Marriage to an Russian citizen citizen 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 an Russian citizen.
Quick Index
Qualifying as a spousal sponsor
To qualify as a sponsor, you must meet the following requirements:
- You intend to marry an Russian citizen in Russia and you intend to live in Canada with him/her
You can also get married in Canada if the person you are planning to marry can get
to Canada. Getting to Canada for people who do not need a visitor visa is easy.
But if you come from a country where a visitor visa to Canada is required, you chances
of being successful are low. When you file a visitor visa application at a Canadian
embassy abroad, most officers lean towards refusing your application the minute
they find out that you are planning to marry a Canadian or a permanent resident
of Canada. However, you must be truthful in the purpose of your visit.
Important notes:
- Applying for a visitor visa will not affect any other application later on.
- If you have been granted a visitor visa in the past you will have a higher
chance of getting the new one.
- If you have been denied a visitor visa in the past your chances of obtaining a
visa will be reduced.
- If you have never applied for a visitor visa application before and it is
important for both of you to be in Canada, we suggest that you get a
professional firm to assist you. Even if our experienced staff helps you, we
cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa. (We charge $350-$500 + applicable
government fees).
On average this will take 2-6 weeks for your application to be processed by the
visa office.
Here is a list of all nationals who do not need a visitor
visa to Canada:
citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados,
Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport
holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of ), Latvia (Republic of), Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua
New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino,
Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland,
United States, and Western Samoa.
- OR You intend to sponsor a common-law partner, who is a person who has lived
with you for at least one year
This application is filed only if you can prove that you and your common-law partner
have lived together for at least one year and you are continuing to live together.
Such proof could be in the form of mortgages taken out under both your names, co-signatures
on any leases, joint bank accounts etc.
- 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
Marriage in Russia
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
Russia, which means that you can get married immediately after your arrival as long as your paperwork is in order.
Basic Document Checklist:
- Register your visa with your Russian sponsor
- Prepare, translate and notarize a marriage letter at the Canadian consulate in
Russia
- Authenticate marriage letter at ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Passport (translated into Russian)
You must translate all your English documents into Russian.
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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Russian citizen
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Sponsor in Canada
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Birth Certificate
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Government issued ID
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Marriage certificate
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Employment records
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Photocopy of valid passport
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Tax documents
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Police certificate
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Proof of relationship to spouse in Russia
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Proof of relationship to spouse in Canada
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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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Download Full Version Here
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Photo of properly completed Sponsorship application
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Average time to complete application by Immigroup: 2-4 weeks
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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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additional fees apply for sponsoring dependent children or if translation and
courier are required.
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 this to happen. 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 Russia 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
Russia?
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 an Russian Passport need a
Visa to the US
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No. Russia is under a visa waiver program with the United States and therefore persons holding an
Russian passport do not need to apply for a visa before traveling to the United States.
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.
Where can I find the Russian embassy in Canada?
Click here
for detailed information.
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