If we are not able to get approval, then your partner will need to wait outside Canada during the processing of the spousal sponsorship, which is not the end of the world, but most often than not, a pretty distressful situation for most of my couple clients. Therefore important to have adequate representation on file to guide you through what is “normal” and what is not. As lawyers having submitted thousands of files, we know that these documents are not sufficient and could easily result in the refusal of your application or cause long delays. Once the documents are submitted to our office, we will then ask you to complete a questionnaire about the details of your relationship, from the first moment you met, your fist kiss, to dating and to either the proposal and marriage or the permanent cohabitation as well as your future plans as a couple. I am often surprised at my clients who are impatient and end up in distress when the processing of their application is not going three times faster then what is posted! This major news has just been announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). We will then be submitting the application by courier to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga where takes place the first step – the eligibility of the sponsor. Send the envelope to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M), Ontario. Home. Canada Spousal Sponsorship 2018 / 2020. The application will now process at the visa post abroad (Embassy, High Commission or Consulate General). Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there have been complaints that Canada’s spousal sponsorship processing times are taking too long. If the sponsorship application hasn’t been submitted yet: Put the sponsorship, permanent residence and open work permit applications into one envelope. I have often been pleasantly surprised when some applications took a few months from beginning to end. CIC provides on its website approximate processing times for each visa post abroad on sponsorships – these processing times are regularly updated. Clients often ask me to call the Embassy or send a request to expedite or “find out what is going on.” Some clients even try to call the Embassy or show up in person to demand an explanation! For this, we have prepared, over the years, a very accurate and detailed list of documents which will reflect the relationship of the couple and the reasons why the application should be approved. In some cases, if the applicant is already living in Canada under proper status, the record can continue to process in Mississauga or be sent to Ottawa for processing. Processing Times. Also, it should be reminded that it is a privilege to become a permanent resident of Canada, and eventually a Canadian citizen, not a right. We ask you these questions because as lawyers when we submit any application, we include at the top of the package what we call in legal terms a “submission letter” (cover letter). This will allow the officer to fully understand the story and avoid back and forth questions or requirements of documents by the Canadian Embassy. This is where a lot of couples get frustrated and impatient! These are all matters which should be addressed in the submission letter with complete explanations. If you want to sponsor your adopted child or an orphaned family member, follow the instructions to sponsor your adopted child instead. If you choose to withdraw your application, you won’t get the $75 CAN sponsorship fee back. My experience has also shown me that a complete application with strong supporting documents tends, in most cases, to drastically reduce the average processing time. Transfer of Application for Further Processing. Then, the sponsor has to meet the eligibility criteria, such as not be bankrupt, not be on welfare, not be in default of any spousal or child support and finally, not have been convicted of any crimes of violent nature against a family member. None of these actions are solutions and in fact, can negatively affect your application. This is standard practice. We must then demonstrate that as a couple, you are eligible to apply. The specific documents we submit will contain accurate information which will assist the immigration officer reviewing your application in making an affirmative determination. This year, the Spousal Sponsorship Processing Time to Canada for both inland and Outland has an average of Twelve (12) months. As the client, you will be able to review the entire application along with the submission letter to ensure that it is to your liking. The letter will also usually indicate that the application has now been forwarded to the visa office abroad responsible for your file. There is much more that comes into play when preparing an adequate and complete application. This process can take anywhere from 2-5 months depending on the backlog of the office, even though the CIC website oscillates between 1-2 months for the processing time of this first step. You have to be married, in a common law relationship (living together for at least one year) or be conjugal partners. A backlog means that there are many pending applications and often only 1 or 2 immigration officers on duty to review and complete these files. Once the eligibility of the sponsor is approved, we will receive a letter indicating so. If we refuse you as a sponsor, you can choose to have us continue processing the application for permanent residence for your family members. In some cases, files might process faster but, most often than not, much much longer. IRCC (FEDERAL)'s Processing Time. If the sponsor were herself/himself sponsored to Canada, then she/he would not be able to sponsor a spouse for 5 years. However, there are other options and steps you can take in order to see your spouse sooner than the time it takes for this to process. Are you looking for an answer to your immigration question? BACK. You’ll get all other fees back. Once you hire us as your immigration lawyer, we will provide you with a list of documents and specific instructions to start preparing the application. Further, my experience has been that every couple is different and every story is different – it is important to demonstrate how unique each application is. Google Sites. An overseas spousal sponsorship is not about only filling up forms and providing a marriage certificate as well as a couple of pictures. The procedures on marital spousal sponsorships are indicated on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. You can check General processing times at for IRCC (Federal) & MIDI (Quebec) here. Factors That Affect the Spouse Visa Processing Time 2019/2020. As experienced professionals dealing with CIC on a daily basis, we are here to guide you and provide you with the clear answer as to what you can expect. 1. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada website provides with the minimum documentation to be submitted. You and your partner are not simply a file number but real people, with real feelings, emotions and ambitions. The procedures on marital spousal sponsorships are indicated on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. If you want us to continue processing, you won’t get any fees back. Once this portion is completed, the documents and the submission letter, we will then ask you to fill out a series of immigration forms. However, the information is of general nature, and once the process is in place, applicants and sponsors can easily be confused as to what are the steps left to finalize the application and have their partner finally travel to Canada. What I tell my client is that the 12-month waiting time is a glimpse of a moment when you look at the long-term plan of being re-united with your spouse in Canada forever. How will we know as lawyers what extra information to include in the submission? However, having practiced immigration law for so many years, I can confidently say that about 50% of the cases are processed in the time frame indicated by CIC. However, this should be taken with a grain of salt – as I always say: “In immigration, we hope for the best, but we are prepared for the worst.”. Once the file has been assigned to an immigration officer, the officer will submit requests, usually in the forms of emails or letters requesting updated forms, new clearances, sometimes updated medicals and other information about the spouses.