When does spouse have to leave her country after sponsorship is approved?

[garyd00]

My filipina wife to be and I are planning the timeline between our civil wedding in May 2015 and catholic church wedding in March 2016. I plan to submit her sponsorship application in late May/Early June 2015. From what I gather, it seems applications typically take 6-9 months to be approved. My question is, If she gets approved before March 2016 does she have to come to Canada right away? Or can she wait a few months and come to Canada after March 2016 when the catholic church wedding is completed?

 

[agarand8]

It will depend on the validity of her medical exam usually.

When they issue the landing visa there is a date which you must land in Canada by and that date usually corresponds with the expirey date of the medical. The medical is good for 1 year from the date that CIC receives it. Sometimes they extend the medical if you are approved close to the date. If your processing goes beyond a year past the medical they will probably ask you to do another one.

I recently received my passport request and it says right in the letter the date by which my hubby has to land, so you'll know when you receive it. They could give you a month, 6 months, 3 weeks. Honestly I've heard of cases where the person literally has days to get to Canada. You can't really know how it's going to play out.