China News Service, June 6 (Xinhua) According to a comprehensive report by Canada's "Sing Tao Daily", data from the Canadian Immigration Department shows that in 2021, a total of more than 64,000 overseas spouses and cohabitants are sponsored to become Canadian permanent residents.

In terms of the number of people, India far exceeds other countries and has become the largest source of sponsored spouse immigrants, and China ranks fourth after the United States and the Philippines.

　　The unofficial immigration information website CIC News quoted data from the Canadian Citizenship, Refugees and Immigration Department showing that in 2021, the country with the largest number of sponsored spouses immigrating to permanent residence is India, with a total of 10,715 people throughout the year.

The second and third largest source countries were the United States and the Philippines, with about 4,810 and 4,805 spouse-sponsored immigrants, respectively, from these two countries.

　　China was the fourth largest source of sponsored spouses for permanent residence in Canada last year, with a total of 4,265 people immigrating to Canada as sponsored spouses.

The other top ten source countries are Pakistan, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, France, Mexico and Jamaica.

　　Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner to apply for permanent resident status and settle in Canada if they meet the required conditions.

Sponsors cannot receive social benefits in Canada and must meet a prescribed annual income threshold to demonstrate to Immigration the ability to financially support their sponsoring spouse.

Canadian citizens can apply to sponsor their spouses overseas, but they must prove their intention to return to Canada to settle in Canada; permanent residents must apply to sponsor their spouses in Canada.

　　According to the Department of Immigration, the processing time for sponsored spouse applications should be within 12 months according to its service standards, but it may actually take longer.

The immigration officer must certify that the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored spouse or common-law spouse is true and valid to prevent false marriages for immigration purposes.

Applicants can keep track of the progress of their case online until an immigration officer makes a decision.