Canada Spouse Visa 2024 – Eligibility, Requirements, and How to Apply
You and your spouse are prepared to begin the exciting journey of coming to Canada. Whether you are applying on behalf of your loving spouse or you are the beloved spouse, it is important to understand the conditions for obtaining a spousal visa in Canada.
It makes no difference which visa or immigration program you use to enter Canada; if you have a common-law partner, they may be able to reside with you and even work in Canada.
Your Eligibility to Sponsor Your Spouse
You may sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who is at least 18 years of age.
You have to be an Indian registered under the Canadian Indian Act, a citizen of Canada, or a permanent resident of Canada. You have to be at least eighteen.
When you sponsor a family member to Canada, you must sign an agreement promising to provide financial support for them.
If you are sponsoring an adopted child, you may also be able to sponsor your dependent child.
If you’re visiting Canada for a short period and wish to bring your husband, partner, or child, find out if they can join you.
If your spouse or common-law partner resides in Canada, you should apply under the following conditions:
Resides with you in Canada, has a temporary residence visa, is exempt from the requirement owing to public policy, or is eligible for an open work permit to work while the application is reviewed.
Income requirements for Spouse Visa
Typically, there is no low-income cut-off (LICO) for sponsoring a husband, partner, or dependent child.
However, if your spouse or partner, whom you are sponsoring, has a dependent child with dependent children of their own, or if the dependent child you are sponsoring has a dependent child of their own, you must meet a minimum LICO number, which is set by the Canadian government each year.
Your Obligations as a Sponsor
When you agree to be a sponsor, you must sign an agreement promising to provide money for your husband or partner and their dependent children’s basic requirements.
Dental treatment, eye care, and other health requirements not covered by public health services are examples of fundamental needs, as are food, clothes, shelter, and other basics of everyday living.
Before you sign the undertaking agreement, you must ensure that the people you sponsor will not be forced to seek financial aid from the government.
The undertaking is a legally enforceable guarantee of support, so even if your circumstances change, you must continue to provide for the applicant(s) throughout the undertaking period.
Even if your circumstances change, the undertaking will continue to be in effect for the duration of the undertaking.
Length of the undertaking
A spousal visa requires a three-year commitment from the date your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner becomes a permanent resident.
How to Apply For Spouse Visa
Follow the steps below to apply for a spousal visa:
Step 1. Check Your Eligibility
Step 2. Gather documents
Step 3. Complete the application
Step 4. Pay the fees
Step 5. Verify your application to steer clear of typical errors.
Step 6. Submit the application
Canada Spouse Visa Processing Time
Sponsorship applications are processed over about a year. They typically take a little more than a year to process, however, this varies depending on the facts of your situation.
If your case is challenging or the immigration agency requires additional documentation of your relationship, the processing time will be delayed and extended.
Ensuring your sponsorship application is completed correctly the first time is the best approach to ensure that it is processed as soon as possible.
Expenses for submitting your application include sponsorship, processing, and permanent residence expenses. Contact a professional to ensure you are paying the correct amount.
How to Fill out the Forms
You must complete several of the forms listed below. Each shape is made up of various sections. They must all be filled out as precisely and truthfully as possible. Contact an RCIC to confirm that these forms are completed appropriately.
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
- Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481)
- Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283)
- Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Form (IMM 5532)
How to Avoid Common Mistakes
Visa officers will consider a variety of variables while determining if your relationship is genuine.
They will consider more conventional components, such as wedding photos with family members in attendance. Others may be more specific to local social norms.
If your connection is unusual, it is recommended that you give further proof of your relationship’s authenticity.
Letters of justification can also help explain to an immigration officer why your relationship may not show all of the same indicators as a marriage in your culture.
Before submitting your application, always check the country’s unique criteria.
Please provide a legitimate marriage certificate or proof of marriage registration with your application.
Please attach a copy of both your birth certificate and your spouse’s.
If an IRCC officer determines that an original document is required throughout the processing of your application, you must be able to supply one.
Finally, ensure that all email addresses on the forms are valid, as inaccuracies will create delays.
The best approach to avoiding making mistakes is to seek the advice of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), who will guarantee you receive accurate information and advise you on the documents you will require.
Benefits of Moving to Canada with Your Partner
1. Open work permit
Applying for an open work visa in Canada as a common-law partner or spouse who is sponsored.
According to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser’s announcement on December 2nd, 2022, the spouses of some current work permit holders under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) would now be eligible for Open Work Permits (OWP).
2. Study in Canada.
Consider studying in Canada while your partner works. If you are concerned about the cost of tuition, keep in mind that you may be able to work part-time while attending school, as long as it is less than 40 hours a week.
One of the most popular ways for the Immigration and Refugee Council of Canada to award foreigners permanent status in Canada is through one of its numerous international graduate immigration streams.
Almost every province and territory has an immigration stream dedicated to assisting foreign graduates of a particular Canadian post-secondary school in obtaining permanent residency.
3. Working in Canada.
If you receive a job offer after arriving in Canada, you will be eligible for an open work permit.
This allows you to contribute to both your home and the Canadian economy, strengthening your case for permanent residency in Canada with each passing day.
4. Bringing a Dependent to Canada
If you are applying for permanent residency in Canada, whether through inland or outland sponsorship, you must include your partner as a dependent on the application.
It is strongly advised that you submit a separate application.
There is a lot more administration, double the costs and the possibility that one of you will be allowed while the other is not.
When applying as a couple, you can combine your resources to make your application more appealing, such as assets in your name and qualifications.
Changes and Updates to The Spousal Sponsorship Application Process
The bulk of permanent immigration programs, including inland and outland spousal and common-law partner support, are now entirely online, according to the IRCC.
1. Proving Your Relationship
The applicant must offer documentation that the relationship is genuine, whether you are married, common-law partners, or conjugal partners.
For example, if you are a married spouse who can demonstrate that you have a child together, are marrying for the first time, are currently living together, and have been married for at least two years, you will not need to provide additional proof of your relationship.
If you are requested to provide more documentation of your relationship, there are no restrictions on the number of pages or supporting materials you can send.
For example, you can submit up to 20 images to prove your relationship, each taken at a different time and location.
Similarly, you may submit up to 10 pages of letters, text messages, emails, or social media chats.
Medical exams are no longer required to be filed in advance; instead, IRCC will give instructions when the findings are needed.
Similarly, the police certificate requirement has been simplified, so you will need to submit them from both the country you are now living in and the country where you have spent most of your adult life since the age of 18.
In spousal sponsorships, the authenticity of the relationship is crucial to acceptance. The Spousal Sponsorship Program was developed so that it does not matter where you marry as long as it is legally recognized in both that country and Canada.
For marriage to be recognized in Canada, the age and consent of the parties involved must also comply with Canadian legislation.
For example, even if polygamous weddings, forced marriages, and/or underage marriages are permitted in another country, they will not be legal in Canada.
FAQs
What are the conditions for a spouse visa in Canada?
- Participants must be at least 18 years old.
- You must either reside in Canada or intend to return once your spouse or partner has become a permanent resident.
- For the next three years, you must be capable and willing to satisfy your spouse’s or partner’s basic financial needs.
Can my spouse and I move to Canada while we wait for spousal sponsorship?
Although no special visa is available for candidates awaiting a decision on their sponsorship application, your spouse or partner may visit Canada while you wait for approval.
If a permanent residency application is already underway, some spousal sponsorship applicants may have difficulty obtaining a temporary visa.
How much money is needed for a spouse visa in Canada?
Well, there is no set amount of money required for a spouse visa in Canada. However, the sponsor (a Canadian citizen or permanent resident) must be able to financially support the sponsored spouse or partner.
Can I apply for a spouse visa to Canada immediately after marriage?
To successfully apply for a spouse sponsorship visa, you must meet the following requirements. You and your spouse must be lawfully married for at least a year, and one of you must be a Canadian citizen, a resident of Canada, or have a work visa to Canada.
Will I Need to Attend an Interview for Spousal Sponsorship?
Immigration interviews are unusual and more of an exception than the norm in spousal sponsorship cases.
Despite this, spousal sponsorship immigration interviews are frequently conducted when there are gaps in the relationship documentation, discrepancies between the information provided on the forms and the supporting documentation, age, and religious differences, a short time between meeting and marrying your spouse, and little to no cohabitation.
What is the processing time for a spouse visa in Canada in 2023?
An application for a spouse visa may take nine to twelve months to process, while the Dependent Visa is issued to family members of those with a Work Visa or Study Visa in Canada. The processing duration ranges from two weeks to twelve months.
How long does it take to obtain a spouse visa in Canada?
Sponsorship applications take about 12 months to handle from start to finish. They are normally handled in about 12 months, but they can take longer depending on the circumstances of your case.
What Documents Do I Need For Spousal Sponsorship?
- Correct and completed application forms
- Proof of current legal status in Canada
- Both Identity documents
- Marriage certificate (in a legal marriage is present)
- Police Certificate and Clearances
- Medical certificate (for your spouse)
- Paid application fees
- Digital photos
- Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Questionnaire
- Support documents like wedding invitations and photos
- Birth certificates or adoption records for any children you and your spouse might have together.
- Registration of marriage with relevant governments (such as your home country)
Conclusion
Traveling to a new nation with your spouse may be both exciting and life-changing. Many immigration candidates, however, face difficulties in bringing their families to their preferred immigration location.
Fortunately, the situation is different in Canada. With its diversified culture, robust economy, and inviting climate, this land of maple leaves is popular among couples wishing to begin a new chapter.
Some options allow you to move to Canada with your spouse, which was explained in this article.
If you are eligible, you may sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada.
