Spousal Sponsorship in Canada: Who is the principal applicant?

Manmeet Kaur
[Published 03 May, 2024 | 03:03 PM]
About Author - 7 min read
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“Who is the principal applicant?” is the main question that arises when applying for spousal sponsorship in Canada.

When you apply for sponsorship, the main two roles are of the “Principal Applicant” or the sponsored person – who is applying for a permanent residence visa, and the “Sponsor” – who is supporting the principal applicant’s entry into Canada.

Both have different roles and requirements, crucial to fulfil to get visa approval.

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The Role of the Principal Applicant and the Sponsor

Principal Applicant

The ‘Principal Applicant’ is the spouse or common-law partner of the permanent resident or citizen in Canada who is applying for Canada PR from India through the spousal sponsorship program.

Here are the roles and responsibilities of the principal applicant:

• Types of Relationships

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognized three types of relationship in Canada spousal sponsorship cases:

Spouses: Couples who are married legally.

Common-law partners: Couples who are unmarried but have lived together for at least one year.

Conjugal partners: Couples who are not married and have not stayed together due to exceptional circumstances.

• Identification Documents

The principal applicant has to provide their identification documents with the applicant such as a valid passport, birth certificate, and others.

• Medical Exam Report and Police Clearance Certificate

Taking a medical examination to prove you are in good health to immigrate is crucial. In addition, the principal applicant has to provide police clearance certificates from all the countries they have stayed for at least six months or more since age 18.

• Complete the Application Forms

The principal applicant must submit all application forms with complete and correct information – to avoid further delays and rejections.

• Meeting Eligibility Requirements

It is important for the principal applicant to meet the eligibility requirements for Canada PR as not being inadmissible to Canada for security or criminal history will lead to disappointments.

• Be in touch with immigration officials

Communicate with the immigration officials, and provide any additional details or documents they might ask for while processing your application. Also, attend interviews, if requested.

The Sponsor

In spousal sponsorship, the ‘Sponsor’ is the one who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada – sponsoring their spouse or partner in India to come to Canada.

Here are the roles and responsibilities of a sponsor:

• Meet the eligibility requirements

The sponsor’s age must at least be 18 years. In addition, they must hold PR or citizenship of Canada, and meet minimum income requirements to demonstrate they can financially support the sponsored person.

• Commitment to providing financial support

The sponsor has to take responsibility for providing basic amenities to their partner or spouse – for a certain period – to make sure they don’t need any social assistance.

• Submit Canada sponsorship application

It is the responsibility of the sponsor to submit a complete sponsorship application with all documents and fees.

• Communicate with immigration officials

Be in touch with the Canadian immigration officials, who may ask you for additional information and provide updates on any changes in circumstances.

Other Family Members to Declare for Spousal Sponsorship Application

Both the principal applicant and the sponsor are required to declare all family members under Canadian immigration law, whether they will join the principal applicant or not.

If you fail to disclose a family member, this can lead to denial in future applications. The sponsor must prove they can provide basic amenities for all family members and not just the sponsored person.

Who to Declare?

Dependent Children: This category includes all biological, adopted, and step kids – no matter what their age or marital status is. If your kids are citizens of Canada, you can’t sponsor them for Canada PR.

Previous Spouses or Common-Law Partners: If you’ve been divorced, submit their details as part of the legal responsibility.

Other Dependents: Any family members who are financially dependent on the principal applicant or the sponsor must be included in the application, especially if they were included in previous sponsorship applications.

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Documents to prove your relationship is genuine for sponsorship

The documents you need to submit for spousal sponsorship will depend on the type of relationship:

For Spouses:

If the principal applicant and the sponsor are married, submit these documents:

• A Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Questionnaire (IMM 5532)
• A marriage certificate
• Proof that your marriage is registered with a government authority
• Provide evidence of divorce, if either of you was previously married
• Submit long-form birth certificates or adoption papers listing the names of both of you, if both of you have kids in common
• Wedding invitations and photographs

For Common-law Partners:

If you have lived together with your partner for at least one year, submit these documents with those listed under the spouses’ section – minus the marriage certificate, and wedding invitation and photographs:

• Financial support proof between the principal applicant and sponsor, and/or shared expenses.
• Proof your relationship is acknowledged by your friends and family.

If you are married or in a common-law relationship, provide two of the following set of documents:

• Proof of a residential property that you two bought together.
• The rental agreement mentions both of your names as inhabitants of a rental property.
• Evidence that you both have joint utility accounts.
• Vehicle insurance that states your name and has been acknowledged to the insurance company as a resident of the insured’s address.
• Copies of documents selected by the government for the principal applicant and sponsor showing the same address as a driver’s license.
• Any other document specified to any one of you – with the same address, whether the accounts are held together or not.

If you fail to provide any of the documents, submit a detailed written explanation. If you don’t, your Canada spousal sponsorship application will lead to a direct refusal. Further, you may both have to face legal repercussions for withholding information.

Meeting eligibility and providing proper documentation is the key to a successful sponsorship application approval. If you seek professional guidance, connect with the best immigration consultants in Mumbai, Nationwide Visas. Whether you need help with your application, documentation, finding jobs, or else, we’ve got you covered!

Get a free consultation session and determine the best option to apply for your situation.

Call us@ +91 92 92 92 92 81 or email us at info@nationwidevisas.com.

Good Luck!

Read More: 4 Ways To Immigrate To Canada From India As A Couple