Sponsoring Your Family For Immigration To Canada: 3 Facts You Should Know

Current immigration laws allow for natural born Canadian citizens to sponsor their spouse, partner, or children for legal immigration status. However, successfully completing the immigration process will take more than you simply declaring your relationship to the person you have sponsored. Taking the time to learn as much as you can about this process prior to sponsoring your family member can help to ensure their successful immigration. The facts outlined below can assist you in completing this task.

Fact #1: You Are Responsible For Financially Caring For The Person You Have Sponsored

The Canadian government wants to avoid the immigration of individuals who will likely require financial assistance from government programs. In order to achieve this task, the government will require you to provide proof of your ability to financially care for both the person you have sponsored, as well as yourself. In the event that your family member is not able to find work after successfully immigrating, you will be held responsible for meeting their basic financial needs. This includes their need for food, shelter, and clothing.

Fact #2: A Rejected Sponsorship Application Is Not The Same As A Rejected Visa Application

Filing a sponsorship application can help your loved one to successfully obtain a permanent residence visa. However, a successful sponsorship application is not necessary for your loved one to be granted permanent status. This is because while your sponsorship application will be handled by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, your loved one's application for permanent status will be handled by the visa office that serves their home country. Consequently, a rejected sponsorship application will not bar your loved one from being granted permanent residency, nor will a successful sponsorship guarantee that their residence visa will be approved.

Fact #3: Your Loved One May Be Able To Join You In Canada While You Await A Decision

A permanent residence visa is just one of the many different types of visas that your family member can apply for. By applying for a different type of visa, such as a work or student visa, your loved one may be able to legally join you in Canada while you await a final decision regarding their permanent residence.

If you choose to take this route, just remember that your loved one will be required to maintain a valid visa status in order to remain in the country. If their visa is allowed to expire, they will not be able to obtain permanent residency while they are in the country illegally.