Sponsoring your Spouse to Canada
If you plan to apply for spousal sponsorship to bring your foreign spouse to Canada, you may be wondering about how long the entire process will be. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada receive thousands of applications daily, so it is reasonable to expect a long processing time. Due to the fact that spousal sponsorship is one of the most popular applications that come and go through the immigration office, the processing time of a spousal sponsorship application can vary from case to case. By reading this blog, you will have a grasp of what factors can affect the processing time of your application.
Inland Sponsorship vs Outland Sponsorship
There are two different types of Spousal Sponsorship: Inland sponsorship and Outland sponsorship. The Inland sponsorship category allows the foreign spouse or partner to remain in Canada with a temporary resident status, which can be as a worker, student, or visitor. Applicants can also apply for an open work permit to work for any eligible Canadian employer while the application is processed. The outland sponsorship category applies to a situation where the principal applicant is living outside of Canada. If you are applying for outland sponsorship, the principal applicant may still be able to travel in and out of Canada during the application process, but the application will be processed through the visa office in the principal applicant’s country of origin or permanent residence.
Average Canadian Spousal Sponsorship Processing Time
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has set goal of helping individuals reunite with their family in Canada. That being said, IRCC has reduced the processing time for sponsorship applications. The Canadian spousal sponsorship processing time for both inland and outland is approximately 12 months. It is important to note that this processing time is just an estimate; it cannot be guaranteed and varies from case to case.
What Factors Can Affect the Spousal Sponsorship Processing Time
Completeness of Application
If you do not have all the required documents, or if your application forms are incomplete, it is very likely that the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will return or even refuse your application. As a result, we invite you to consult with an immigration expert for spousal sponsorship applications to avoid potential delays and refusals.
Location of Application
The processing times for spousal sponsorship can depend on the applicant’s country of residence.
Number of Applications
As previously mentioned, IRCC receives thousands of applications daily. That being said, the processing time of your spousal sponsorship application will depend on how many applications IRCC has received.
Why are there differences in processing times among regions and offices
Each country has its own regulations; Immigration offices often face different challenges operating in different countries and regions, and even in different offices within the same region. Furthermore, many other factors can affect the time it takes to process applications, including:
- the number of applications received at the office
- the resources at the office
- the length of time an applicant takes to respond to correspondence from the IRCC
- the need for medical exam
- the need for criminal background checks
- differences in mail service
How can I avoid delays
In order to avoid delays, it is highly recommended that you seek professional help and guidance prior to submitting your own application. If you are planning to submit the application on your own, make sure that you:
- double-check your application before submitting it
- carefully read the application guide for your immigration category and follow the instructions
- properly fill out, sign and date the application forms (make sure all questions are answered, and there are no blanks on the forms)
- include all the required documents as indicated on the application checklist
- pay the government fee and include the receipt in your application package
Remember, failure to submit a complete application can result in the delay or even the refusal of your application. The following can delay the processing time:
- Your medical exam and criminal background check take longer than usual
- You need to be interviewed
- You communicate by mail instead of using an online account
- How fast you respond to requests for information/documents
- The IRCC have high numbers of applications to process
Contact Akrami and Associates
Sponsoring your spouse/common-law partner/conjugal partner, dependent children, or other eligible relatives can help your family reunite in Canada. You may also enrich their lives by giving them a chance to live and prosper in a country that is culturally diverse and welcoming. Help. Furthermore, Canada may gain productive permanent residents to help contribute to the Canadian economy. However, applying for sponsorships can be very confusing and overwhelming, as there are different types of requirements that you would need to meet. It is important for you to pay close attention to every detail during your application process. The failure to do so could result in application refusal. Ultimately, it could make you ineligible to sponsor any individual in the future, or make you inadmissible to Canada if you are the principle applicant. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you seek professional help. Akrami & Associates work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients obtain permanent residency in Canada through the different types of sponsorship. If you have any questions regarding sponsorship applications, or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at 416-477-2545.
With Akrami & Associates there is always a way!!
