A PR wanted to bring their partner to Canada on a visitor visa, marry here, and then file spousal sponsorship. Experienced members laid out the path and its one big trap.
- The plan itself is legitimate. The partner applies for a visitor visa with an invitation letter from the PR explaining the relationship and the intent to visit and return home. If granted, they can marry in Canada and then be sponsored. Marrying in the home country first and then applying is equally workable.
- Expect refusal risk on the visitor visa. Officers may refuse citing 'close ties in Canada' — the concern that the partner won't leave. That risk is inherent to the honest route.
- Do not hide the relationship to improve visa odds. The applicant floated applying 'without mentioning the relationship'. Multiple members warned this is the worst move: the sponsorship application requires a detailed relationship history, and any mismatch with what was told on the visitor visa can be treated as misrepresentation — jeopardizing the sponsorship itself. One member shared that their own partner's invitation letter openly outlined the relationship and the visa was still granted.
- Consistency across applications is the theme. Whatever you tell IRCC in the visitor visa file must line up with the sponsorship narrative later.