A family immigrant is admitted the second most frequently under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan. Family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents may visit Canada and obtain permanent residency under this program. As well as you must follow or satisfy certain procedures and criteria for family sponsorship in Quebec.
Family sponsorship in Quebec – Sponsoring your spouse
It is possible for foreign nationals who are married to Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor them for immigration into Canada.
Sponsoring your spouse or partner is imperative if you are able to:
- Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Citizenship or Permanent Residency: You must either be a Canadian permanent resident living in Canada or a Canadian citizen.
- Legal Standing: You should not be incarcerated in prison, facing bankruptcy, subject to a removal order (if you are a permanent resident), or charged with a serious offense.
- Spousal Sponsorship: If you have been sponsored to Canada as a spouse, you must not have been sponsored within the last 5 years.
It is necessary to establish a relationship between the sponsor and recipient. As well as the relationship must fall into one of three categories:
- A spouse is a legally married person, and their sponsor is a legally married person.
- One year of continuous cohabitation is required between the sponsored person and the sponsor.
- Sponsored persons may be classified as conjugal partners if the partners were unable to qualify as common-law partners or spouses because of exceptional circumstances.
Spousal sponsorship is subject to Quebec’s own requirements, and a separate undertaking form must be submitted. When a sponsor makes a request, he or she must submit the application to MIFI as well as IRCC.
Among the factors considered by MIFI are:
- Social Assistance: The sponsor should not be receiving social assistance.
- Default of Previous Undertaking or Support Payments: The sponsor should not be in default of a previous Quebec undertaking or support payments.
- Duration of Commitment: The sponsor must commit to supporting the sponsored immigrant for a specific duration.
- Undischarged Bankruptcy: The sponsor should not have an ongoing undischarged bankruptcy.
A Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) will be awarded to the individual being sponsored, indicating that he or she has been selected for Quebec residency. IRCC can then process their permanent residence application.
Sponsor your dependent child
A citizen’s child may be brought to Canada from overseas if they are a citizen of Canadian or a permanent resident.
Sponsoring a child requires the following:
- Age Requirement: You must be 18 years of age or older.
- Citizenship or Residency: You should be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident living in Canada with the intention to return, or a person registered under the Indian Act of Canada.
- Financial Capability: You must possess the ability to provide for your basic needs and those of your dependent children.
- Relationship Verification: You must be capable of substantiating your relationship with your child.
- Legal Standing: You should not have a criminal record, be incarcerated, be charged with a serious offense, or face bankruptcy.
- Sponsorship Compliance: You must not be in default on a previous sponsorship undertaking.
- Immigration Status: You should not be under investigation by immigration authorities.
- Income Assistance: Unless due to disability-related circumstances, you should not be receiving income assistance.
Sponsorship is available to biological or adopted children of permanent residents and citizens of Canada. Dependent kids must be under 22 years of age, unmarried, and biological or adopted.
A sponsor must sign an undertaking that explains how he or she will provide for the basic needs of the child, including housing, clothes, food, and medical care. A provincial undertaking is required in Quebec. Further, Quebec takes longer than the rest of Canada to complete the undertaking.
A CSQ application must also be submitted if the sponsor lives in Quebec. A MIFI and IRCC application will be required as well.
Family sponsorship in Quebec – Parent and grandparents sponsorship
Parents and grandparents can be sponsored to come to the country and settle permanently by Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Moreover, the possibility of obtaining Canadian citizenship may even be available to them in the future.
For your grandparent or parent to be sponsored, you must:
- Citizenship or Residency: Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Age Requirement: Be 18 years of age or older.
- Residency: Reside in Canada.
- Income Eligibility: Exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program and provide proof of income to the IRCC.
- Financial Undertaking: Sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored individual(s) for a period of 20 years, starting from when they become permanent residents. This undertaking includes repaying any social assistance benefits received by the sponsored family members (if applicable) for the same 20-year period.
The province of Quebec must also sign an undertaking. A sponsorship undertaking in Quebec is fully deemed capable of being fulfilled by you.
As mentioned earlier, the sponsor must apply for a CSQ if they reside in Quebec. In order for IRCC to accept it, it must first be obtained.
Parenting and Grandparenting are currently closed. As of October 20, 2022, the PGP draw has been closed. However, the IRCC has yet to confirm whether it will reopen in 2023.
People who wish to sponsor their grandparents or parents can choose the Super Visa as an additional option. As a result of the Super Visa, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can stay in the country with no need to reapply for their status every five years. Visitors can enter multiple times with this visa, which has a 10-year validity.
Super Visas are available all year long. Family members have more security with Super Visas since they don’t need to take part in a lottery. Due to the Super Visa, grandparents and parents are able to stay longer in Canada rather than having to renew their visas upon reentering the country.
