Checked CAS tool - DECISION MADE for Sponsorship & IN PROCESS for PR Application Status​

August 12 - IRCC emailed my husband that he was eligible to sponsor
August 12 - IRCC emailed me the Medical Examination Instruction
August 13 - Biometrics Done!
August 16 - Medical Exam Done! (IOM Manila Health Center Makati)
August 25 - Medical Results have been received by IRCC and I passed the medical exam.
August 30 - Checked CAS tool - IRCC started processing Principal Applicant's application (Permanent Residence)
September 5 - Visa Stamping emailed to me

-Checked CAS tool - DECISION MADE for PR Application Status
​

We're surprised and blessed for the fast processing times. It only took less than 3 months. Praise God for everything!

Hi guys, i just want to wish good luck to everyone first!!! I just got my AOR Sept 10th and my application was sent July 30th. Just wandering how long until you get biometrics request? Thank you. Have a great day!!!

 

[Roxy c]

So you are in the situation that you want to sponsor your foreign spouse for permanent residency of Canada and don't know where to start. Here are some tips:

Married, common law or conjugal partners

First you need to pick an application class. There are three of them: married, common-law and conjugal. For all of them, you need to prove the genuineity of your relationship. For common-law, you need to prove that you have lived together for 12 months or longer. For conjugal, you need to prove that you have combined your affairs as much as possible but there are real immigration barriers or other barriers preventing you from living together or getting married. Conjugal is the hardest to prove. For example, if your partner could get a visit visa to come to Canada for 6 months and then apply for an extension to get the full year, even though they will not be allowed to work, that is not considered an immigration barrier. An immigration barrier is if your partner tries to get a visit visa to come to Canada and is repeatedly refused. Some people have had luck with the conjugal class but try to avoid it if possible.

Outland or inland?

Now you need to decide if to apply outland or inland. If your spouse is not in Canada and can not get a visa to go to Canada, you must apply outland. That means that you will send your application to Mississauga and they will approve you as a sponsor. The time that takes is usually 1-2 months to but current processing times can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#sponsorship After that, the application is forwarded to your local visa office. If your spouse is residing in a country other than the country of their nationality, you can pick which of the two visa offices you want. Otherwise it will be processed in their country of nationality. You can see the processing times here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp

If your spouse is staying in Canada as a visitor or on some other visa, you can pick whether you want to apply outland or inland. Outland is generally faster and has appeal rights but a downside to outland is that if an interview is required, your spouse will have to travel to the visa office in the country where it's being processed. Inland has the downside that it's generally not advised that your spouse travels while you are waiting for your processing because it is a requirement of inland that they reside in Canada and if they are denied entry at the border for some reason, your application is gone. If an interview is required for inland, you may also have to wait a long time for it. The inland application would be sent to Vegreville and if all goes well, you would get a first stage approval, usually in 6 to 8 months. The current processing times can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#perm_res Then the file is forwarded to your local CIC office where you live and they will contact you for a landing appointment. Getting the PR with inland usually takes 12-18 months. If an interview is required for inland, Vegreville will not give first stage approval but instead will forward the application to the local CIC office without it and you will have to wait for them to have time for your interview. In some cases that can take a year or two. If you do get the first stage approval, your spouse will usually be eligible for health care and an open work permit. It is actually a good idea when applying inland to send an application form for a visit visa extension as well as the open work permit to be given at first stage approval all in one package so it's tied together.

Which method to pick depends on your situation. If your spouses country of nationality has a long processing time or your spouse does not want to have to travel there for a possible interview, then inland is the way to go. For faster processing and freedom of travel during the processing time, outland would be better. You can find the application forms for inland at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp and the application forms for outland at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

Avoiding potential problems with your application

The most common reason for people to be called for an interview is that the visa officer has doubts about the relationship being genuine. It is up to you to send immigration some quality data, emails, chat logs, phone records, photos, letters and other material to prove to them that your relationship is the real thing. Other reasons you might have problems with is eligibility of the sponsor. The sponsor can not be on social assistance, can not be bankrupt and can not have a record of violent crimes or crimes against family members. If that is the case, better talk to a lawyer and get that cleared up before attempting to apply.

Dependent children

If your spouse has dependent children, they must be included in the PR application, even if they are not coming to Canada. They will need to have medicals as well to keep the option open to sponsor them later. The only way that immigration will accept the application without those medicals is if the children are no longer minors and refuse to have it or if the children are in the full custody of their other parent who refuses to make them available for medicals. In that case, your spouse needs to sign a statement stating that they know that they will never be able to sponsor these children to Canada in the future.

Dependent children are classified as single and either under 22 years of age or if they are older, they must have been full time students since before age 22 or dependent on their parent due to a disability or medical problem.

Refusals due to income and medicals

You will be asked to provide information about your income but you will not be denied to sponsor your spouse and dependent children because you do not make enough money. It is possible though that if you make absolutely no money at all that immigration may ask you how you plan to support yourselves.

Spouses and dependent children are also exempt from the clause about excessive demand on health care so you do not have to worry about them being refused for that reason.

Sponsoring your spouse while living in another country

If you are a Canadian citizen, you can sponsor your spouse without being in Canada but you do then have to prove that you are planning on moving to Canada when your spouse gets approved for permanent residency. Such proof can include having arranged jobs, being accepted to college, having arranged housing or letters from friends & relatives stating that they know of your plans and that you can stay with them while you look for housing etc.

If you are a PR, you must reside in Canada in order to sponsor your spouse. You can chance short vacations (remember that a Canadian vacation is generally no longer than 2 weeks) but if immigration finds out that you are not in Canada, you risk getting your application refused.

Hi guys, i just wanted to say good luck to everyone first!!! I just got my AOR Sept 10th and my application was sent July 30th. Just wandering how long until you get biometrics request? Thank you. Have a greatday!!!

 

[Anne16]

You're welcome, wishing you the best of luck

Hi,

One more thing, about the names in the forms. It was always asking for the given and last name for both sponsor and principal applicant. I'm from the Philippines, wherein we have middle name. So for single we have our mothers last name as our middle name then father's last name as our last name. If in case female gets married, my father's name will be my middle name and my husband's last name as my last name too. So, will I include my middle name on given name in the forms for my married name? Please help, just really confused about this.

Thanks again,

Anne

 

[lccliff]

Hi,

One more thing, about the names in the forms. It was always asking for the given and last name for both sponsor and principal applicant. I'm from the Philippines, wherein we have middle name. So for single we have our mothers last name as our middle name then father's last name as our last name. If in case female gets married, my father's name will be my middle name and my husband's last name as my last name too. So, will I include my middle name on given name in the forms for my married name? Please help, just really confused about this.

Thanks again,

Anne

I should think the name needs to match what's on your passport.