Inland spousal sponsorship is one of Canada’s immigration pathways that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner who is already living with them in Canada. This process falls under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, and it aims to support family reunification by allowing couples to stay together while completing the permanent residence process.

Let’s unlock how this pathway works, who is encouraged to apply, and what it offers during the application process.

What Is Inland Spousal Sponsorship?

Inland sponsorship is a process meant to help couples already living together in Canada. Suppose you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and your partner is a temporary resident (be it a student, worker, or visitor). In that case, he or she may be able to apply for permanent resident status through this stream.

This stream allows your spouse to stay in Canada while the application is under processing. This stream provides a wonderful opportunity for couples to live happily together while simultaneously envisioning a long-term future together in Canada.

Who is Eligible?

Not all couples apply under the Inland Spousal Sponsorship. The major criteria are listed below:

• Cohabitation: You and your partner must live together in Canada.
• Legal Temporary Status: The sponsored person must be in Canada in a form of legal status—a visitor, student, or worker.
• Age: The sponsor and applicant both must be 18 years of age or older.
• Legal Relationship: There must be a valid marriage or common-law status (living in a committed relationship together for at least one complete year).
• History of Sponsorship: If the applicant has been sponsored as a spouse in the last five years, then this stream does not apply to this individual.

Furthermore, neither of the two persons would have any significant legal, bankruptcy, or incarceration issues. Also, individuals who were themselves sponsored as a spouse within the last five years and are facing criminal charges, imprisonment, or bankruptcy are not eligible to sponsor or be sponsored.

The Application Process: How It Works

The process applies to inland sponsorship, which has two interrelated applications:

1. Sponsorship Application (the one submitted by the Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
2. Permanent Residence Application (the one submitted by the person being sponsored).

The applications shall then be completed together using government forms, identification documents, relationship proof, and the required fees. Once ready, the full package will be sent online to the designated processing office in Canada.

Maintaining presence in Canada throughout this process is a must for both applicants. If the travel is recurring, or if the applicant does not stay in Canada these days, then the better alternative would be Outland sponsorship.

Open Work Permit for Sponsored Spouses

One of the most viable benefits under Inland sponsorship is the application for the Open Work Permit (OWP). The OWP allows a sponsored individual to work legally in Canada while their permanent residence application is being reviewed.

To be eligible, the applicant must:

• Be in a genuine relationship with their sponsor.
• Reside in Canada with their sponsor.
• Have submitted their PR application and received an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letter from IRCC.

Dependent children in the Inland sponsorship application might also apply for an open work permit, as long as they live with the sponsor and the principal applicant.

The Open Work Permit alleviates the financial and emotional burden of long wait times associated with applications by allowing the applicant to work and help with the household expenditures.

Step-by-Step Application Process

So, here’s a general breakdown of the inland spousal sponsorship process:

• Download the application package, which integrates the forms, instruction guide, and checklist from the IRCC website.
• Pay the required fees online, covering the processing, biometrics, and right of permanent residence fees.
• Fill out and sign every required form within the package.
• Online applications to the right address of IRCC for inland sponsorship files.
• Respond to any requests for documents and/or information while your application is under review.

Quebec applicants must complete their provincial immigration process after a federal approval.

Processing Time and Present Circumstances

Currently, the processing time for inland sponsorship is around 12 months. Such a timeline matches that for Outland applications due to IRCC aligning their processing times for both streams.

However, the duration may be extended if the application is incomplete, if more time is needed for background checks, or due to global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. For certain urgent cases, such as those for essential service workers or vulnerable applicants, IRCC may fast-track the processing of the application.

Conclusion

Inland spousal sponsorship is a convenient and humane option for couples already living together in Canada who want to make it permanent. The Open Work Permit not only facilitates family reunification but also fosters social and economic engagement among newcomers during the waiting period. If both of you meet the eligibility criteria and are planning to stay in Canada, the Inland Sponsorship could be the right option to build your future together.