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Sponsor your spouse in Hong Kong for immigrating to Canada

Sponsor your spouse in Hong Kong for immigrating to Canada
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Sponsor your spouse in Hong Kong for immigrating to Canada

If you wish to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner so first of all, you need to check your eligibility.

A sponsor should be 18 years or above and a Canadian citizen/permanent resident, or a First Nation individual. Also, there will be an undertaking by the sponsor of taking care of the financial needs of the spouse and children, if any. If the dependent end up getting social services, then for the decided period, you will have to reimburse the same.

There are a few factors that affect the eligibility of the sponsor. Other than violent criminal offenses, if you cannot pay the immigration loan, are under bankruptcy, or have sponsored a spouse within 3 years of your application, you won’t be allowed to support your spouse.

If you wish to get sponsored, then there are a few eligibility criteria for you as well. You will have to clear security, background, and medical checks apart from 18 years of age. The immigration department will check the genuineness of your relationship with the sponsor to make sure that you are not just getting partnered to get Canadian citizenship.

Outland vs Inland sponsorship process for Hong Kong residents

If the person getting sponsored is living in Hong Kong, then the sponsorship process will fall under outland applications. The sponsor can live with the partner in Hong Kong during the process, but you will have to prove to the immigration office that you both will be shifting to Canada after getting the approval.

If the person getting sponsored already lives in Canada, then the process will be handled under inland applications. During the process, the partner getting sponsored may apply for an open work permit.

There is another option for the people living in Hong Kong and wishing to move to Canada. This year, the country started rolling out new opportunities for Hongkongers. In Feb 2021, the government started the provision offering open work permits to them (Hong Kong residents) who have completed their graduation from post-secondary institutions. During the pandemic, the resident of Hong Kong will also have to obtain an exemption from travel restrictions in place. Common-law partners/spouses of Canadians have exemption already, but they will have to follow the health measures without any miss.

What documents are required from Hong Kong?

Guidelines at the immigration office are dynamic; it depends on various factors. The factors vary depending on the foreign national’s residency status, where he/she is applying from, and travel history with the sponsor. The immigration office provides a detailed guide with updated information.

IRCC’s document checklist has specific information for people living in Hong Kong at present. For example, individuals born in the Republic of China since 1996 will have to present a notarized copy of their medical birth certificate. If you fall under this category and cannot show the document, so you will have to demonstrate why for the miss.

People with Hong Kong passports will have to submit the household register (hukou); also, if the individual is above 16 years, then proof of marital status.

If divorced, then you need to show an “Absolute nisi decree.”

What after submitting documents?

The sponsorship process starts as soon as you submit all the documents. If the immigration officer sees that the papers/files are not complete, they will return the file to the applicant.

In general, sponsorship applications have a time frame of 12 months for the complete procedure. In March, the country expanded the team to handle the sponsorship process to ensure that the timeline has adhered to.

During the procedure, the immigration officer will ask for a foreign partner’s biometrics and medical exam. They provide 30 days to submit the same. Also, if required, the team may ask for more information or an in-person interview during the process.

There is an option to check and modify the application status online until the final decision has been made. Once approved, IRCC will give you further instructions to board your partner as a permanent resident.

The final step would be the land process, and then the spouse/partner will become a permanent resident of the country.

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