When applying for Express Entry, there’s a significant difference between initially listing your spouse as a non-accompanying dependent and adding them to your application after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Here’s what you need to know:
- Adding Your Spouse After ITA:
- If you get married after receiving your ITA and Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR), you can update your Permanent Residency (PR) application to include your spouse.
- According to Section A11.2, your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is locked at the time of ITA. Adding your spouse after this point will not affect your CRS score.
- As long as you accurately update your application and your spouse meets all eligibility requirements, there should be no negative impact on your application.
- Listing Your Spouse as Non-Accompanying Initially:
- If you initially list your spouse as non-accompanying to boost your CRS score and later change them to accompanying when submitting your PR application, this could lead to misrepresentation.
- Misrepresentation occurs if you cannot provide a valid explanation for the change, as it may be seen as an attempt to manipulate your CRS score.
- Misrepresentation can have serious consequences, including a 5-year ban from applying for Canadian immigration.
Key Takeaways:
- Transparency is Key: Always provide accurate and truthful information in your Express Entry profile and PR application.
- Locked CRS Score: Your CRS score is locked at the time of ITA, so adding a spouse after this point won’t affect your score.
- Avoid Misrepresentation: Changing your spouse’s status from non-accompanying to accompanying without a valid reason can lead to serious penalties.
For more details, refer to the official IRCC guidelines:
Assessing Electronic Applications Under Section A11.2
If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask in the comments!