Spousal sponsorship is designed for someone who lives in Canada and wants to sponsor their international spouse to live with them and be a permanent resident. You can sponsor your partner, common-law, and conjugal partner through this sponsorship program.
There are two kinds of major sponsorship programs available through which you are able to sponsor your international partner in Canada. Those programs are Inland sponsorship and outland sponsorship.
About Outland Sponsorship
Outland sponsorship applies to those couples who are not living together and decide to sponsor their spouse living in another country. If your spouse or partner is not living legally in Canada and he/she is not able to apply from within Canada then an outland sponsorship application for you.
If you want to become qualified to sponsor your spouse or partner under the category of the outland sponsorship application then you and your sponsor must fulfill the criteria given below:
- Must be a citizen of Canada or have Canadian permanent resident status.
- The age of both the sponsor and spouse or partner must be a minimum of 18 years old.
- There are some types of relationships for which the sponsor and their spouse or partner need to qualify: for spouse: candidates must be married legally as well as their marriage should be valid under the law of jurisdiction. For common-law: To be qualified to sponsor your common law you have been living or cohabiting with your partner for a minimum of 12 months. Conjugal partner: You have been in a continuous and committed relationship for a minimum of 12 months, but because of some factors which are out of your control like migration problems or marital status, you are not able to live with your partner.
- The sponsor must be able to support their partner financially, and both the sponsor and sponsored person must not be charged with a serious crime.
- Make sure do not have a spouse in Canada within the five years of application processing.
Those who are in a conjugal r relationship have only one option to sponsor their partner which is an outland sponsorship application.
About Inland Sponsorship
Inland sponsorship is designed for those couples who wish to have their partner with them. As well as applicants are able to reside in Canada while they are waiting for the final decision on their permanent residence application. Applicants with valid temporary status in Canada either students, visitors, or workers are eligible for this sponsorship. This application will take 12 months to complete.
If you want to become eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner through Inland Sponsorship then you have to fulfill the given requirements:
- The sponsored person must be a citizen of Canada or have permanent resident status.
- Both the sponsor and their partner must be a minimum of 18 years old to be eligible to fill the sponsorship application.
- Make sure the sponsor not have sponsored a partner to Canada within 5 years.
- Able to support financially and fulfill the basic needs, as well as have not been charged with any serious crime.
- If the sponsor has permanent resident status make sure they are not under a removal order.
The major advantage of the Inland sponsorship is that your partner will be able to obtain a Canadian work permit. If your spouse has an open work permit then they can work in Canada while waiting for the final decision on their permanent residence application.
Candidates have to prove the relationship between them and their partner is either a legal marriage, common-law, or a conjugal partnership which is recognized by the IRCC.
The right place to submit the sponsorship application
If you are eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner then you have to fill in the sponsorship application form. After filling out the application form you can submit it at the visa office if you reside outside of Canada and if you live in Canada then you can submit the form at the local immigration office in Canada.
The sponsorship application for a conjugal partner is only submitted from outside of Canada by following the process of application.
Application processing time of Inland and Outland sponsorship:
The duration of the spousal sponsorship application processing targeted by IRCC is approximately 12 months. This estimated processing time includes the time required to provide biometrics and to review the Sponsor Application and the eligibility requirements of both Sponsor and Sponsored Person.
