Canada values family reunification and also encourages immigrants to sponsor their loved ones to settle with them. If you’re planning to move to Canada from India and wish to bring your spouse or partner with you, apply for Canada's spousal sponsorship program. It allows permanent residents and citizens of Canada to reunite with their loved ones and start a new life in Canada.
Keep in that that the process of bringing them could be complicated and consume a lot of your time. Also, it requires the submission of documents required for spouse visa Canadafor success.
As for the Canada spousal sponsorship application process time, it takes about 12 months to be processed. So, it is best to start the process early to ensure a timely process.
Increase processing times
According to the Annual Report of 2023 to Parliament on Immigration from IRCC, it confirmed that the family sponsorship program is the second preferred way for Canada immigration after Express Entry.
A rise in the number of sponsored spouses and common-law partners in Canada between 2018 and 2022 was also seen in the report. But there was a brief decline in that number in 2020, as global disruptions were caused COVID-19 pandemic.
This affected the processing time for Canada sponsorship applications, increasing it – posing a challenge to family reunification efforts.
Options to bring your spouse or common-law partner to Canada soon
12 is a long time to wait for your sponsorship application to get processed. However, to address this issue, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has given two options to lower the overall time of the application process.
Option 1: Apply forOpen Work Permit
The spouses or partners of PR holders and citizens of Canada can apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) and move to Canada, provided they meet the following requirements:
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Show evidence that they are in a genuine relationship with you – the PR or citizen of Canada.
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Have an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) attached to the PR application that shows it is being processed.
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They must live with you in Canada.
SOWP applications are processed within 60 days. Also, your spouse or partner in India must follow the additional steps that are instructed by IRCC and submit a complete application with documents for a Canada spouse visa to get visa approval.
Option 2:Apply for Visitor Visa
Another option to bring your spouse or common-law partner sooner to Canada is to apply for a Canada visitor visa from India. This visa is also called Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), which allows them to visit you while their PR application is being processed. However, they must meet the following requirements to get the visa:
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They must have a valid passport
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They should be in good health
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They must not have any criminal background or immigration-related convictions
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They should be able to convince an immigration officer that they have ties back home like employment, family, or financial assets
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They must prove that they have enough funds to stay in Canada
The visitor visa application submitted from outside Canada is processed within 14 days. Your spouse or common-law partner may also need to give a medical examination and/or a letter of invitation from you.
Measures by IRCC
To strengthen the Family Sponsorship Program, IRCC started new measures in May 2023.
The measure improved the processing tools for spousal TRV/visitor visa applicants and the temporary public policy enabling Open Work Permit extensions was highly anticipated and welcomed. These measures not only prioritize family reunification but also demonstrate Canada's dedication to helping newcomers integrate into society.
Connect today with the best immigration consultants in Delhi at Nationwide Visas to deeply understand the process of a Canada spouse visa from India.
Good Luck!
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