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Under the Family Class program, Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor an eligible member of the family class to immigrate to Canada. Family reunification is one of the stated goals of the Canadian immigration program.

Speaking at an event in Brampton, Ontario in December 2016, then Minister for Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada, John McCallum opined, “… I think people are more productive citizens, they do better overall, when they’re with their families than when they’re isolated from their families..” The minister was announcing a new policy measure that would reduce processing that affected the waiting time for spouses to be reunited in Canada.

Although the expedited waiting period reduced the overall time taken, it in no way cuts corners as far as medical and security screening procedures are concerned.

Dealing With The Paperwork

The official CIC website provides the complete details about the spousal sponsorship application. It gives the eligibility criteria, procedures to be followed, approximate processing time, fees, check-list of documents to be submitted etc. A detailed infographic provides the step-by-step procedure, which is a completely transparent and logical one.

The information and checklists are detailed enough for individuals to follow, though they are more of a general nature.

What Do Spousal Sponsorship Documents Prove?

Canada is a country that recognizes and respects same-sex relationships both in and out of marriage. Hence, it’s possible to sponsor a same-sex partner as a spouse if you’re legally married, or as a conjugal or common-law partner if not.

Canadian immigration authorities need to be convinced that the relationship is genuine and not undertaken merely for the purpose of accessing entry into the country. The documents submitted should prove beyond doubt that your relationship goals are shared, that the applicants have a mutual commitment to live in the country as a socially, emotionally and financially interdependent couple.

Although the future is unpredictable, at the time of application, the relationship must be shown to be permanent, exclusive and intimate.

Other documentation that is required should demonstrate that there is a financial relationship between the two parties. Joint ownership of property, bank-accounts, assets, credit-cards, etc can be proof of this.

Aspects like emotional connection and the presentation of the pair as a couple to friends and family go a long way in establishing a genuine relationship. Photographs of engagement/wedding ceremony with family/friends in attendance, joint travel, membership of respected organizations and institutions, testimonials from authority figures regarding the genuineness of the relationship etc are other possible pieces of evidence.

Shared goals, values, hobbies, interests, knowledge of behavior, habits, attitudes, support in times of distress/need, time with each other’s families etc are also valuable proofs.

Hence, applicants need not limit themselves to merely what the application forms demand. All your responses should be backed by credible evidence. A variety of photographs in different settings, based on the time-line of your relationship can be very useful. Flight-tickets, boarding-passes, hotel-bills, money-transfers, insurance-policies, nominations, etc are other good options.

It’s important to consult a Canadian Immigration Lawyer or authorized Canada Immigration Consultant with experience in dealing with such issues for assistance and advice in completing the paperwork accurately, completely and in time, to avoid any chances of an unsuccessful outcome.

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