Recently, likely due to the summer wedding season being in full effect, I have been approached by several individuals considering the spousal sponsorship process.

The increased interest in sponsoring a spouse may also be tied to the increasing difficulty of obtaining permanent residence through other economic streams. Particularly for young international couples  whose study permits, post graduate permits, and International Experience Class work permits are running out, the need to tie the knot in order to stay together becomes a date-ruining dinner time conversation.

As part one of a multi-part series, I will try and cover some of the challenges associated with spousal sponsorship applications.

So what are some considerations to consider prior to embarking on an application to sponsor?

1. Where are the potential Applicant and Sponsor currently residing and what is their legal status there? What is the Applicant’s immigration status in Canada?

This question is important for several reasons. To file an Inside Canada spousal sponsorship application, there is a requirement for the Applicant to actually be in Canada.

For Outside Canada spousal sponsorships, there is also the potential option of selecting the Visa Office that processes the second part of your Application. You can apply to a Visa Office that is not your country of citizenship if you currently hold legal status in that country and have done so for more than one consecutive year. This may be particularly useful for applicants who are citizens in a country such as Pakistan (currently 40 month processing time) but have legal status by virtue of study or work in London, England (currently 28 month processing time).

It is also important to consider their status (if they are in Canada). Do they have temporary resident status in Canada now? When does that status expire?  Are they out of status?

These questions will affect what procedure you ultimately choose in sponsoring.

2. What is the status of your relationship? 

Closely related to the above question of immigration status is the question of relationship status. Under Canadian Immigration Law you can sponsor a spouse or common law partner if:

(1) they are your legal spouse (i.e. you married);

(2) they are your common-law partner (at least 1 year of cohabitation and currently cohabiting in conjugal relationship);

(3) they have been in a conjugal relationship with you for one year (unable to cohabit due to persecution or penal control);

In addition to determining whether you have met the above categories, it is also important to ask yourself whether you have the evidence to show that you have met the above categories. For example for you and your common-law partner: Do you have proof that you have co-rented or co-leased a place to live for over a year? Do you have a joint bank account showing a conjugal (not just roommate) relationship?

These are all very relevant questions in determining common-law status as well as relationship genuineness at a later stage.

3. What are current application processing times?

Currently for Inside Canada spousal sponsorship applications the processing time is 26 months. This time is encapsulated in 17 months to obtain a first-stage approval that the relationship is bona-fide. In an Inside Canada sponsorship all of the processing takes place in Canada at Case Processing Centre Mississauga (CPC-M). Interviews, if necessary, are generally arranged at the local CIC office in the city which you reside and will require attendance by both Applicant and Sponsor.

Currently for an Outside Canada spousal sponsorship application, the processing time varies from 5 to 40 months depending on Visa Office. Note that this in addition to the assessment of the sponsor which currently takes 55 days. In an Outside Canada process, the sponsor assessment occurs at CPC-M before the application is sent to a visa post abroad for assessment of the bona fides. Interviews, if necessary, are arranged outside Canada and will require attendance by both Applicant and Sponsor.

Why is it important whether you have an immigration officer in Pakistan or London assesses your application? Asides from the level of scrutiny that may possibly differ (statistics don’t show too much of a correlation between visa posts), it will definitely affect the time it takes to make a decision.

Here are the processing times accessed from CIC as of 02/06/2015.

The tables below indicate application processing times at Canadian visa offices once Step 1 has been completed. The times are based on how long it took to process 80 percent of all cases between April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015. Processing times are subject to change.

• Africa and Middle East
• Asia and Pacific
• Europe
• Americas

Last quarterly update: May 20, 2015

Africa and Middle East

Visa Office	Processing Times IN MONTHS (based on a complete application package)
Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates	13
Accra – Ghana	16
Amman – Jordan	24
Ankara – Turkey	11
Beirut – Lebanon	16
Cairo – Egypt	18
Dakar – Senegal	21
Nairobi – Kenya	22
Pretoria – South Africa	15
Rabat – Morocco	8
Tel Aviv – Israel	9

Asia and Pacific

Visa Office	Processing Times IN MONTHS (based on a complete application package)
Beijing – China	10
Colombo – Sri Lanka	10
Hong Kong – China	10
Islamabad – Pakistan	40
Manila – Philippines	17
New Delhi – India	16
Singapore – Singapore	28
Sydney – Australia	11

Europe

Visa Office	Processing Times IN MONTHS (based on a complete application package)
Bucharest – Romania	17
Kyiv – Ukraine	12
London – United Kingdom	28
Moscow – Russia	24
Paris – France	8
Rome – Italy	12
Vienna – Austria	16
Warsaw – Poland	12

Americas

Visa Office	Processing Times IN MONTHS (based on a complete application package)
Bogota – Colombia	12
Buenos Aires – Argentina	14
Guatemala City – Guatemala	–
Havana – Cuba	10
Kingston – Jamaica	23
Lima – Peru	10
Los Angeles – United States	29
Mexico City – Mexico	17
New York – United States	35
Ottawa (Case Processing Centre) – Canada	16
Port-au-Prince – Haiti	23
Port of Spain – Trinidad and Tobago	17
Santiago – Chile	22
Santo Domingo – Dominican Republic	14
Sao Paulo – Brazil	5

Notes

• You can view your application status online.
• If it has been longer than the time shown above since you applied and your visa office has not contacted you, you may wish to contact the visa office that is processing your application. The Call Centre does not have information about applications processed outside Canada.
• (–) indicates that not enough data are available. Processing times are shown only where an office has finalized 10 or more cases in the past 12 months.

SOURCE: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

4. Should I choose the Inside Canada or Outside Canada process?

As alluded to earlier, Applicants currently residing in Canada have a choice of applying for an Inside Canada spousal sponsorship (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp)  or, if they have temporary resident status and reside in Canada, an Outside Canada spousal sponsorship (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp). Applicants applying from outside Canada can only utilize the Outside of Canada process.

Note with an Outside Canada application you will also need to show that there will be an effort to bring the spouse to Canada to reside permanently upon being granted permanent resident status.

An Inside Canada spousal sponsorship application certainly has its advantages, among which include:

1. If the Applicant has valid temporary resident status after 4 month processing, there is currently a pilot project for a spousal open work permit which will allow the Applicant to work in Canada for any employer in Canada;
2. The Applicant can still have their application processed without holding temporary resident status and has the benefit of an administrative deferral of 60 days in most circumstances (in which time the application will be processed) if removal proceedings are issued against the Applicant;
3. For those who currently have temporary status and apply to extend their temporary status in Canada along with their in-Canada spousal permanent residence application, they can have implied status for the duration of the processing or until they leave Canada;
4. The entire process occurs in Canada, there is no need to travel abroad for an interview at a foreign visa post;

However, there are also several disadvantages:

1. The spouse/common-law partner needs to reside and live together in Canada for the duration of processing. Any separation (particularly outside of Canada travel by one party) may effect severance of the common-law relationship;
2. Any denial of re-entry for the Applicant to return into Canada will lead to refusal of the in-Canada application and will trigger the requirement to reapply (likely using the Outside Canada process);
3. You have no rights to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division in the case of your application being refused. Your only recourse is the Federal Court where the visa officer’s decision is reviewed on the difficult to challenge standards of reasonableness and correctness;
4. There is currently a 26 month processing time for these applications in which time the Applicant will not be a permanent resident of Canada; and
5. The open spousal work permit is a pilot project and subject to change. Previous to the new pilot program, spousal work permits were only issued after 17 months of processing, meaning many couples had to rely solely on the Sponsor’s income for 17 months;

An Outside Canada spousal sponsorship application also has its advantages:

1. The Applicant and Sponsor do not need to reside together in Canada and can pursue options either abroad or in Canada;
2. There is a general right to the Immigration Appeal Division in the event your Spousal Sponsorship application is refused (except in serious criminality, misrepresentation, terrorism,  etc.). At the IAD you will have a second chance in a de novo (new) hearing to prove the genuineness and purpose of your marriage (should that be the ground for refusal).

However, there are also several disadvantages:

1. There is no right to an open spousal work permit and you will likely have to obtain the ability to work in Canada through under means;
2. Couples may have some challenges spending immediate time together in Canada where the Applicant is from a country where a TRV is required and prior to the submission of an Outside of Canada spousal sponsorship. However, I have found that several applicants who have applied for Outside Canada spousal sponsorships are able to get TRVs on the basis of a pending spousal (family reunification) as long as they demonstrate dual intent and the ability to effect departure at the end of their authorized stay; 

5. Applying for a Fiancee/Boyfriend/Girlfriend Visa

Having been through this myself, I can tell you that one of the most frustrating challenges is separation from a fiancee, boyfriend, or girlfriend from a country where a TRV is required and who (1) cannot qualify for another category of immigration; and (2) wants to be able to spend time with you in Canada prior to a marriage (or even so a marriage can take place here in Canada);

From my research into these types of TRV applications, there is no magic formula other than to be full and frank with your disclosure of the underlying relationship and to heavily emphasize the ties to the Applicant’s home country.

I have met quite a few individuals whom, for whatever reason, are hesitant of divulging their true “fiancee” status and opt to try and obtain a travel visa instead, without disclosing the relationship as the primary purpose or a purpose for travel.  While a visa may be issued at this stage, down the road, this omission may necessarily create contradictions when you are asked on your spousal application about the details of your relationship.

A signed letter from the Applicant declaring they understand the requirements of Canadian immigration law and understand that even though they may have the intention to reside permanently in Canada in the future, but fully intend to leave Canada when authorized may be useful.

Once you are able to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa, pending sponsorship, you will certainly have more a flexibility to choose where to get married and what process (Inside Canada or Outside Canada) to choose.