This blog is about understanding the significance of principal applicants in Spousal Sponsorship. It will enable you to navigate your place in the entire process. Couples applying for Spousal Sponsorship often question the role of the principal applicant. Even though the application process might appear single-handed, it is not so, as it involves a variety of roles. Each role has its set of separate roles and responsibilities. They primarily focus on who the principal applicant is and their distinct responsibilities.
There are mainly two chief roles: one is a principal applicant, and the other one is the Sponsor. Essentially, the primary applicant is someone who applies for Canadian Permanent Residence, and the sponsor vouches for the principal applicant’s entry into Canada. On the other hand, the principal applicant is someone who participates in the immigration process in order to gain residency.
The role of principal applicants in Spousal Sponsorship
The Spousal Sponsorship consists of a principal applicant, the chief applicant receiving help from the foreign spouse or common-law partner to gain sponsorship for permanent residence. Moreover, the principal applicant is an individual who seeks Canadian immigration via the Spousal Sponsorship program to acquire PR in Canada.
The obligations for Principal applicants in Spousal Sponsorship
The responsibilities and roles of the principal applicant include the following:
- Relationship – IRCC identifies three types of relationships in Canadian spousal sponsorship. This includes spouses, those in a legal wedding, those in a common-law relationship with one year of cohabitation, and conjugal partners (those in relationships similar to marriage) who can’t choose cohabitation due to extraordinary situations.
- Submission of personal documents – The documents are birth certificates, a valid passport, and other ID-related documents.
- Medical examination and police verification – The principal applicant must go through a medical exam and even submit police verification certificates from different countries where they have a living experience of over six months after they turn 18.
- Accurate completion of application forms – The chief applicant must provide accurate and complete details on all forms to avoid unnecessary delays and denials.
- Ensuring to meet eligibility criteria – The principal applicant must fulfill all eligibility requirements. In addition, they must not be inadmissible to Canada for different reasons, including security threats and criminal history.
- Interacting with immigration officials – They will have to undergo multiple things, such as conversing with the immigration officers. Also, they might need to attend interviews and offer essential details.
The Sponsor’s Role
The Sponsor is the one who is either a Canadian citizen or permanent residence holder and is responsible for sponsoring their spouse or partner to arrive in Canada.
Eligibility to sponsor others
- Fulfill eligibility conditions – The sponsor must be above 18 years old and have Canadian citizenship or permanent residence. Also, they must fulfill specific income requirements to ensure they can take financial responsibility for their spouse or partner.
- Financially secure – The sponsor must offer financial assistance to the chief applicant for a specific period. This is to ensure that they don’t demand social assistance in Canada.
- Sponsorship application submission – He is responsible for submitting the sponsorship application and the essential fees and documents.
- Update the changes – They must keep in touch with the Canadian immigration services and keep updating them.
Personal details concerning the sponsor and principal applicant
Talking Canadian spousal sponsorship application indicates that the sponsor and principal applicant must submit detailed personal information. This information typically includes:
- Full legal names
- Date of Birth
- Employment History
- Address
It is vital to reveal any past relationships and their present status, along with the details related to the dependents. In addition, the couple will need to demonstrate the history of their relationship. This must include meeting one another and how their bond evolved with time.
The personal details play a critical role in developing the authenticity and intensity of the relationship. IRCC demands transparency and accuracy to avoid hurdles in the application process. The information must be uniform in all places and comprise the latest changes. All documents must undergo detailed verification to ensure a productive sponsorship experience.
Additional applicants – Declaration of family members
The sponsor and principal applicant must declare the complete list of family members. This indicates dependents, regardless of whether they will or will not arrive with the principal applicant in Canada.
Significance of Complete Declaration
The family member’s full declaration is necessary per Canadian immigration law. The immigration department demands absolute transparency about the family circumstances for multiple reasons.
- Prevention of Future Inadmissibility – An individual might face denial if they fail to reveal a family member.
- Evaluation of a Sponsor’s Financial Potential – The Sponsor must demonstrate their assistance for family members, not just the principal applicant.
- Family Reunification Process – This will enable the immigration department to understand the applicant’s family completely. Knowing about them will allow a smoother family reunification process ahead.
More about Declaration
- Dependent Children – The list of dependent children could include stepchildren and biological and adopted kids. This is irrespective of their age or marital status. If the children already hold Canadian citizenship, they will not receive sponsorship for Canadian PR.
- Spouse in the past or Common-Law Partners – Information related to any past relationships must be a part of the application, notably if they led to a legal responsibility.
- Other Dependents – Any additional family member dependent on the sponsor or chief applicant must be revealed. This is especially essential if they have already been added to the previous sponsorship applications.
Essential Documents
Each family member must submit specific mandatory documents, including:
- Birth certificates for all children to ensure parentage.
- They must also demonstrate their marriage or divorce certificates to prove the status of their past relationships.
- Additional legal documents are also necessary concerning the custody or legal guardianship. Also, the adoption records might be essential, if applicable.
Failing to reveal the family members who are dependents might severely impact the applicant and the sponsor. Also, if the information is not complete, it will straight away lead to refusal. Both the sponsor and the principal applicant might undergo legal consequences for keeping the details away from IRCC.
Therefore, applicants must submit accurate details for a seamless application process to avoid unnecessary consequences.
If you still have questions related to Spousal Sponsorship, you can access all relevant details through Make Home Canada’s immigration consultants. Write to us at [email protected]
