Canada is known for its family-friendly policies and welcoming attitude towards immigrants. As a result, many Canadians have relatives or loved ones living abroad who they would like to bring to the country. The Canadian government recognizes the importance of family reunification and offers various family sponsorship programs to reunite Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their loved ones. In this article, we will discuss the family sponsorship visas for Canada and the requirements for sponsoring your family members.
Who can be sponsored?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor the following family members:
Spouse or common-law partner
Dependent children
Parents
Grandparents
Brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, or grandchildren under 18 years of age, who are unmarried and not in a common-law relationship
Requirements for the sponsor
Before you can sponsor a family member to Canada, you must meet certain requirements:
Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
Be 18 years of age or older
Be able to provide financial support for your family member for a certain period of time
Have a clean criminal record
Sign an undertaking to provide financial support for the sponsored family member for a certain period of time
Not be in receipt of social assistance (other than for reasons of disability)
Requirements for the sponsored family member
The family member being sponsored must also meet certain requirements:
Be a spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild of the sponsor
Pass medical, criminal, and security checks
Provide biometric information (fingerprints and a photo)
Meet the requirements for temporary residence if they are applying from within Canada
The application process
The sponsorship process consists of two stages: the sponsor’s application and the sponsored family member’s application. The sponsor’s application is processed first, and if the sponsor is approved, the sponsored family member can then apply for permanent residence.
The sponsor’s application
The sponsor’s application involves the following steps:
Determine your eligibility as a sponsor: Before you begin the application process, make sure that you meet the requirements listed above.
Apply to sponsor: You must fill out and submit the sponsorship application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You will need to provide information about yourself, your family members, and your financial situation.
Wait for processing: Once your application is submitted, IRCC will review it to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. If your application is approved, you will receive a sponsorship approval letter.
The sponsored family member’s application
Once the sponsor’s application is approved, the sponsored family member can begin the process of applying for permanent residence. This process involves the following steps:
Apply for permanent residence: The sponsored family member must submit an application for permanent residence to IRCC. This application includes personal information, biographical details, and supporting documents such as police certificates and medical exams.
Wait for processing: IRCC will process the application and conduct background checks. If the application is approved, the sponsored family member will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.
Travel to Canada: The sponsored family member can then travel to Canada and present the COPR document at the border. They will then be granted permanent residence.
The processing time for Family Sponsorship Visas for Canada can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person, the country of origin of the sponsored person, and the current processing times at the visa office responsible for processing the application.
There are several types of Family Sponsorship Visas available for Canada, including spousal sponsorship, parent and grandparent sponsorship, and dependent child sponsorship. Each of these programs has its own processing times and eligibility requirements.
Generally, the processing time for spousal sponsorship can range from 12 to 18 months, while the processing time for parent and grandparent sponsorship can range from 20 to 24 months. The processing time for dependent child sponsorship can vary depending on the country of origin of the child, but it is typically faster than the other two programs.
It’s important to note that these processing times are just estimates and can be subject to change without notice. It’s also important to submit a complete and accurate application to avoid delays in processing.
In some cases, the government of Canada may prioritize the processing of certain Family Sponsorship Visas, such as those involving urgent humanitarian and compassionate reasons. In these cases, the processing time may be faster than the estimated processing times mentioned above.
If you are considering sponsoring a family member to come to Canada, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements and the application process. You may also want to consider consulting with an immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant to help you navigate the complex process and ensure that your application is complete and accurate.