Canada vs United States: family visa
Canada or United States for a family visa? ₹85,358 vs ₹30,752 government fee, processing windows, funds and the verified route pages side by side.
Verdict
- United States is cheaper (₹30,752 vs ₹85,358 government fee)
- Canada: Spousal and partner sponsorship, CAD 1,260 per spouse, About 18 months (IRCC tool, October 2026); 12-month service standard
- United States: Family immigrant visa, USD 325 per applicant
- Pick on the sponsor's income test and the relationship evidence; the fee is the smaller difference.
Canada vs United States: family visa side by side
| Canada | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Family visa route | Spousal and partner sponsorship | Family immigrant visa |
| Government fee | ₹85,358 | ₹30,752 |
| Route page fee (official) | CAD 1,260 per spouse | USD 325 per applicant |
| Processing (route page) | About 18 months (IRCC tool, October 2026); 12-month service standard | 3–12 working days after interview |
| Funds, income or salary threshold | None for a spouse or partner; sponsor must not be on social assistance | 125 percent of the poverty guidelines for the household size on Form I-864 |
Which is cheaper?
Canada costs ₹85,358 government fee and United States ₹30,752. United States is cheaper by ₹54,606 per applicant. Government fees are charged at the official rate; the partner's fee is quoted on the destination page.
Which is faster?
Canada: About 18 months (IRCC tool, October 2026); 12-month service standard. United States: 3–12 working days after interview. Both windows are the authority's own published figures as read on the route pages; a complete file at submission is the single biggest lever on either.
Which needs less money in the bank?
Canada: None for a spouse or partner; sponsor must not be on social assistance. United States: 125 percent of the poverty guidelines for the household size on Form I-864. Statements must be seasoned and match the plan or the sponsor's declaration.
How the processes differ
Canada: Spousal and partner sponsorship, filed with canada.ca. United States: Family immigrant visa, filed with travel.state.gov. Both are decided on the sponsor's or applicant's status and the evidence file rather than at a visa window; the route pages list the steps, the document checklist and the refusal reasons for each.
Which should you pick for a family visa?
Family routes turn on the sponsor's status and income and on relationship evidence, not on the applicant's profile: Canada uses the Spousal and partner sponsorship (CAD 1,260 per spouse) and United States the Family immigrant visa (USD 325 per applicant). Processing is the slowest of any visa type, so pick the one whose window and income test fit your household, then build the relationship file to that standard.
Questions, answered
Is Canada or United States easier to get a family visa for?
Both ask for similar funds. Approval depends more on clean documents than on the destination; both refuse mainly for inconsistent funds and weak ties.
Can I apply for Canada and United States at the same time?
Yes for e-visas, since no passport is held. If either is a sticker visa the passport is with that consulate, so sequence the sticker application first or use the second passport option where your country allows one.
Which is better value, Canada or United States?
United States is cheaper per applicant, but value depends on validity: Canada is valid Up to 10 years and United States 10 years. A longer, multiple-entry visa costs less per trip.
Where do these figures come from?
Government fees, processing windows and funds figures are taken from the official Canada and United States sources cited on each destination page and on the verified route pages and re-checked when the authorities publish changes.