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Family reunification is one of the most common goals for people applying to Canada. Through the Canadian Spouse PR program, Canadians and permanent residents can sponsor their spouses, common-law partners or conjugal partners to come live in Canada as a permanent resident. With this exhaustive guide you will have everything about the application process, eligibility criteria and an important tip not known to all.

Understanding the Spouse PR Program

The program for Spouse PR is to allow families to live together, and parties that have been sponsored for all to live in Canada. It is a 2 staged process:

1. Application to Sponsor: Canadian citizen or permanent resident applies to sponsor their partner.
2. Application for Spousal Sponsorship: In this, the spouse being sponsored submits his or her own application for permanent residence.

Eligibility Criteria for Spouse PR

You and your sponsor will need to meet these requirements to be eligible for the Spouse PR program:

• Authentic Relationship: You need to have a real relationship with your Canadian sponsor.
• Financial ability to support: Your sponsor will need to show you they can afford to provide financial assistance for you and your dependent children.
• Medical Test: You might need to take a medical exam if you could customarily do harm to the health of Canada.
• Criminal Background Check: You must have a criminal background check to prove you have no record that would be enough for you to be found inadmissible into Canada.

Documents Required for Spouse PR Application

Here is the list of documents generally needed in a Spouse PR application;

• Proof of relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificates for children or affidavits declaring common-law relationship.
• Evidence of financial support (e.g. copies of income tax returns, pay stubs, or bank statements).
• Medical examination results
• Criminal background check
• Passport and ID papers

Processing Times for Spouse PR

The processing time of Spouse PR applications is subject to the completeness of your application and the volume of applications in process. This being said, IRCC has done some work to speed up the process.

Tips for a Successful Spouse PR Application

• Plan Well: Make sure that you have your documentation in order and completed accurately.
• Wait: Immigration is a long process and it is important to be patient and observe instructions carefully.
• Professional Help: If you are not clear about anything during your application process, it is always advisable to seek help from an immigration lawyer or consultant.
• Remain Informed: Stay up to date on developments related to the Spouse PR program by regularly checking the IRCC website and other credible sources of information.

Additional Considerations

• Common-Law Partnerships: Also, if you have a common-law partnership with your Canadian sponsor, you must live together for at least one year in a conjugal relationship before applying for the Spouse PR.
• Conjugal Partnerships: If you are in a conjugal relationship with your Canadian sponsor, this means you have been in committed and exclusive relationship for over one-year, however,due to legal or practical barriers he / she cannot live with each other.
• Your Dependent Children: If you have dependent children then there may be a good chance of your children being able to migrate to Canada with their parents who are moving there under the Spouse PR application.
• Spousal Sponsorship Outside Canada: If you are outside of Canada, then, you will need to obtain a temporary resident visa (TRV) to go to Canada while your Spouse PR application is being processed.
• Post-Arrival Services: After becoming a permanent resident, you can access post-arrival services like Language training, employment support etc.

Conclusion

Spouse PR is a route for the permanent residence in Canada of those individuals who live in the country with the Canadian citizen or Permanent resident from another place. If you want to apply so that you can reunite with your family and stay in the UK after 2021, then make sure that you understand the new rules and are properly prepared. If you have questions, or concerns about the Spouse PR process remember to ask a lawyer’s advice.