Sponsoring my spouse while living abroad

[mateostanley]

Hi there, I have a hopefully simple question about sponsoring my spouse to get permanent residency in Canada.

I am a Canadian citizen by birth, my wife is Nicaraguan. We both currently live in Nicaragua and she has never been to Canada.

Our plan is to move to Canada and live there for the foreseeable future, and visit Nicaragua again for shorter periods of time once her residency is established. My question is, do we apply for "outland sponsorship" or "inland"? My first inclination is that we should apply for outland sponsorship because I have not been in Canada for the last 3 years, we both live in Nicaragua and were married here.

But I read somewhere on the CIC website that Canadian citizens traveling as a tourist do not count as living abroad. According to Nicaragua, I'm a tourist because I do not have permanent residency in Nicaragua. On paper, I'm still living in Canada because my bank is there, I have an address and all my mail and bills go to that address.

So which one do we apply for?

And if we apply for outland, I have to prove that we intend to live in Canada... how do I do that? I would have thought that was rather obvious by the $1,000 I'm putting down for the application... what is it they want to see as evidence?
Thanks

 

[scylla]

Both of you have to be physically in Canada to apply inland. If one or both of you are outside of Canada - you have to apply outland.

 

[screech339]

Hi there, I have a hopefully simple question about sponsoring my spouse to get permanent residency in Canada.

I am a Canadian citizen by birth, my wife is Nicaraguan. We both currently live in Nicaragua and she has never been to Canada.

Our plan is to move to Canada and live there for the foreseeable future, and visit Nicaragua again for shorter periods of time once her residency is established. My question is, do we apply for "outland sponsorship" or "inland"? My first inclination is that we should apply for outland sponsorship because I have not been in Canada for the last 3 years, we both live in Nicaragua and were married here.

But I read somewhere on the CIC website that Canadian citizens traveling as a tourist do not count as living abroad. According to Nicaragua, I'm a tourist because I do not have permanent residency in Nicaragua. On paper, I'm still living in Canada because my bank is there, I have an address and all my mail and bills go to that address.

So which one do we apply for?

And if we apply for outland, I have to prove that we intend to live in Canada... how do I do that? I would have thought that was rather obvious by the $1,000 I'm putting down for the application... what is it they want to see as evidence?
Thanks

Just because someone put down $1000 down for sponsorship doesn't mean they have proof of intending to "settle" in Canada. Since PR spouse will never lose PR status while living with a Canadian spouse abroad, it is easy to take of advantage of this. It is enticing for Canadian spouse to put down $1000 just so his/her spouse can land and obtain PR status one day and leave Canada the next day forever keeping PR status. $1000 for a spouse to get PR status will be a huge bargain if there are no requirements to prove "intent to settle" in Canada. To prevent this obvious abuse, CIC will need documentation that you will actually return to Canada to "settle".

 

[mateostanley]

Both of you have to be physically in Canada to apply inland. If one or both of you are outside of Canada - you have to apply outland.

Thanks so much! that answers my main question.

 

[canadianwoman]

Outland or inland does not depend on where the sponsor is. You can apply to sponsor her outland while you are in or out of Canada, because you are a Canadian citizen. Likewise, she can be in Canada or outside of Canada, and still be sponsored outland.
However, to sponsor her inland, both of you have to be in Canada, living together, for the duration of the processing. It is not advised for the applicant to leave Canada, because if she does and cannot get back in, the inland application is over.
Also, your official status in the country you are living in does not make much difference. Even if you are just a tourist in Nicaragua's eyes, you have been living there for 3 years, so you have been living outside of Canada according to CIC and would have to provide proof that you would return to Canada to live. You have some proof of ties to Canada, but would need more proof than that when you apply to sponsor your wife.

 

[mateostanley]

Outland or inland does not depend on where the sponsor is. You can apply to sponsor her outland while you are in or out of Canada, because you are a Canadian citizen. Likewise, she can be in Canada or outside of Canada, and still be sponsored outland.
However, to sponsor her inland, both of you have to be in Canada, living together, for the duration of the processing. It is not advised for the applicant to leave Canada, because if she does and cannot get back in, the inland application is over.
Also, your official status in the country you are living in does not make much difference. Even if you are just a tourist in Nicaragua's eyes, you have been living there for 3 years, so you have been living outside of Canada according to CIC and would have to provide proof that you would return to Canada to live. You have some proof of ties to Canada, but would need more proof than that when you apply to sponsor your wife.

Thanks! Do you have any idea what might constitute proof that would be sufficient for the CIC?

 

[canadianwoman]

Job searches or a job offer; searches for a place to live, or a lease or mortgage or home ownership; you can write a letter explaining your plans for settling in Canada, and provide whatever proof you can get. For example, you say where you will live, what the two of you will do for jobs, if there are any children you can show you have looked for schools, daycares, and activities for them, etc. If a family member or friend is going to be providing you with a place to stay or other support when you first arrive, get them to write a letter or affidavit stating this. You can also show your plans to leave Nicaragua: quotes for shipping things, a letter from her workplace saying she will be quitting, a letter from any school or other activity also saying you will be leaving.

 

[Hurlabrick]

Thanks! Do you have any idea what might constitute proof that would be sufficient for the CIC?

Wot Canadianwoman said. Plus have a read here:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spous...ow_do_I_prove_I_intend_to_return_to_Canada.3F

It can be done. I was born in Canada, but have lived in the UK since I was aged 12. I managed to 'prove' my intention to return to Canada.

 

[mateostanley]

Job searches or a job offer; searches for a place to live, or a lease or mortgage or home ownership; you can write a letter explaining your plans for settling in Canada, and provide whatever proof you can get. For example, you say where you will live, what the two of you will do for jobs, if there are any children you can show you have looked for schools, daycares, and activities for them, etc. If a family member or friend is going to be providing you with a place to stay or other support when you first arrive, get them to write a letter or affidavit stating this. You can also show your plans to leave Nicaragua: quotes for shipping things, a letter from her workplace saying she will be quitting, a letter from any school or other activity also saying you will be leaving.

Thanks! helps a lot. We'll be staying with my parents initially so I'll have them write a letter. Might be able to get a letter from my employer too.