Understanding Immigration Sponsorship in Canada
With a long list of eligibility criteria, forms, processing times and fees, immigration can feel like a never ending process. It can be particularly exhausting when doing it alone, and there is an added stress when waiting for family members to make the trip abroad. What individuals may not know is that with certain criteria, they can sponsor relatives to immigrate to Canada in order for them to live, work and study as permanent residents. Below is a list of helpful sponsorship procedures that will educate you on starting the process of assisting your loved ones.
As a sponsor, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years of age. In order to sponsor any member of your family, it is required that you provide proof that you can meet their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing as well as support them financially so that they do not require social assistance from the government.
Sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or dependant child living inside Canada
To sponsor a family member in this group, your spouse or common-law partner must live with you in Canada, be over the age of 18 and have a valid passport. You may sponsor your own child or the child of the person you are sponsoring so long as they are under the age of 19, do not have a spouse or common-law partner or are over the age of 19 but cannot care for themselves due to a medical condition.
If you entered Canada as a sponsored spouse or partner you are ineligible to sponsor a new spouse or partner for a five-year period starting from the time you arrived in Canada.
This application has three different parts to it. First, you must apply to sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child. Then your spouse or partner will apply for permanent residence, and the person you are sponsoring then fills out forms pertaining to the specific regions where they live abroad.
Sponsor a spouse, common-law, conjugal partner or dependant child living outside of Canada
A common-law partner is eligible if you and your partner have lived together for at least one year. Likewise, conjugal partners may be sponsored if they are common-law or spouses, but do not meet the traditional requirements such as continuously living together for one year or are restricted by a country’s definition of marriage (i.e. same-sex couples). You may sponsor your own child or the child of the person you are sponsoring so long as they are under the age of 19, do not have a spouse or common-law partner or are over the age of 19 but cannot care for themselves due to a medical condition.
If you entered Canada as a sponsored spouse or partner you are ineligible to sponsor a new spouse or partner for a five-year period starting from the time you arrived in Canada.
To sponsor a family member in this field, you will pay a non-refundable fee when you submit your application. Providing this is successful, members you are sponsoring will come to Canada with an immigrant visa after you pay a Right of Permanent Residence Fee for every person 19 years or older.
Sponsor a parent, grandparent, adopted child or other relatives
LICO (Low Income Cut Off) determines the necessary income requirement for sponsoring adopted children and is 30% more for parents/grandparents. LICO is based on your Gross Annual Income, and you must provide CIC with records of the past 3 years of your financial resources and prove that you are financially able to sponsor alone, or with the help of a co-signer.
Your parents, grandparents, children that you adopted outside of Canada, or intend to adopt in Canada are eligible. As well as your siblings, your sibling’s children and your grandchildren, providing they are all under the age of 18 and do not have a spouse or partner.
