Avoid These Common Spousal Sponsorship Mistakes

1) Applying Without Being Eligible

One of the most common spousal sponsorship mistakes is applying without being eligible. It’s important to first make sure you are eligible to do so. If an individual does not meet the necessary criteria and submits a spousal sponsorship application, their application to sponsor will be refused.

You can apply for a spousal sponsorship if you meet the following eligibility requirements as a sponsor:

1. You as a sponsor are at least 18 years of age.
2. You are a Canadian permanent resident living in Canada or a Canadian citizen.
3. You - the sponsor is not in prison, bankrupt, under a removal order (if a permanent resident) or charged with a serious offence; and
4. You yourself were not sponsored to become a permanent resident of Canada in the last 5 years. If it has been over 5 years since you were sponsored, then you can apply to become a sponsor.

To check your eligibility, you can use the sponsorship eligibility tool provided on the Canada Immigration Visa website.

2) Failing to Meet Minimum Necessary Income Requirements

Another common spousal sponsorship mistake is failing to meet the minimum necessary income requirements to sponsor a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner in Canada. Although there isn't an income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent child, you should always demonstrate that you have the capability to support their basic needs for at least the initial 6 months of them becoming a Canadian permanent resident.

You can learn more about the income requirements for spousal sponsorship on the first stage approval of spousal sponsorship application page.

3) Not Providing Sufficient Proof of Relationship

When applying for spousal sponsorship in Canada, it is essential to provide sufficient evidence that your relationship is genuine and ongoing. If you fail to provide enough proof of relationship, it can result in your application being refused.

4) Incorrectly Completing the Application

Incorrectly completing the application is another common spousal sponsorship mistake. It is essential to ensure that all sections of the application are properly and accurately filled out. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”.

5) Forgetting to Include Important Documents

Forgetting to include important documents is a common spousal sponsorship mistake that can lead to your application being rejected or delayed. Some of the most common documents forgotten are financial records such as bank statements, proof of income, or proof of assets.

6) Not Paying the Application Fee

Not paying the application fee is another common spousal sponsorship mistake. It is important to ensure that you have paid the full application fee before submitting your spousal sponsorship application. Failure to pay the application fee will result in the application being returned without any processing and can lead to unnecessary delays in the processing time.

7) Medical Exams - Failure to Provide Medical Reports for Dependent Family Members

The medical examination is one of the most important spouse visa Canada requirements that all family members need to meet in order to be approved for spousal sponsorship in Canada. It is required for everyone, including any dependent children, who are not already Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

8) Submitting an Incomplete Application

Submitting an incomplete application is a common spousal sponsorship mistake that can lead to your application being rejected or delayed. It is critical to understand the spouse visa requirements for Canada before applying and double-check that all relevant information and documents are included in the application.

9) Providing False Information – Misrepresentation

Providing false information or documents to the IRCC is misrepresentation and is a serious crime. Misrepresentation includes providing false or misleading information about yourself, your spouse visa requirements, or any other information related to your application.

10) Other Reasons for Refusal of Sponsorship Application

There are several other reasons why your spousal sponsorship application may be refused. These include using outdated forms, incorrectly answering questions on application forms, and leaving blanks on the application form.

For more information about these and other common spousal sponsorship mistakes, you can visit the answers to your top 10 frequently asked questions about spousal sponsorship in Canada page.