Spouse Sponsorship

[fanon76]

Hi everyone,
I'm a permanent resident of Canada and want to marry my girlfriend and sponsor her to stay with me here in Canada. She is on visitor visa now. If anyone knows about the worst case scenario for spouse sponsorship, I would appreciate to share it here with me. I would like to know what consequences it may have for me in the future? I'm asking this because it'll be my second marriage and I just want to act more cautiously.

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,
I'm a permanent resident of Canada and want to marry my girlfriend and sponsor her to stay with me here in Canada. She is on visitor visa now. If anyone knows about the worst case scenario for spouse sponsorship, I would appreciate to share it here with me. I would like to know what consequences it may have for me in the future? I'm asking this because it'll be my second marriage and I just want to act more cautiously.

You are financially responsible for her for three years from the date she lands and becomes a PR. What this means is that if she goes on social assistance / welfare at any time during these three years - you will be responsible for paying this money back to the government. Even if you break up / divorce, you will still be financially responsible for the full three years - there is no way to get out of this obligation. This can amount to tens of thousands of dollars. That's your worst case.

 

[fanon76]

You are financially responsible for her for three years from the date she lands and becomes a PR. What this means is that if she goes on social assistance / welfare at any time during these three years - you will be responsible for paying this money back to the government. Even if you break up / divorce, you will still be financially responsible for the full three years - there is no way to get out of this obligation. This can amount to tens of thousands of dollars. That's your worst case.

what if she signs a contract with me confirming that she will not expect me any money after divorce? I think it's called "pro bono"

 

[scylla]

what if she signs a contract with me confirming that she will not expect me any money after divorce? I think it's called "pro bono"

Won't make a difference. You will still be responsible for paying any money she takes in the form of social assistance. There is no way (legal or otherwise) out of this obligation. You're either good accepting this obligation - or you don't sponsor her.

The contract you will be signing when you apply to sponsor her is with IRCC (not with her). Your legal obligation to repay money is therefore with the government of Canada - not with her. There's nothing stopping her from taking social assistance if she qualifies. If she takes social assistance, the government has the legal right to recoup this money from you.

 

[fanon76]

Won't make a difference. You will still be responsible for paying any money she takes in the form of social assistance. There is no way (legal or otherwise) out of this obligation. You're either good accepting this obligation - or you don't sponsor her.

The contract you will be signing when you apply to sponsor her is with IRCC (not with her). Your legal obligation to repay money is therefore with the government of Canada - not with her. There's nothing stopping her from taking social assistance if she qualifies. If she takes social assistance, the government has the legal right to recoup this money from you.

It's $400 in BC for a single person monthly if she doesn't have disability but still needs income assistance. right? in that case that amount of money is not devastating.

 

[scylla]

It's $400 in BC for a single person monthly if she doesn't have disability but still needs income assistance. right? in that case that amount of money is not devastating.

It's $710.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance.

$400 is the earning exemption. That's something completely different.

 

[fanon76]

It's $710.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance.

$400 is the earning exemption. That's something completely different.

oh ok thanks Scylla.

 

[scylla]

oh ok thanks Scylla.

So assuming no kids, worst case you're looking at around $25K.

 

[fanon76]

So assuming no kids, worst case you're looking at around $25K.

true! in 3 years