Size of Family Unit

B. Family Class

Canadian Citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents who reside in Canada are currently eligible to sponsor for admission to Canada the following persons:

• their spouse 

• their mother and father and any accompanying dependent children as defined in the Immigration Regulations

• their dependent children as defined in the Immigration Regulations

• a child they intend to adopt under the age of 22 years

• an orphaned sibling, nephew or niece under the age of 22 years and unmarried.
  

The filing of an Undertaking of Assistance and Financial Evaluation Form are the first steps in the sponsorship process. The person being sponsored must also file an Application for Permanent Residence with a visa post abroad once the sponsorship application is approved and meet other statutory requirements.

The Canadian Government does understand that families wish to be together and immigration is permitted for many members of the family. For example as someone with "Landed Immigrants Rights" or as a Canadian Citizen one can sponsor not their wife and immediate family, but also their parents and grandparents. Outlined below are the requirements for various members of the family:

Spouse: The spouse can normally be included in the application for immigration. The form needs to be completed and similar information needs to be provided as for the "Principal Applicant". This is normally a straightforward application to make. If one is already in Canada as a "Landed Immigrant" or Citizen and is sponsoring for the spouse the procedure is slightly different and application is made to the Case Processing Centre in Ontario, Canada.

Children: As with the spouse, children can be included in an application for immigration to Canada. Children should be under the age of 22 years and unmarried, or be in full-time education and still financially dependent on the parents. Children who are married can still be accepted for the purposes of the application as long as they are in full-time education, and are still financially dependent on the parents.

Parents: Parents can normally be accepted for immigration to Canada. However, someone moving to Canada will normally have to wait until they have been accepted as an immigrant and have settled in Canada before they can make an application for their parents to join them. Further, the requirements are somewhat more onerous, than is the case for applications relating to a spouse or a child; there are strict financial requirements that must be met before a parent can gain entry to Canada on the strength of their children's presence there. These financial requirements vary depending on the number of dependants already living with the sponsor, and the part of Canada in which they reside. In rare cases where the parents are living in some hardship, and there are compelling humanitarian and compassionate reasons to do so, an application may be made at the same time that the sponsor is applying for immigration to Canada.

Grandparents: For grandparents the requirements are similar to those for parents (outlined above). 

Others: Sponsorship applications can be made for orphaned relatives under 19 years of age such as brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild. Further, you can normally sponsor a child under 19 years of age that you plan to adopt (subject to the relevant adoption laws).

C. Business Immigration

Canada's Business Immigration Program seeks to promote economic development and employment by attracting people with venture capital, business acumen and entrepreneurial skills.

The Business Immigration Program currently falls under three categories of immigrants:

• Entrepreneurs

• Self-Employed

• Investors

Changes will be introduced, however, to improve the Business Immigration Program and to enhance the potential economic contribution of business immigrants to Canada.

Improved selection criteria will place greater emphasis on Entrepreneurs and Investors with a strong business background and the capacity to integrate into the Canadian business community.

Canada has three schemes for those in business: the entrepreneur scheme, the self-employed scheme, and the investor scheme. Unlike the US, Canada grants business people permanent residence relatively quickly. However, the Government will monitor the businesses of entrepreneurs and the self-employed to make sure that they are actually trading for the first two years. All the Canadian schemes are looking for people with proven business experience. Those planning to immigrate to Canada under the entrepreneur and self-employed schemes are advised to travel to Canada to do their own research before any application is made. 

Entrepreneur Scheme:

Business Immigration Program - Entrepreneur
  

To qualify as an Entrepreneur, an applicant must:

• have successfully managed a commercial enterprise (or a part of a commercial enterprise); and 
• have sufficient assets to establish or acquire a business in Canada.

There are conditions attached to an Entrepreneur's Canadian Immigrant Visa which must be complied with. An Entrepreneur must, within two years of landing in Canada, establish, purchase, or make a substantial investment in a business in Canada so as to make a significant contribution to the economy. Active and on-going participation in the management of the business is required, and employment opportunities must be created or continued for one or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the Entrepreneur and his or her dependents. Entrepreneurs will be required to report their progress to immigration officials on a regular basis during this two-year period. 
   

There are no minimum net worth requirements for Entrepreneurs, except for those destined for the Province of Quebec. The minimum requirement set by the Quebec government is CAD$200,000 (approximately US$135,000), plus sufficient settlement funds. In all cases, the nature and location of the proposed business will determine the net worth required to qualify.

Self-Employed Scheme

Business Immigration Program - Self-Employed
  

To qualify under the Self-Employed category, an applicant must demonstrate an intention and ability to establish or purchase a business in Canada that will keep him or her employed and make a "significant" contribution to the economy or the cultural or artistic life of Canada.

Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed business will generate sufficient revenues to support the applicant and his or her dependents. Farmers, artisans, sports personalities, actors, consultants, and operators of small business outlets that may be in demand are examples of applicants who may qualify.

Assessment in this category is based upon: 

• business ability and experience (when applying under the economic contribution component of the Self-Employed description); 
     
• artistic qualifications (when applying under the artistic/cultural component of the Self-Employed description); and 
     
• net worth (sufficient to establish/purchase the proposed business).

Investor Scheme:

Business Immigration Program - Investor
  

To qualify as an Investor, an applicant destined for any province in Canada other than the Province of Quebec must:

•  have successfully operated, controlled or directed a business;
    

·                     have accumulated through his or her own endeavors a net worth of at least CAD$800,000; and   
    

·                     invest CAD$400,000 for five years with the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada which acts as agent on behalf of provincial and territorial investment funds.   

An applicant destined for the Province of Quebec must: 

·                      have at least three years of managerial experience in a profitable commercial, industrial or agricultural business or, alternatively, at least three years of managerial experience in a government, governmental organization, or international organization;

·                     have accumulated a net worth of at least CAD$800,000 through legitimate economic activities; and

·                     Invest CAD$400,000 for five years in a Quebec-approved investment fund.   

C(i) Entrepreneurs

Currently, those wishing to come to Canada as Entrepreneurs must demonstrate their intention and ability to establish, purchase or invest in a business that will create or maintain employment for at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Those applying under the Entrepreneur category will have conditions placed on their visas which require them to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials that:

• they have invested in a business or established a business;

• they are actively involved in the business; and

• they have created at least one other job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Failure to satisfy these conditions within two years of arriving in Canada, can result in the removal of an Entrepreneur and his/her family from Canada.

C(ii) Self-Employed

Those interested in applying in the Self-Employed category must demonstrate an intent and an ability to create employment for themselves. Their endeavors must constitute a significant contribution to the Canadian economy or to Canada's cultural and artistic life.

C(iii) Investors

An Investor is defined as a person who has successfully operated or controlled or directed a business or commercial undertaking and who has accumulated through his or her own endeavours at least $800,000 in Canadian funds of which a minimum $400,000 CAD is to be invested in an approved investment fund. 

There are no conditions attached to the granting of immigrant status; however, once an applicant is accepted by a visa officer, the investment becomes irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn for a period of five years. These funds are risk capital funds and investors should obtain both independent financial and legal advice before investing in any fund.

Temporary Status in Canada

The Immigration Act and Regulations not only cover persons who wish to live in Canada permanently but also those who wish to study and/or work temporarily in Canada and persons who wish to visit.

E. Student Authorizations

Most international students are required to have authorizations to receive academic, professional or vocational training in Canada. Community college and university students may be issued authorizations which are valid for the duration of their program of study.

Customary prerequisites are that the student

• has already enrolled in a government-approved academic institution

• has paid his/her fees and been accepted by the academic institution

before the student can submit his/her Application for Temporary Entry to Canada (Student Authorization) to a Canadian visa post abroad.  For more information about Student Authorizations, click here.

F. Visitors

The Immigration Act requires all visitors, except those exempt by regulation, to obtain a visitor visa before coming to Canada. Applicants must demonstrate to visa officials that they have significant family, social, economic and cultural ties to their country of origin and that they have sufficient means to support themselves during their visit to Canada. Applicants must also satisfy visa officials that there is no risk that they will overextend their visit to Canada.

For more Information about tourist visas, Click here

NOTE:
The information contained on this page is general in nature and all possibilities cannot be covered. What is applicable to one person may not apply to another. In addition, the laws governing Immigration to Canada are subject to change and to legal interpretation.

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