On June 10, 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Mavi. The case involved an appeal from numerous Ontario residents regarding relief from the sponsorship undertakings that they had signed to sponsor a family class member. Potential immigrants under the family class are only eligible to apply for… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Spousal Sponsorship
Should Family Class Applicants have to Pass an English Language Test
Canada’s family class and the spousal sponsorship program have recently been hit with two significant changes that are largely based on immigration programs found in other Western nations. The first recent change is the proposed introduction of a sponsorship bar, which prohibits recently sponsored spouses from sponsoring a new spouse for three years after they… Continue Reading
CIC to Speed Up Processing of Successful Family Class Appeals
One of the frustrations people who successfully appeal family class decisions to the Immigration Appeal Division (“IAD”) often face is that there is a significant delay between when the IAD allows an appeal and when a mission abroad resumes processing. This delay is often several months. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has recognized this issue, and… Continue Reading
Conditional Permanent Residency for Spousal Sponsorships
The Canadian government has quietly put out a notice in the Gazette requesting comments on a proposal to introduce a conditional permanent residence period of two years or more for sponsored spouses and partners in a relationship of two years or less with their sponsors.… Continue Reading
Withdrawing a Spousal Sponsorship
The first question on the Application to Sponsor and Undertaking form asks…1) If you are found ineligible to sponsor, indicate whether you want to withdraw your sponsorship. All processing fees less $75 will be repaid OR to proceed with the application for permanent residence.… Continue Reading
Customary / Tribal Marriages and Immigrating to Canada
Marriage ceremonies vary across the world. Many involve customs and rituals that would be completely foreign to most Canadians.… Continue Reading