Spousal sponsorship is intended to facilitate the reunification of families which is one of the cornerstones of Canadian immigration policy.
The eligibility requirements, guidelines and instructions for spousal sponsorship are clearly provided on the IRCC website. Spousal sponsorship comes under Family Class immigration and a successful outcome requires that both sponsor and spouse are approved by IRCC before the spouse can get a visa.
Canada recognizes same-sex relationships/marriages and these are evaluated using the same parameters as those that are used to assess heterosexual marriages and relationships.
Important Aspects That Are Assessed
A “spouse” is someone who has entered into a valid marriage with you, according to the laws pertaining to the jurisdiction where the marriage took place. This should also be recognized by Canadian laws. The spouse being sponsored should be above 18 years of age.
In general, documentation should establish that:
- the couple has a mutual commitment to a shared future
- they are in an exclusive, intimate relationship which includes sexual intimacy
- they should be interdependent emotionally, socially, physically and financially
- the relationship is genuine, permanent, long-term and continual
- they present themselves as a couple
- they are regarded by others as being married partners
Relevant documentation/photos/certificates are required to prove that you are married.
Spousal Sponsorship Interview
Spousal sponsorship interviews are not part of the usual routine under the immigration process. As long as the documentation provided is clear and consistent proof of a married, ongoing relationship, the application can be processed without an interview.
However, interviews are required if:
- the application needs to be evaluated more fully
- there are gaps or inconsistencies that have to be addressed
- there is a need to confirm details about identities and relationships
- admissibility questions arise
If you are called for a spousal sponsorship interview, it’s important to be well-prepared, calm and organized in your thoughts.
Preparing For The Interview
The easiest way to avoid interviews is to make sure that your application and documentation are in apple-pie order.
- Remember that the visa officer has a concern about something on your application/documentation that needs to be clarified. Go through your application once more to avoid hesitation or fumbling while answering.
- The couple may have to undergo separate interviews and any inconsistencies could affect credibility. This is a common problem in arranged marriages where the couple had little contact before marriage.
- Honesty and clarity work every time. Your answers will be cross-matched against those on your application. If there are mistakes or gaps, you have to be able to give valid reasons.
- It’s impossible to predict what you will be asked. No two interviews are the same. However, in general, the questions focus on personal/intimate aspects of your life together. These questions are designed to find inconsistencies/contradictions that indicate that you are not in a genuine marriage but one undertaken only for immigration purposes.
- Proof of joint residence, joint bank accounts/property ownership, tax-receipts, utility-bills, etc can be produced as evidence if required.
- Based on your country of origin, culture, religion, ethnicity, etc, questions may deal with marriage ceremony, arranged marriage customs, religious traditions, details of the ceremonies with photos, if you have spent time apart, communication in the form of text messages, email, Skype, etc. Social media posts can be used as proof. Simple questions like each other’s phone numbers, address, parents’/siblings’ names, etc may be asked.
Genuine applicants have nothing to worry about. An experienced, well-established, reputed immigration consultant can also give you the right advice and assistance.
