When it comes to spousal sponsorship applications in Canada, the single most important factor is proving the genuineness of your relationship. It’s not about how much money you make, how fluent you are in English or French, or how old you are. If you meet basic admissibility requirements and can clearly show your relationship is real, your chances of approval increase significantly.
Failing to demonstrate genuineness, however, is the number one reason applications get refused.
At Akrami & Associates, we’ve helped thousands of couples reunite in Canada. Here’s how you can avoid common mistakes and strengthen your case.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of spousal sponsorship applications is whose intent immigration officers evaluate most closely.
The sponsor, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident, is obviously committed to bringing their partner to Canada. But that’s not what officers care about. They focus primarily on the applicant’s intent, because it’s the applicant who could benefit from Canadian permanent residency.
If an officer believes the applicant married or entered the relationship primarily for immigration purposes, the application will likely be refused, even if the sponsor’s intent is 100% genuine.
Officers will look at how the applicant communicates with the sponsor. This includes:
A common mistake? Submitting communication where the sponsor is expressive and loving, but the applicant responds with short, one-line messages like “Thanks, love you too.”
From the officer’s perspective, this imbalance could suggest a lack of genuine emotional investment from the applicant. Make sure you include evidence where both partners are engaged and expressive.
There is no single “magic” document that proves a relationship is genuine. Instead, you must build a complete picture using a variety of evidence, such as:
If there are cultural or family reasons why your relationship isn’t publicly acknowledged, be upfront. Explain the situation clearly in your personal statement, officers are familiar with cultural nuances and will appreciate the context.
Many genuine couples face challenges like:
These gaps can raise questions for immigration officers if you don’t explain them. For example, if your parents didn’t attend your wedding, don’t wait for the officer to ask about it in a procedural fairness letter. Explain the circumstances upfront.
The more transparent you are, the more likely officers will view your application favorably, and you may even reduce processing delays.
If your application is incomplete or raises red flags, you may be called for an immigration interview. These interviews can be intimidating and are often where genuine couples stumble.
Officers will ask the same question in multiple ways to test consistency. Nervousness, confusion, or miscommunication can lead to inconsistent answers, which may hurt your credibility, even if your relationship is real.
Submitting a thorough, well-documented application upfront is the best way to avoid this situation altogether.
Your goal is to make the officer feel confident about your relationship. That means:
At Akrami & Associates, we take the time to explain cultural barriers, family disapproval, and missing documents so the officer understands your situation fully. This level of detail often allows our clients to bypass interviews and receive faster decisions.
Our team has extensive experience preparing successful spousal sponsorship applications. We know what officers look for, and we’ll help you avoid common mistakes that lead to refusals.
📞 Call us today at 416-477-2545 or toll-free at 1-877-820-7121 for a consultation. We’ll review your evidence and guide you in building a strong application that clearly proves the genuineness of your relationship.
This website uses cookies.