Permanent residents and people who hold citizenship of Canada can sponsor their families to migrate to Canada.
As a sponsor, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. For example, you must be at least 18 years old; people who hold citizenship of Canada, permanent residence, or Indian status (Under the Indian Act) have to prove that they are receiving any social assistance and they are able to support their family financially.
There are some other specific criteria as well. If you are a citizen applying to sponsor your family from outside Canada, you must demonstrate that you intend to return once Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have decided on your file. There are also circumstances that could make you ineligible for sponsorship, such as not being granted bankruptcy leave.
Who You Can Sponsor Under this special program, Canada allows three different types of partners: common-law, spouses, and marital partners. If you want to sponsor your dependent children you will be able to do that.
Spouses are required to marry their sponsor in a personal ceremony. Virtual marriages are not allowed in the process of migration.
Common-law partners are required to demonstrate that they have been living together for at least 12 months
The consanguineous partner is living outside Canada and has been in a relationship for at least one year. They need to demonstrate that there are legal or social barriers that are preventing them from marrying or living together. You cannot sponsor a matrimonial partner who is living in Canada.
In all cases, your partner must be over 18 years of age. The IRCC will check whether your partner is acceptable by running medical and background security checks. People who are criminal convictions are not allowed to come to Canada, but there may be some options to overcome criminal incapacitation.
The immigration officer who handling your file will also want to see that relationship between you and your partner is veritable. They want to accept people who are coming to Canada for family reunification, not people who are getting married for the sole purpose of immigrating to Canada.
Dependent Children
Those children who are under the age of 22 or older and do not have a common-law partner and spouse qualify as dependent children. Also, if they are not able to support themselves financially due to physical or mental conditions and depend on their parents financially are qualified as dependent children.
Your child may still be a dependent if he or she turns 22 while their application is being processed. However, they must continue to fulfill all other pre-mentioned requirements until IRCC finishes processing the application.
If you hold citizenship in Canada then you are able to sponsor your own child or partner and their child. your child may already be a citizen, even if he or she was not born in Canada In this case, if you have not done so yet, you may need to apply for proof of citizenship for your foreign-born child. You do not need to sponsor your child if you are already a citizen.
If your own child does not qualify as a citizen, and you wish to sponsor them without your partner sponsoring them, you can designate your child as the main applicant in the application. You must demonstrate that the other parent or legal guardian has agreed to allow your child to immigrate to Canada.
If a dependent child also has a dependent child (your grandchild), they can also be included in the application.
The process for sponsoring adopted children and orphaned family members is different from sponsoring your own child or your partner’s child.
The immigration process for spousal Common-law and dependent Child.
Sponsoring your spouse, partner or child requires two applications: you need your application to be a sponsor and your family’s application for permanent residency. Permanent residency and sponsorship of both applicants must have to submit their applications together at the same time. The process of sponsorship is different in Quebec.
An application guide with specific and up-to-date information will be provided by the Canadian government where you will find the full details on how to fill the form. The requirement of documents for applicants depends on the state of residence form.
Additionally, IRCC provides a document checklist, in which you will find the forms and instructions that are required for your application. Before submission, you must double-check all the documents because sometimes the list also changes.
The process will start by IRCC after receiving the complete application. You must have to complete your application before submitting otherwise it will return back to you if it is not complete.
The IRCC has a standard 12 months of processing on spousal sponsorship applications, although this can take longer. Applications for children vary by country.
During the processing period, IRCC asks foreign applicants for biometrics and a medical examination. You have to send the examination report within 30 days. Maybe IRCC also asks for some more details or a personal interview at any time whenever they want.
You are able to update and track your application status online until any decision is taken by IRCC on your application. The IRCC will send you instructions on the final steps which are followed by the national common-Law partner or spouse to become a permanent resident of Canada.
