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Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Sponsorship

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by Kathy Watkins

What is Family Class Sponsorship?

Family class sponsorship is a set of immigration programs in Canada that enable permanent residents or citizens of Canada to sponsor their loved ones to become permanent residents. These programs are designed to help family members, such as spouses and immediate relatives, reunite with their families in Canada, offering faster processing times. Recognizing the importance of family unity, Canada facilitates this process to ensure that families can stay together without unnecessary delays.

Canada Sponsorship FAQ

Who can I sponsor to come to Canada?

Spouse, Common-law, or Conjugal Partner
You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent residence, regardless of whether they are currently in Canada with a valid temporary visa or residing abroad. Additionally, applicants living in Canada may qualify for an open work permit, which can help alleviate some of the couple’s financial burden during the sponsorship process.

A spousal open work permit allows sponsored individuals to work in Canada while their application is being processed. Since Canada recognizes common-law partnerships, you may be eligible for spousal sponsorship even if you and your partner aren’t married, provided you have been living together for at least one year.

Parent or Grandparent Sponsorship
Canada is dedicated to family reunification, extending this commitment to include parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents through the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program. To sponsor a parent or grandparent, sponsors must demonstrate the ability to financially support their family by meeting the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement for their family size. Sponsors must also agree to provide financial support to their sponsored family members if necessary. If permanent support is not feasible, sponsors may be eligible for a Super Visa, a long-term, multiple-entry visa for parents and grandparents.

Child or Other Dependant Sponsorship
As a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor your biological or adopted children under the age of 22 for permanent residence, provided they are unmarried and have no children of their own. If a child over 22 is unable to support themselves due to a physical or mental condition, they may still qualify as a dependent. Children can also be included in your initial immigration application as accompanying dependents. However, if this isn’t possible, they can join you in Canada later through the child sponsorship program.

Orphaned Brother, Sister, Nephew, Niece, or Grandchild
In special circumstances, Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor their orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren to come to Canada. To be eligible, the orphaned relative must be unmarried, under 18 years of age, and be related to you by blood or through adoption.

How can I be eligible to sponsor a family member?

To sponsor a family member, you must fulfill certain eligibility criteria. As an eligible sponsor, you need to:

Who isn’t eligible to sponsor a relative?

There are specific situations where a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be ineligible to sponsor a relative. You may not qualify as a sponsor if you:

What are the income requirements for Canadian family sponsorship?

Certain sponsorship applications, such as those for parents, grandparents, eligible orphaned relatives, or individuals qualifying under the “lonely Canadian” policy, require meeting minimum income thresholds.

To sponsor these relatives, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) based on the size of your family unit. Moreover, you need to provide Notices of Assessment (NOA) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency as proof that you have met the MNI for at least three consecutive years.

In contrast, there is no minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse. Nonetheless, when sponsoring any family member to Canada, you must sign an undertaking. This document commits you to financially support your sponsored family member and to repay any social assistance benefits they might receive for a period of 20 years. Sponsors residing in Quebec must sign an additional undertaking.

The duration of this financial commitment depends on the sponsorship category. For spousal sponsorship (including spouses and common-law or conjugal partners), the undertaking lasts 3 years from the date your sponsored spouse or partner becomes a Canadian permanent resident.

When sponsoring dependent children, Canadian citizens or permanent residents are not required to meet the MNI, provided the dependent child does not have children of their own. If the sponsored dependent child has their own dependents, the sponsor must meet the MNI for the family unit size.

Canada Sponsorship FAQ

Is having a job necessary to sponsor a family member?

To sponsor a family member other than a spouse or partner, applicants need to meet Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements. Having a job is not mandatory, but sponsors must show proof of sufficient income over the past three years to demonstrate their ability to support the sponsored family members.

How long does it take to process a sponsorship application?

Sponsorship applications generally take around 12 months to process from start to finish. While most applications are completed within this time frame, certain complexities in a case or additional proof requirements from the visa officer can cause delays. To minimize processing time and avoid potential delays, it is crucial to ensure that your sponsorship application is accurately and thoroughly completed the first time. The experienced lawyers and legal professionals at Canadim have successfully assisted thousands of spousal sponsorship candidates in this regard.

What other options are available to bring my family member to Canada?

If sponsorship is not a viable option, your relative might be eligible under another Canadian immigration program. You can take our free online assessment today to discover what immigration options are available for you and your family members.

How many family members can I sponsor to Canada?

There is no limit to the number of eligible family members that a Canadian permanent resident or citizen can sponsor. However, you must submit separate applications for each family member you wish to sponsor.

Sponsoring a family member in Quebec?

The federal government grants Quebec additional autonomy in deciding who can settle in the province. Therefore, permanent residents or citizens residing in Quebec must first apply to the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) for approval to sponsor their eligible family member. MIFI is responsible for approving sponsorship undertakings for sponsors living in Quebec.

What are the requirements for a background check in Canadian sponsorship?

All individuals over the age of 18 applying for Canadian permanent residence must submit a Police Clearance Certificate to confirm they are not criminally inadmissible. Applicants need to obtain police clearances from every country where they have resided for six months or longer since turning 18.

What are the biometrics requirements for Canadian sponsorship?

Most immigration applicants to Canada are required to provide biometrics. You can use Canada’s online tool to determine if you need to submit biometrics. After paying the biometric fee when you submit your application, you will receive a letter from IRCC with instructions on how to provide your biometrics.

What are the medical exam requirements for Canadian sponsorship?

Individuals applying for Canadian permanent residence must undergo a medical exam to ensure they are not medically inadmissible. You do not need to include the medical exam results with your application. Once you have submitted your sponsorship application, IRCC will provide instructions on how to complete your medical exam. The exam must be conducted by a doctor from IRCC’s list of panel physicians.

How can I check the status of my sponsorship application?

If you applied to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child, you can track your application status using Canada’s Permanent Residence Application Tracker portal. If you are sponsoring another type of family member, the method for checking your application status depends on whether the application was submitted online or by mail. You can use IRCC’s online tool to find out more about how to check your sponsorship application’s status.

Is there a deadline for submitting Canadian sponsorship applications?

Eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply to sponsor their spouse or child at any time. However, candidates wishing to sponsor their parents or grandparents must wait to be invited to apply and must adhere to the deadline provided in the invitation.

Can I sponsor my brother or sister to come to Canada?

Sponsoring a sibling to come to Canada as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is very challenging. This is typically only allowed if you meet the criteria of a “Lonely Canadian” or if your siblings can be included as dependents in your parental sponsorship application.

Can I sponsor my fiancé to come to Canada?

Canada does not offer an option for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their fiancé. To apply under the spousal sponsorship category, you must be married. Alternatively, you may be able to sponsor your fiancé to come to Canada if they qualify as a common-law partner.

Can I sponsor my boyfriend or girlfriend to come to Canada?

Canada does not have a specific program for sponsoring a boyfriend or girlfriend. To sponsor your partner, you must be either common-law partners or married. In certain exceptional cases, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor a conjugal partner.

Can I sponsor my friend to come to Canada?

There is no program for Canadian permanent residents or citizens to sponsor a friend. However, if your friend is interested in immigrating to Canada, they may qualify under another immigration program.

Is there an age limit for sponsorship in Canada?

Canadian citizens or permanent residents must be at least 18 years old to sponsor a family member. There is no upper age limit for sponsoring a family member to come to Canada.

Can my spouse or partner work while their sponsorship is processed?

If your spouse or common-law partner is in Canada with a valid work permit, they can continue to work until the permit expires. If they are in Canada with a valid study or visitor visa, they may be eligible to apply for an open work permit, allowing them to work while their sponsorship application is being processed.

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