Spouse vs. spouse + dependent

[MarkGuy]

I was talking with a family member recently about how CIC would view these two types of applications in general.

I still have an option to include my spouse's dependent child as accompanying or not.
At this point in time the dependent does not want to immigrate to Canada.
I figure it is better to include them in the application as accompanying, simply because it keeps the door open in case the dependent changes her mind in the future.

According to the CIC docments, if you don't include them as accompanying (you even have to sign a specific document acknowledging the repercussions of it) you cannot sponsor them in the future. They would be on their own if they wished to apply to immigrate to Canada.

So my question:
Will CIC treat a straight spouse-only application any differently from a spouse + dependent child application in theory AND in practice?

That is, will CIC be more inclined to grant a visa to just a spouse rather than spouse + dependent, all other things being equal?

Anyone know from experience? TIA

 

[Leon]

You can list the child as not accompanying and can still have the option to sponsor as long as the child does the medicals. I don't think there is any difference in processing time between spouse with child and spouse with no child. What could possibly cause a delay is if it is not possible to get the medicals done for the child. That is when you would have to sign a statement saying that you realize that the child can never be sponsored etc. Immigration may want to know that everything possible has been done to try to get the medicals and get the statement notarized etc.

 

[MarkGuy]

You can list the child as not accompanying and can still have the option to sponsor as long as the child does the medicals...

Thanks Leon. I would just like to clarify.
It was my understanding that if the dependent (21 years old now) is not accompanying now, then they would have to remain in school and not get married until such time as they decided to immigrate to Canada.

The situation is such, that the dependent will likely no longer be in school by the time the application is sent to CIC. Given this information, are you still saying that "You can list the child as not accompanying and can still have the option to sponsor as long as the child does the medicals." ?

Or would this change your response?

Also, I wasn't really looking at whether a spouse + dependent application would take more time to process (over a simple spouse application) but rather whether it would be approved with more caution and scrutiny than a straight spousal-only application.
After all CIC would be taking on the risk of two people instead of one.

Thoughts?

 

[Leon]

Yes, that would change things. You can not sponsor the child later if the child does not meet the definition of dependent any more. If he was 18 and you list him as not accompanying and at 20 he changes his mind, you can still sponsor him. If he's 21 and by the time you want to sponsor him he is 22 and not in school, it is too late. In that case, make him accompanying, he can land shortly before the visa expiry to buy time and then he still has 3 years to be outside Canada before he loses his PR. It gives him plenty of time to change his mind.

As for the processing time, with an adult child, there might be more time needed for background checks but even if listed as not accompanying, they would do them anyway. If he refuses to do medicals, he would be excluded from the application from the start but then the statement is needed.

 

[MarkGuy]

... If he's 21 and by the time you want to sponsor him he is 22 and not in school, it is too late. In that case, make him accompanying, he can land shortly before the visa expiry to buy time and then he still has 3 years to be outside Canada before he loses his PR. It gives him plenty of time to change his mind.

Thanks, this is what I have been intending to do.

As for the processing time, with an adult child, there might be more time needed for background checks but even if listed as not accompanying, they would do them anyway. If he refuses to do medicals, he would be excluded from the application from the start but then the statement is needed.

Processing time really isn't what I was inquiring about. The dependent is doing medicals, so that isn't an issue either.


My main question though still hasn't been answered:

"Will CIC treat a straight spouse-only application any differently from a spouse + dependent child application in theory AND in practice?

That is, will CIC be more inclined to grant a visa to just a spouse rather than spouse + dependent, all other things being equal?

Anyone know from experience? TIA "

 

[Leon]

It's not about "more willing". Immigration doesn't get to decide who they grant a visa based on what they feel like. Well, to a point but not really. They have to be able to justify their decisions so they go through the same steps either way. Is the relationship for immigration purposes only? Are the people being sponsored criminals? Do they have health problems that would put the Canadian public in danger? Does it look like they will all be on welfare? If not, they really have to approve. They can't just go and say, well, because this woman has a dependent child who is 21 and we see from his picture that he is not good looking or he has the wrong color shirt, then we will not approve her.

 

[MarkGuy]

It's not about "more willing". Immigration doesn't get to decide who they grant a visa based on what they feel like. Well, to a point but not really. They have to be able to justify their decisions so they go through the same steps either way...

OK, thanks very much Leon.