Marriage to a citizen of the Dominican Republic and
spousal sponsorship
to Canada under the marriage immigration initiative is a complex process. This page is designed to guide you through the spousal sponsorship process and your marriage to a Dominican Republic spouse.
Quick Index
Dominican Republic Marriage Sponsorship: A Difficult Process
Marriages in resorts in Mexico and Caribbean nations like the Dominican Republic are becoming increasingly popular. However, each country has its own requirements for marriage. In most cases, if not all, the couple will end up living in Canada. The process for a Dominican Republic marriage is, unfortunately, a tough and lengthy one. The Dominican government imposes strict requirements on foreigners if they wish to marry a Dominican Republic citizen. Furthermore, getting a hold of the Dominican Republic authorities in Canada is very difficult and if you do get a hold of the authorities, it can be quite confusing to understand all the rules and fees. For any Canadian citizen marrying a citizen from the Dominican Republic and wishing for their spouse to immigrate to Canada, the process does not end there.
Getting a Dominican Republic citizen the right to travel to Canada is easier
said than done. This is why, for any Canadian wishing to bring their partner or
spouse to Canada, it is recommended that they sponsor them for permanent
residence if they want their spouse to live with them in Canada. A sponsorship
process requires many documents to be submitted and this can be lengthy. Anyone
trying to do these processes by themselves could be overwhelmed or simply get
frustrated and give up.
Help Available for Canadians Wanting a Dominican Republic Marriage
Is there any help? Yes, there is. Immigroup Inc. offers Canadians (and
Americans) who have met their true love in Dominican Republic help with this
entire process. We will help you gather all the documents that are needed,
review the application process, and file the application for you.
In 5 years of operation, Immigroup has not had a single application refusal to
date.
Residency Requirement:
Certain countries require that a person resides in that country for a certain amount of time before they are allowed to get married. There is no such requirement for a Dominican Republic marriage, which means that your marriage to a Dominican citizen can happen immediately after your arrival as long as your paperwork is in order.
Basic Document Checklist for Marriage to a Dominican Republic Citizen
- Valid Passport *
- Original Birth Certificate *
- Single Status Affidavit and Divorce Act **. (original and notarized).
- Two witnesses or more aged 18 years or over (hotel can provide them free if
necessary). Foreign witnesses need to hold a valid passport.
- Translation into Spanish of the Birth Certificate, Single Status Affidavit and
Divorce Act. ( It may be done at the Embassy for a fee)
- Legalization of the Single Status Affidavit and Divorce Act by the Consular
Section of this Embassy.
- If you are able to sign your Single Status Affidavit & Divorce Act in front of a
Dominican Consular representative, you do not need to notarize them with a
Canadian notary.
* For legalization purposes, a photocopy of your passport and Birth Certificate
will suffice. The latter does not need to have your parent's name on it.
However, you must bring all your original documents to the Dominican Republic.
** Translated into Spanish and legalized by this Embassy.
Please find a Single Status Affidavit.
Once your documents are legalized by this Embassy or a Dominican Consulate, they
will be valid for three (3) consecutive months from the legalization date. A
divorce bride cannot get married until 10 months have passed after her official
divorce, unless her intended husband is the same person she has divorced. If
this is your case, please keep in touch with us as there may be new legal
changes on this matter. It takes around five (5) business days for the documents
to be ready.
Document Processing Fees
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Immigroup can get your documents for you!
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Processing |
Government Fees |
Immigroup Fees |
Processing time
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Regular processing for persons born in Canada
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Starting from CDN $762* |
CDN $750** +5% GST |
3-4 weeks Times vary depending on the level of cooperation of your embassy. |
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Regular processing for persons born outside of Canada |
Starting from CDN $762* |
CDN $950** +5% GST |
3-4 weeks Times vary depending on the level of cooperation of your embassy. |
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Urgent Processing |
Starting from CDN $1136* |
Additional CDN $450** +5% GST |
5-10 business days Times vary depending on the level of cooperation of your
embassy. |
* Government fees may vary depending on the number of documents you require
** Courier and translation fees are not included
Note: If you live in the U.S. or other parts of the world we can still help you
with the paperwork for your marriage. Give us a call for fees and processing
times at 1-866-760-2623 & 1-866-760-2623 Fees for U.S. born citizens start
at $1500.
What You Will Need to Qualify as a Sponsor
To qualify as a sponsor, you must meet the following requirements:
- Intend to marry a Dominican citizen in the Dominican Republic and you intend to
live in Canada with him/her
- OR You intend to sponsor a common-law partner, who is a person who has lived
with you for at least one year
- You are single and free to marry
- You are over 18 years of age and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of
Canada, living in Canada
- You are not on any social assistance program
- You are not in default of any previous sponsorship
- You are not bankrupt
- You are not in prison
Who can sponsor?
A Canadian citizen or
permanent resident
is able to sponsor his/her spouse,
common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent children to come to Canada as
permanent residents. Applicants for permanent residence must go through medical
and background screening. Applicants with a criminal record may not be allowed
to enter Canada. Applicants who may pose a risk to Canada’s security are also
not allowed to enter Canada. Lastly, applicants may be denied due to medical
inadmissibility.
Canadian Sponsorship Application
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident is able to sponsor his/her
spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent children to come to
Canada as permanent residents. Applicants for permanent residence must go
through medical and background screening. Applicants with a criminal record may
not be allowed to enter Canada. Applicants who may pose a risk to Canada’s
security are also not allowed to enter Canada. Lastly, applicants may be denied
due to medical inadmissibility.
Processing Timelines
Depending on the completeness of your submitted application and its
accuracy, processing may take anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
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Basic Document Checklist
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Dominican Republic citizen |
Sponsor in Canada |
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Birth Certificate |
Government issued ID |
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Marriage certificate |
Employment records |
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Photocopy of valid passport |
Tax documents |
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Police certificate |
Proof of relationship to spouse in Dominican Republic |
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Proof of relationship to spouse in Canada |
Sponsorship application
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Photographs |
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Medical clearance |
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Application forms for permanent residency
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Photo of properly completed Sponsorship application
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Average time to complete application by Immigroup: 2-4 weeks |
Our Service
Fees are paid in installments; last payment is due before the Sponsorship
Application is submitted to CIC. If you need more time to make payments, please
speak with our accounting department.
Immigroup is prepared to give up to a $500 discount in service fees for
lower-income individuals. Please be prepared to submit a copy of your most
recent `Notice of Tax Assessment` from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Fees
Fees are paid in installments; last payment is due before the Sponsorship Application is submitted to CIC. If you need more time to make payments, please speak with our accounting department.
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Priority Processing: $3500 |
For clients who want our most personalized service. Upon receiving all
your documents in a complete package we will dedicate one staff member to put
together your application and file it with the government as quickly as
possible.
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Regular Processing: $2900 |
For clients who want a high level of service but are on a tighter budget. Upon receiving all your
documents in a complete package our team will put together your application and
file it with the government
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Financial Consideration |
If you are making less than $32,000 a year or are a single parent making less than $40,000 (for each
additional child please add $8000) you may qualify for financial consideration
from Immigroup. If you qualify, our fees range between $1700-$2450 and are based
on your income.
Please note: that proof of income will be required in the form of your
recent tax assessments from Canada Revenue Agency and that qualification under
this program is not guaranteed.
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Government Fee:
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Sponsorship and permanent residence application fee
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CDN $550
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Right of permanent residence fee
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CDN $490
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What you can expect from us
We guarantee that your application will be accurate and complete, and in accordance
with Canadian immigration law.
What is expected of you:
Please provide accurate and correct information and we will do the rest.
FAQ
Can we get married in Canada?
You are able to get married in Canada however your loved one must be able to
come to Canada legally in order for the marriage to Dominican Republic citizen
to happen in Canada. Canada offers many temporary resident visas. Some are
study, work, or visit visas. As long as the person is approved for stay, you may
marry in Canada.
Can I file the Canadian Sponsorship Application here in Canada?
In order for you to submit your application from within Canada, both you and
your spouse must be present in Canada. Please note that if you apply from within
Canada, you may not appeal any negative decisions made on your case by
Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
What happens if the Sponsorship application is denied?
If you applied from outside of Canada, you may appeal the decision. If the
appeal is accepted, CIC will process your file again. You may also reapply if
you have new information that will strengthen your case or you have overcome the
reasons of why your application was refused the first time. If you applied from
within Canada, the decision is final. You may not dispute this decision and your
spouse must leave Canada as soon as his or her temporary visa expires.
I am not working right now; can I still sponsor my loved
one?
In order for you to sponsor your spouse, you must be able to support them
financially. As long as you can prove you are financially stable, you will be
allowed to sponsor your spouse even if you are not working. If you have
previously sponsored someone to come to Canada and they have turned to the
government for financial assistance, you might be prevented from sponsoring
another person until you have paid the government the full amount of any
financial aid provided to that person.
They have a few children, can they come to Canada as well?
Yes. The children, who must be under 22 years of age and be dependent on the person being sponsored, are added as dependents on the permanent residency application of the person being sponsored. The children must be “dependent” as defined in the Immigration and Refugee protection Act of Canada.
The person I am marrying has a few children but the children don’t what to come to Canada right away, can they come on a later date?
As long as they are added as dependents in the sponsored person’s application,
medically examined, and if they are over 18, they pass the background check,
they can be sponsored at a later date. This only applies if they meet the
definition of a “dependent child” according to the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act.
The person I am getting married to in Dominican Republic has a few children from a previous marriage. The other biological parent of the children does not want to give authorization for the children to come to Canada. What will happen?
In this case, it is a matter of who has custody over the children. If
you do not have custody and the other biological parent refuses to allow the
children to join you in Canada, you may proceed without the children.
What are my responsibilities to the Canadian government with regard to the person I am sponsoring from Dominican Republic?
You must provide financial support for your spouse for three years from
the day they become a permanent resident. This means that from the day they
become landed permanent residents in Canada, you are responsible for him or her
financially. Also, if your spouse has dependents, you must provide financial
support for every dependent child for 10 years, or until the child turns 25.
What is a permanent resident of Canada?
A permanent resident of Canada is a person who lives in Canada for at least
two out of every five years. Permanent residents have the right to receive
social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including health care insurance.
Permanent residents are free to live, work or study anywhere in Canada. They may
apply for Canadian citizenship once they have met the requirements. Permanent
residents must pay taxes, and obey all Canadian laws. Permanent residents cannot
vote in Government elections or run for office.
What is a Canadian citizen?
A Canadian citizen is a person who was either born in Canada or has been granted
Canadian citizenship. In order to apply for citizenship in Canada, a permanent resident
must live in Canada for three out of four years and be able to communicate proficiently
in either English or French. A Canadian citizen has the right to vote in elections
and to run for office. He or she may also work in high levels of government.
When can my loved one become a Canadian citizen?
Your loved one must have lived in Canada for three out of four years in order to
qualify for Canadian citizenship. Once the residency requirement is complete, he
or she may apply for the right of citizenship. Once his/her application is approved,
he/she will be called for a citizenship test. They will not need to write the test
if they are over the age of 55. This is a test of his/her English/French abilities
and knowledge of Canada. Upon passing the citizenship test, the person will be invited
to attend an oath of citizenship ceremony in which he or she will be given their
citizenship certificate.
Do we have to live in Canada?
Yes, there are residency requirements and these are such that the sponsored
person must be present in Canada for 2 out of every 5 years. If the sponsored
spouse leaves Canada for a period longer than 3 years, they will lose their
permanent resident status unless they are accompanied by a Canadian citizen
spouse, hired by a Canadian company or Canadian government abroad.
If we want to visit the United States will a Landed immigrant in Canada who has a Dominican Republic Passport need a
visa to the US
?
Yes. Dominican Republic is not under any visa waiver program with the
United States and therefore persons holding a Dominican Republic passport must
apply for a US visa before traveling. This visa can be obtained by applying for
a US visa appointment with the US embassy closest to you.
What is a civil registry?
The civil registry is a government agency that holds records of all births,
marriages and deaths that took place within the country. Each country has a
different system of collecting this information. In Canada, each province has
its own civil registry and is only responsible for recording births, marriages,
and deaths that took place within that province.
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