A lot has changed in the last year. Country borders have closed, international travel has been largely blocked and gatherings of people have been greatly restricted. All of these limitations have raised many immigration-related questions – especially for couples pursuing spousal sponsorship, when in-person weddings are not possible.

Most individuals moving through the immigration process have not done anything intentionally wrong. They have not made fraudulent statements that cast themselves or their families in a more favorable, yet fictitious, light. They have not omitted certain facts that they feel could harm their chances for a smooth transition.

Whether the immigration process is family-based or employment-based, individuals face complex paperwork and a challenging schedule. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for errors to slip through the cracks and ultimately lead to strict penalties for fraud or misrepresentation.

The immigration process itself can be a stressful, emotional time. Not only are you worrying about filling out paperwork, preparing supporting documents and scheduling numerous interviews, you are still handling significant life events such as marriage, a new job and a physical relocation across international borders.

In the past year, nearly every aspect of daily life has been in some way impacted by COVID-19. Unfortunately, the impact is not limited to mundane occurrences, but has also influenced significant life events from job searches to attending traditional family gatherings.

Canada has taken a hard stance against drunk and drugged driving in recent years. Many provinces have passed increasingly strict laws with harsh penalties for drunk – or otherwise impaired – driving, in an attempt to curb the rise in impaired driving-related accidents and fatalities.

The decision to immigrate can be life changing. It can bring about dramatic benefits – but also some challenges. Maybe you married a Canadian citizen, or perhaps you moved to Canada for work. While you may love the new life you’ve established here, the sense of loss you feel for your loved ones in your home country is very real.

Prospective students from all over the globe apply to Canadian colleges and universities each year in the hopes of studying abroad. However, due to stringent Canadian immigration laws, obtaining a student visa has become challenging, frustrating and altogether difficult for certain applicants to achieve, according to an article from GlobalNews.ca earlier this year.

Concerns have been raised about wages, living conditions and the general treatment of foreign workers when they arrive in Canada. However, British Columbia aims to curb these difficulties with the passing of Bill 48.

The short answer is no. But the long answer is, you need to be eligible to become a sponsor, and then your partner needs to qualify to be sponsored.