SPONSORSHIP
What is meant by sponsored relatives?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents, aged 19 and over
and living in Canada, may sponsor the applications of certain
close relatives who wish to immigrate to Canada. This is known
as family class sponsorship.
Which relatives are eligible as family class?
- Wife/husband;
- parents, grandparents
- fiance(e)
The fiance(e) must prove to the visa officer that the person
is free to marry, that he or she is above the minimum age
to be married in Canada and that marriage is not solely
for the purpose of immigration. He or she is given permanent
resident status on the understanding that the marriage will
take place within 90 days of arrival.
- brothers/sisterss, nephews/nieces, and grandchildren who
are orphans, unmarried and under 19,
- children under 19 you plan to adopt,
- dependent son or daughter
Children age 19 and over will be considered dependents
if they are full-time students who have been mainly supported
by their parents since they turned 19.
This category also includes children with mental or physical
disabilities who are mainly supported by their parents and
are unable to support themselves because of their disability.
- any other relative, if you do not have any of the above
or any family in Canada.
Who can be a sponsor?
Anyone who:
- is 19 years of age or over,
- is a Canadian citizen, or permanent resident living in
Canada, and
- has not defaulted on a previous sponsorship agreement.
- is not facing criminal charges or awaiting the outcome
of an immigration inquiry.
- meets the applicable financial criteria.
What counts as proof of the relationship
- Original documents such as birth and marriage certificates;
- Other types of legal official records, such as voter's
registration and military records, if these documents were
issued before the applicant's interest in immigration;
- In some cases family personal records and photographs
may be helpful, if nothing else is available.
What must a sponsor promise to do?
The sponsor agrees to give shelter and care to the sponsored
relatives and provide other living expenses as necessary for
a period of ten years. This means that the newcomer should
not need financial help from the government.
Are sponsored relatives eligible for benefits such as
Employment Insurance?
Yes. A person who has made payments to government plans such
as Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and Worker's
Compensation may benefit from these plans if they qualify.
To be eligible for some government benefits, such as Old
Age Pension, a person must have lived in Canada for a minimum
period of time and be a minimum age. A person may have to
live in a province for a certain amount of time before being
eligible for free health care. (See Fact Sheet 4: Health and
Income Security).
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