An outland spousal sponsorship is intended for applicants looking to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for a Canadian permanent residence, regardless of the place of residence of the spouse or common-law partner.

Express Entry is an alternative pathway to permanent residency. The success of spousal sponsorship versus express entry is dependent on the application itself. Express Entry is ultimately an easier process to follow for permanent residency. It involves a more straightforward application and no requirement for the sponsor taking responsibility for the person they are sponsoring. However, if you do not qualify for Express Entry or your score is quite low, a spousal sponsorship application may be the way to go. It depends from person to person, and a lot of factors are at play here. Make sure you seek advice in order to avoid long processing times and refusals.

There are so many reasons why your spousal sponsorship application may be denied. These reasons range from as little as a mistake in your application form to using incorrect information. The list of refusal for sponsorship application is endless, but they include:

• The main reason for refusal we see is insufficient proof of relationship. It is often required for the applicant to go above and beyond the minimal document requirements to convince the officer that the relationship is genuine.

• Deliberate or unintentional misinterpretation in the application form shall lead to denial of spousal sponsorship. You must interpret all details correctly in your application form and make sure all parties involved in the application provide accurate information.

• Canadian citizens and a permanent resident in Canada can be a sponsor of a spousal sponsorship application. If otherwise, say, the sponsor is a Canadian citizen living outside Canada. This can lead to an automatic refusal of the application.

• A sponsor living in Canada does not mean they are eligible to sponsor your application; you must meet the requirements for you to be a sponsor. This includes being an adult (18 years and above), no criminal record, no financial debt, etc. all these can lead to a refusal of your application if your sponsor does not meet the requirements.

• As a prospective immigrant, you must be eligible for sponsorship. This means officially married or are in a common-law relationship to a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada. This also includes having a clean criminal record, good health, etc. These reasons can make you ineligible for sponsorship leading to a refusal of the spousal sponsorship application.

Want to ensure you are preparing a strong application for spousal sponsorship? Book a review of your full application to get a professional assessment of whether or not you have sufficient documentation in your file, and how you can make a more convincing case.