If you wish to bring your family and loved ones to Canada, you can do so through Family Sponsorship. Your relative will then have the right to study, work and live in Canada. Canada is considered the hub of opportunities that bring endless benefits to sponsors and their families. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to sponsor your family for immigration to Canada.
The family class sponsorship is for permanent residents and citizens residing in Canada who are interested in sponsoring close family members living outside of Canada. These includes:
- Spousal/Common-Law Partner Sponsorship
- Spousal/Common-Law Sponsorship
- Dependent child (Adopted or Biological)
Canada Spousal Sponsorship Eligibility
- Both you, the sponsor, and your partner must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
- You must be able to provide proof of their permanent residence status or Canadian citizenship
- You must prove your eligibility to support for the basic financial needs of your partner for at least three years
- Your partner must fall within the appropriate family category: spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner
Sponsoring your Parents to come to Canada as Permanent Residents
If you are a permanent resident or Canadian citizen over the age of 18, you can sponsor your parents or grandparents to move permanently to Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP). In order to sponsor your parents and grandparents under this program, you must be:
- At least 18 years of age
- A permanent resident of Canada or Canadian Citizen or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- Meet certain income requirements
- Able to Support your parents or grandparents and their dependents financially
- Meet the minimum necessary income level for this program by submitting notices of assessment issued by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) in support of your sponsorship
How a dependent Child can be acquired for the Immigration process
Dependent children are those who are under age 22 and do not have a spouse or common-law partner of their own, including those of sponsors and their spouses.
Parents can consider a child over 22 to be a dependent if, after reaching age 22, he or she still relies on their support and cannot provide for themselves physically or mentally.
As a sponsor, you must prove your financial capacity if you have dependents of your own.
Read More about How to sponsor your child for immigration to Canada
Some Other Ways to Capture Immigration Opportunities
There are several other ways under the laws of Canadian Immigration you can use to get a sponsorship or become a sponsorship for someone. However, it is important for you to know that a person is only eligible for the sponsorship if:
- The spouse has legal marriage documentation under the Canadian law
- Have same sex-relationship for the validity of immigration process
- Or have a conjugal relationship of at least one year.
Does the Coronavirus Pandemic Impact the Family Sponsorship Process In Canada?
The sponsorship application has been affected by Covid-19. However, the good thing is that Canadian Immigration is still accepting the applications to reunite families.
Below are some steps that are significant before making a sponsorship application:
- As a result of the increase in staff, IRCC now reviews spousal sponsorship applications more quickly hence reducing wait times.
- In addition, IRCC is implementing a pilot project to convert paper applications into digital ones to ensure faster processing.
- In its report to the commission, the IRCC explained that it will implement biometric facilitation measures and use technology to allow remote interviewing of applicants.
- If you meet all the requirements to be a sponsor, you are still eligible to sponsor a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or other family member who receives Employment Insurance (EI) and Canada Emergency Response Benefits (CERB).
- You will not be required to default on your obligations if the person you have sponsored received Employment Insurance (EI) or CERB during the undertaking period.
Here Are Related Articles You Can Read Now
Sponsor your parents and grandparents for immigration to Canada
Sponsor your child for immigration to Canada
Super Visa Canada for Parents and Grandparents