Things to Keep in Mind with Conjugal Sponsorship

Submitting an application to sponsor your conjugal partner can be a stressful endeavour. Many of our clients have an easy enough time locating application forms online but have no idea where to start with respect to gathering documents.

Akrami & Associates will guide you every step of the way with this.

If you intend on submitting your application without the support of a representative, there are a couple of factors you should keep in mind.

Conjugal Sponsorship Eligibility

You may not be eligible to be a sponsor if you:

• did not meet the terms of a sponsorship agreement in the past,
• did not pay alimony or child support even though a court ordered it,
• get government financial help for reasons other than being disabled

Conjugal Sponsorship Finances

Though there are no financial requirements to sponsor your conjugal partner, nor any preclusion therein, your finances will still be assessed. An immigration officer should be satisfied, based on your income/savings/assets, that you will be financially capable of supporting your common law sponsor in Canada. An officer may refuse you based on the fact that he feels you will be unable to maintain your undertaking or promise to be financially responsible for your Common Law Partner for the allotted amount of time.

Conjugal Sponsorship Documentation

Documentation that you submit for your conjugal sponsorship should demonstrate two key points: the extenuating circumstance(s) that keep you apart and the genuineness of the relationship. Extenuating circumstances exist when they are beyond your control and are usually legal in basis. For example, you have made several unsuccessful attempts at acquiring a Temporary Resident Visa for your partner, and you are unable to go to their country because it is currently unsafe or inaccessible to you, again, for example, due to war. This would constitute aconjugal sponsorship. In terms of the genuineness of the relationship, you will need to satisfy an officer that your relationship is a true union and not for the purposes of immigration and, therefore a misrepresentation. These relationships are referred to as a “relationships of convenience.” You can overcome this by providing documentation that reflects proof of ongoing communication, love letters, gift receipts, photos together etc.