The Canadian government has put in place travel restrictions and cut back on some immigration services to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has enacted special procedures to help reduce the spread of the virus and protect Canadians. IRCC is open and is accepting and processing Spousal Sponsorship Permanent Resident Applications during this period.
IRCC special procedures during COVID provide for extra time to submit required spousal sponsorship PR application required supporting documentation. According to the IRCC website,
No application in progress will be closed or refused due to a lack of documentation. We’ll automatically give you an extra 90 days to complete these steps. Once you’re able to, complete the steps as soon as possible to avoid delays.
Ackah Business Immigration Law's virtual offices are open
and we are accepting new clients and processing spousal sponsorship applications.
Facts About Spousal Sponsorship During the Coronavirus Crisis
- IRCC is open and processing Spousal Sponsorship Permanent Resident Applications during the COVID special procedures restrictions.
- Canada has implemented national travel restrictions between March 18 and June 30, 2020.
- Canada is allowing immediate family of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to enter Canada provided they follow COVID quarantine restrictions:
- Immediate family members must show that they’re coming to Canada for essential reasons and not reasons that are optional or discretionary, such as tourism, recreation or entertainment.
- If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check conducted by airlines before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
- When you arrive in Canada, we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll be quarantined in a facility designated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.
Who Can Travel to Canada During COVID-19 Restrictions?
IRCC has confirmed that the following individuals can continue to travel to Canada between now and June 30. IRCC has asked that exempted individuals continue to monitor the federal government’s website before they book their return travel to Canada:
- Canadian citizens
- Permanent residents
- Immediate family of Canadian citizens and permanent residents including spouses and common-law partners
- Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence prior to March 16 and who had not yet travelled to Canada
- Temporary foreign workers
- International students who held a valid study permit or had been approved for one as of March 18
- Transiting passengers
What Is The Definition of Immediate Family?
According to IRCC, immediate family means:
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent child
- Grandchild
- Parent or step-parent
- Guardian or tutor
FREE DOWNLOAD: HOW TO SPONSOR YOUR SPOUSE TO MOVE TO CANADA
What Are Spousal Sponsorship Requirements to Move to Canada?
The Family Class Application (Spousal Sponsorship path) is a way for a permanent resident or citizen of Canada to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner (including same-sex partner), parents, grandparents and dependent children to immigrate to Canada.
There are three main categories of immigration for loved ones who are citizens of other countries:
- Spousal Sponsorship
- Common-Law Sponsorship
- Conjugal Sponsorship
You can become a spousal sponsor if you meet the following qualifications:
- At least 18 years old
- A Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident living in Canada
- If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative(s) become(s) a permanent resident.
- You can’t sponsor someone if you are a permanent resident living outside Canada.
- Able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- Can provide for the basic needs of any person you are sponsoring (and in some limited situations, that you meet the low-income cut-off).
Spousal sponsorship to immigrate to Canada can be a complex area and each situation is unique. Legal advice from an experienced immigration lawyer can save you time and money and prevent application delays or denials.
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