Answers You Need
What is Canadian family sponsorship?
Family class sponsorship is a process through which Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their eligible family members to come and live with them in Canada. To be eligible, the sponsor must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada, and able to demonstrate that they can financially support their sponsored family members for a certain period of time. The sponsored family member must also meet certain eligibility criteria, such as passing medical and criminal checks, and demonstrating that they are not inadmissible to Canada. Once the sponsorship application is approved, the sponsored family member can come to Canada as a permanent resident and has the right to work and study in Canada. Family class sponsorship is an important component of Canada’s immigration policy, as it helps to reunite families and strengthen social ties within Canadian communities.
Who is eligible to sponsor a family member for immigration to Canada?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are at least 18 years old and living in Canada can sponsor eligible family members. The must be able and willing to provide for the basic financial needs of the person they are sponsoring.
Who can be sponsored for immigration to Canada under family sponsorship?
Spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents can be sponsored for immigration to Canada.
Also in some specific circumstances, Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be qualified to sponsor the immigration to Canada of their orphaned sibling, niece, nephew, or grandchild. They must be unmarried, under 18, and your relative by blood or adoption in order to sponsor them.
Rarely, Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may be permitted to sponsor one distant relative’s immigration to Canada. Sponsors must be categorized as “Lonely Canadian” in order to sponsor a relative who does not fit the present criteria of the “Family Class” in Canada. The sponsor is thus not a spouse, common-law partner, parent, grandparent, kid, or child of another person. The Lonely Canadian rule is that the Canadian who is sponsoring does not have and relative in the ‘Family class’ such as a spouse, parents, or child that he can sponsor thus making him a ‘Lonely Canadian’
Who may not be eligible to be a sponsor?
They are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
They are under the age of 18;
They do not live in Canada;
They have not fulfilled a previous sponsorship agreement;
They are in default of a court order for child support or alimony;
They are in default on a debt owed to the Canadian government;
They have been convicted of certain criminal offenses or immigration-related offenses;
They have declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it;
They have been sponsored by someone else in the past and have not met their obligations.
What are the requirements to be a sponsor?
Sponsors must demonstrate that they meet certain income requirements and can financially support their sponsored family members for a certain period of time. They must also not be in default of any previous sponsorship undertakings or have certain criminal convictions.
What are the requirements for the sponsored family member?
Sponsored family members must pass medical and criminal checks and demonstrate that they meet certain eligibility criteria.
How long does the family sponsorship process take?
The processing time varies depending on the type of sponsorship and the country of origin of the sponsored person. It can take several months to a few years.
Can sponsored family members work or study in Canada?
Yes, sponsored family members can work and study in Canada, depending on their specific situation and eligibility criteria.
Can sponsored family members bring their dependents to Canada?
Yes, sponsored family members can bring their dependents, such as their own children, to Canada as part of their application.
Can a sponsored family member lose their status in Canada?
Yes, sponsored family members can lose their status if they fail to meet certain requirements, such as failing to meet residency obligations or committing certain criminal offenses.