Every year, hundreds of thousands of people immigrate to Canada for better living standards and a peaceful, fulfilling life. However, living alone in a new country without your family members is often not easy for the majority of people, who prefer having their family here.
In order to ensure Canadian citizens and permanent residents can reunite with their families, the Canadian government has launched several programs which allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their relatives to Canada. One of the most popular programs is the Parents and Grand Parent Sponsorship Program, which allows people to invite their parents to live with them in Canada.
In this blog, let’s take a look at the process of sponsoring your parents to Canada, the eligibility requirements for sponsoring your parents, and other important details.
Eligibility Requirements for Sponsoring Your Parents to Canada
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents and invite them to come to Canada as long as they meet specific financial requirements and can demonstrate the ability to support them financially. There are a few requirements that also have to be met by the parents who are being sponsored. These eligibility requirements include:
Citizenship or Permanent Residence
The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or an Indian registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
Age
The sponsor must be 18 years or older to be eligible for the Parents Sponsorship Program.
Financial Eligibility
As a sponsor, you must meet the minimum necessary income requirement, which is determined by the size of your family and your province of residence. The income must meet or exceed the minimum necessary income for three consecutive years prior to the sponsorship application.
Intention to Support and Undertaking
As a sponsor, you must submit proof of your being financially stable and your intent to sponsor your parents and provide them adequate financial support so that they don’t need to rely on social assistance from the government.
You must also sign an undertaking agreement, which is a legal document that states your commitment to financially support your parents and repay any social assistance provided to them by the government. Failure to adhere to the undertaking without a valid reason can lead to criminal charges.
Medical Examination and Admissibility
Your parents will be required to undergo tests and medical examinations to ensure they meet the health requirements for entering Canada. They may be denied admissibility if they are diagnosed with an untreatable, critical, or contagious illness.
Violation of Immigration Laws or Criminal Records
Your parents must not be criminally inadmissible or have violated immigration laws in the past in order to be eligible to be sponsored. If they have a criminal record or a violation of immigration law, especially within the last three years, make sure to speak to an experienced immigration lawyer to know your options and how to proceed.
Process of Sponsoring Your Parents to Canada
There are multiple steps in the application process of sponsoring your parents to Canada. Let’s take a detailed look at them here.
Step 1: Understanding the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program
The first step is to fully understand the Parents Sponsorship Program, its requirements, and everything related to it before filing the sponsorship application to save time and resources and avoid mistakes.
The primary program for sponsoring parents to Canada is the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program. This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. It is important to note that this program operates on an invitation basis, meaning that interested sponsors must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to express their intent to sponsor their parents or grandparents. Once selected, sponsors will receive an invitation to apply for sponsorship.
Step 2: Review Eligibility Requirements
Before proceeding with the application, it is crucial to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements to sponsor your parents. If not, your application will be rejected, and you’ll be wasting your time.
Step 3: Arrange Required Documentation
The sponsorship application requires various supporting documents to establish the relationship between the sponsor and the parents, as well as to demonstrate financial capability. Some essential documents include:
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement, and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
- Document Checklist (IMM 5771)
- Financial Evaluation (IMM 1283)
- Proof of relationship, such as birth certificates and other relevant documents
- Police certificates and medical examinations
It is important to ensure that all documents are complete, accurate, and submitted within the specified timelines. Any missing or incomplete information may lead to delays or rejection of the application.
Step 4: Complete Application Forms
The sponsorship application includes various forms that must be completed accurately, including the ones mentioned above. Carefully read the instructions provided on each form and fill in the required information.
Hire an immigration lawyer to ensure all the required forms are in your application and the necessary information is provided.
Step 5: Pay the Application Fees
Sponsorship applications require payment of processing fees. The fees vary depending on the type of sponsorship and the number of family members being sponsored. It is important to review the latest fee schedule provided by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)Â to ensure that the correct fees are paid.
Step 6: Submit the Application
Once all the required documentation, forms, and fees are ready, it is time to submit the sponsorship application. Applications can be submitted online through the IRCC website or by mail to the appropriate visa office. It is advisable to keep copies of all documents and forms for your records.
Step 7: Monitor Application Status and Provide Updates
After submitting the application, sponsors can monitor the status of their application online using the unique application number provided. It is important to notify IRCC of any changes in circumstances, such as contact information, income, or family composition, to ensure accurate processing of the application.
Step 8: Attend Interviews and Provide Additional Information (if required)
In some cases, sponsors may be called for an interview with an immigration officer to further assess the sponsorship application. Additionally, IRCC may request additional information or documents to support the application. It is important to promptly respond to any requests and provide the requested information.
Step 9: Wait for the Decision
Once the application is submitted, sponsors need to patiently wait for the decision. The processing times for parent sponsorship applications can vary, and it is important to be aware that it may take several months to receive a decision.
Processing times for sponsoring parents to Canada can vary depending on several factors, including the number of applications received, the presence of all the required documentation, and the visa office responsible for processing the application. It is advisable to check the IRCC website for the most up-to-date information on processing times.
A lot of people make the mistake of making travel arrangements while waiting for the final decision. This could result in significant losses because air tickets and other arrangements are often non-refundable if your application gets delayed or rejected. During this time, sponsors should avoid making any travel arrangements for their parents until the sponsorship is approved and the permanent resident visa is issued.
Step 10: The Decision
Once you have received the decision, you can proceed further accordingly. If your application for sponsorship of your parents is approved, you may start making arrangements for their travel and arrival in the country. Make sure you are present in the country at the time of their arrival since it’s a legal requirement.
If your application has been rejected, this doesn’t mean you are ineligible to sponsor your parents. Usually, applications are rejected because people make mistakes while filing them, like missing documents, wrongful information, etc. However, if your application has been rejected, you can appeal the rejection with the help of a lawyer.
You are also eligible to resubmit an application if your lawyer suggests it. If you work with an immigration lawyer from the get-go, you can reduce the chances of your application getting rejected.
If you’re planning to file an application to sponsor your parents or want to appeal your rejected sponsorship application with the help of an immigration lawyer, you’ll find the most experienced ones in Canada at Nanda & Associate Lawyers.
We are a trusted law firm in Canada and have a team of experienced immigration lawyers who can help you with your parent sponsorship applications. Moreover, we also have personal injury lawyers, family lawyers, real estate lawyers, business lawyers, and more.
Get in touch with us now for further details.
