Family Sponsorship for Canada

The Family Sponsorship Program is an immigration program designed by the Government of Canada to reunite Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their family members living abroad. The program is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to family reunification. It allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their eligible family members for permanent residence in Canada. The sponsored person must not have any specific education or work experience, as compared to the Express Entry immigration program.

Here you can get informations about the different types of family sponsorship programs available in Canada, the eligibility criteria for sponsors and sponsored family members, and the application process for the family sponsorship program.

Types of Family Sponsorship Programs

There are several types of family sponsorship programs available in Canada, including:

• Spousal Sponsorship: This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner (inside or outsdide Canada) for permanent residence in Canada. The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and must demonstrate that they are able to support their spouse or common-law partner financially.
• Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship: This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and must meet certain income requirements to demonstrate that they can support their parents and grandparents financially.
• Dependent Child Sponsorship: This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their dependent children for permanent residence in Canada. The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and must demonstrate that they are able to support their dependent children financially.
• Relatives Sponsorship: This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor other eligible family members for permanent residence in Canada, such as siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age and must meet certain income requirements to demonstrate that they can support their sponsored family member financially.

Eligibility Criteria for Sponsors

To be eligible to sponsor a family member for permanent residence in Canada, the sponsor must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
2. Be at least 18 years of age;
3. Meet certain income requirements to demonstrate that they can support their sponsored family member financially;
4. Not be in default of any previous sponsorship agreements or court-ordered support payments;
5. Not be in prison, on parole, or under a removal order;
6. Not have declared bankruptcy and not be in the process of doing so.

Eligibility Criteria for Sponsored Family Members

The eligibility criteria for sponsored family members vary depending on the type of family sponsorship program. In general, sponsored family members must:

Application Process

The application process for the Family Sponsorship program involves several steps, including:

Determining eligibility

The sponsor must determine their eligibility to sponsor a family member for permanent residence in Canada and the eligibility of the sponsored family member.

Gathering documents

The sponsor and sponsored family member must gather all the required documents, such as passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, police certificates and proof of relationship.

Completing forms

The sponsor and sponsored family member must complete all the required forms, including the sponsorship application, the permanent residence application, and any additional forms specific to the type of family sponsorship program. Everything can be done online.

Paying fees

The sponsor and sponsored family member must pay all the required fees, such as the processing fee, the right of permanent residence fee, and any additional fees specific to the type of family sponsorship program.

Submitting the application

The sponsor and sponsored family member must submit their completed application package to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for processing.

Waiting for processing

Once the application is submitted, the sponsor and sponsored family member must wait for IRCC to process their application. Processing times can vary depending on the type of family sponsorship program and the number of applications being processed. You can get an idea of the processing time on the Government of Canada webpage.

Medical and security checks

As part of the processing, the sponsored family member must undergo medical and security checks.

approval

If the application is approved, the sponsored family member will receive their permanent resident visa and can then travel to Canada to live with their sponsor.

The Family Sponsorship program is an important program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their family members who are living abroad. There are several types of family sponsorship programs available in Canada, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. The program is an excellent way for families to be reunited and for individuals to start a new life in Canada with the support of their loved ones.

It is important to note that the application process can be complex and time-consuming, and it is highly recommended that applicants seek the assistance of a qualified immigration lawyer or consultant to help them navigate the process and ensure that all requirements are met. With the help of a professional, the process can be much smoother and more successful, but there is not obligation.