What are the basic steps to sponsor your spouse to Canada

Sponsoring a spouse to Canada is not an easy process.  Thus it is mandatory to know the basic steps to apply thereby helping both the sponsor and principal applicant throughout the application process.

 

WHO CAN BECOME A SPONSOR?

One can become a sponsor if one is 18 years of age or older, if one is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada, if one is not receiving social assistance from the government, and if one succeeds in demonstrating that one has sufficient funds to provide for the basic needs of the principle applicant and spouse.  If the main applicant is a Canadian citizen and living outside of Canada with spouse, then it is mandatory that the applicant demonstrates in their application that their intent is to live in Canada once the sponsored spouse becomes a permanent resident.  But if the main applicant is a permanent resident and living outside of Canada then unfortunately the applicant cannot sponsor their spouse to Canada since as a permanent resident the applicant has to be inside of Canada to be eligible to sponsor their spouse to Canada.  In case the applicant lives in Quebec then they must meet Quebec’s conditions to be a sponsor.

WHO CANNOT BECOME A SPONSOR?

An applicant cannot become a sponsor for the following reasons:

·         If the applicant owes the government money such as an immigration loan, family support payments or performance bond.

·         Failed to meet basic needs or previous sponsorship in which the sponsored relative ended up getting social assistance.

·         If the applicant is under a removal order.

·         If the applicant is collecting any type of social assistance.

·         If the applicant is in debt and their bankruptcy has not been cleared.

·         If the applicant has sponsored a previous spouse and three years have not elapsed since the principal applicant became a permanent resident.

·          If the applicant were convicted of a violent or sexual offence, or an offence that caused bodily harm to a relative or attempted or threatened to commit any of these offences.

STEPS TO SPONSOR SPOUSE:

1.      READ THE BASIC SPONSORSHIP GUIDE

As a precaution to avoid common mistakes in your application, it is highly recommended that one reads the basic sponsorship guide also known as Guide 5525 before starting to fill out the forms and collecting the documents.

2.      GET THE DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

A document checklist gives us information about forms needed, documents to be included with the application and also links on how to fill out each form.  Further, depending on whom the applicant wants to sponsor, the document checklist tells which IMM checklist is to be used for the applications application like checklist for spouse which is IMM 5533.  The applicant simply needs to print the checklist, follow the instruction and keep it on top of the application.

3.      FILL OUT THE FORMS

It is mandatory that the sponsor fills out and signs the forms related to his sponsoring his spouse, sponsorship agreement and undertaking.  Also a sponsorship evaluation and relationship questionnaire as well as a use of a representative form which is necessary if one has hired a consultant or immigration lawyer to assist the applicant with the application process.  The same becomes applicable for the person being sponsored who also have to fill out and sign certain forms like application to sponsor, sponsorship agreement and undertaking, generic application form for Canada, additional family information form, sponsorship evaluation and relationship questionnaire, schedule A which is a background/declaration as well as a use of a representative form which is necessary if you have hired a consultant or immigration lawyer to assist you with the application process.

4.      GATHERING ALL THE DOCUMENTS

While gathering your documents for application make sure to use the checklist in order to ensure that all the documents needed has been collected and unnecessary documents are not included which does not pertain to the situation.  Further, if the documents are not in English or French, it is necessary to make sure that a certified copy of the original document and a certified translation of the documents is included along with the application.  Since every country has different requirements it is mandatory to see what documents or additional forms are to be included with the application according to one’s countries specific requirements.  Also it is necessary to start the police clearance in advance in order to avoid delays since once the application is accepted for processing, one will be asked to submit an up-to-date police clearance certificate.

5.      Review the application for mistakes

Once all your documents have been gathered and your forms have been completed, it is necessary to review the application in order to avoid common mistakes like name spelled incorrectly, missing information, usage of wrong forms and so on.  Once done see that the forms and documents are listed according to the checklist.  Be sure that it is not stapled or even use of binders, plastic sleeves, folders or albums is strictly prohibited instead it is better to use paper clips or elastic bands.  Also see to it that the email provided by one is correct as most communication is done online and so having incorrect email or address may cause to miss a communication from the government.  Once done it is time to validate the form.  In case any information is found missing a pop-up-error message or a red square around the fields that needs to be completed will show up.  Once the forms are validated a barcode page will be created which is needed to be included on top of the application.  Now here it is absolutely necessary that one should not forget to pay the government fees online and include a copy of the receipt with the application.  If the fees is missing then the application will be returned as incomplete.

6.      SUBMIT THE APPLICATION

While submitting the application it is necessary to include a copy of the checklist with the application.  It is necessary that the application is submitted to the correct mailing address since overseas and inland applications have different addresses.  Always ask for tracking number from the courier provider.  Always contact the best courier service since there are important documents to be couriered and the worst thing would be your application getting lost. 

7.      WAIT FOR INSTRUCTION FROM THE GOVERNEMENT

After submitting the application it is necessary to wait for approximately 1 to 2 months in order to get communication from the government who either will return the application due to missing information else the government will give a UCI number showing that the application is still in process.  So wait and follow the instructions received from the government.