Every year, Canada accepts and processes families from all around the world. As a result, family class immigration is one of the least affected by travel restrictions. However, suppose you have relatives who live abroad and want to relocate to Canada. In that case, you might want to take advantage of the sponsorship program to sponsor your family for permanent residency status in the country. Canada Family Sponsorship is a program that allows the family to stay united and provides a pathway to get permanent residence in the country. The Canadian federal government prioritizes family sponsorship applications because they believe in keeping families together.
The Canada Family Sponsorship is one of the indirect economic strategies that aim to connect immigrants to relatives. Through the sponsorship program, sponsored relatives will have to sign an agreement to make every effort to support themselves financially and help contribute to an expanding economy. Families are responsible for keeping their sponsored relatives financially until they arrive in Canada. The length of the process can take up to 6 months to three years months from the point of Acknowledge of Receipt. This guide will explain what you need to know about the Canada Family Sponsorship program.
How to Apply for Canada Family Sponsorship
If you have relatives, you can sponsor them to become permanent residents of Canada. A permanent residency status means your sponsored relatives can live, study and work in the country. Below are the requirements to apply to the program:
- Be a Canadian citizen.
- Be a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Be a permanent resident of Canada.
How Canada Family Sponsorship Process Works
If you are a permanent resident of Canada and at least 18 years old, you can sponsor your family members for permanent residence. If your family member obtains permanent residency status, they can live, work and study in the country. You are responsible for supporting your family members financially if you sponsor them to come as permanent residents of Canada.
You will have to fill out Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application to the government. You will be notified via Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) when the immigration department receives your application. The intended process time is six months from the date of AOR.
Canada Family Sponsorship Requirements
The Canadian federal government is a firm believer in keeping families united. Therefore, there are plenty of options that Canadian citizens can do to sponsor their family members living abroad to become permanent residents. Here are the requirements to support a relative:
- Be 18 years old or older.
- Both the sponsored relative and you must sign a sponsorship agreement.
- You must provide financial support for your sponsored relative.
- You must provide financial support for a dependent child for ten years or until they turn 22 years, whichever comes first.
- Not under a removal order.
- Not in prison.
- And not be bankrupt.
Here’s a list of who is eligible to be a sponsor:
- Spouse
- Common-law partner
- Conjugal partner
- Dependent children
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Brothers or sisters
- Nephews or Nieces
- Granddaughters or Grandsons
- Relative of any age or relationship but under certain conditions
Other Requirements
Sponsored relatives also are subjected to other requirements which they will be required to do so. For instance, sponsored relatives will have to take medical exams, submit a police certificate, and in some cases, submit a special agreement with the province if you are moving to Quebec. As mentioned above, the sponsor is responsible for all fees associated with the application and paperwork throughout the sponsorship process.
Conclusion
Suppose you have family members or relatives that are living abroad and want to come to Canada. The Family Sponsorship Program is a quick and easy way to help your relatives gain permanent residency status in the country with minimal effort. Although, you will have to bear the burden of additional financial costs to support your sponsored relatives until they arrive in Canada. Ensure you have all the support to make the whole sponsorship experience seamless for your abroad relatives.
