by The Family Class Sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada is one of the fastest and most popular pathways to gain permanent residence, for both you and your family members in Canada.
That being said, if you are a current legal citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of 18 years of age and above, you are then eligible legally to sponsor a family member to also become a permanent resident in Canada.
Your relative can then live, study and work in Canada via the Family Class Sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada immigration program.
Canada is committed to reuniting loved ones, so they’ve provided various immigration programs that give residents staying in Canada the opportunity to sponsor their family members to Canada.
This sponsorship program means that foreigners who have family members in Canada can be sponsored by those family members to come to Canada for work, study, or settle down.
How Does the Family Class Sponsorship for Permanent Residence in Canada Immigration Program Work?
The Family Class Sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada immigration program helps to reunite families by rendering capable adult permanent residents or citizens to sponsor a relative for immigration to Canada permanently.
The program works by giving eligible citizens of Canada who are up to 18 years and above the privilege to sponsor certain family members to become permanent residents in Canada, which gives them the legal right to work, study, or live in Canada.
By undertaking to support sponsored members of the family class, the sponsor should be rest assured that for a specified duration of time, they would provide the basic needs of their family members so that they do not rely on social assistance within the country.The sponsored person must be living outside the provinces of Canada, unless they are residing legally in Canada temporarily, like a work or study permit.
Requirements for the Family Class Sponsorship for Permanent Residence in Canada
To be a sponsor:
- You must be above 18 years old to qualify.
- You must be a citizen of Canada or have legal permanent residence status in Canada.
- If necessary, you and the sponsored relative must sign a sponsorship agreement that entrusts you to offer your relative financial support. The agreement also says that a person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support him or herself as well.
- In the case of a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, you must provide financial support for the person for three (3) years from the time they get their Canadian permanent residency status.
- You must provide financial support for a dependent child for ten (10) years or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.
- It would be best if you were not imprisoned or charged with a serious offense.
- It would be best if you were not bankrupt.
Who can you sponsor?
By utilizing the family class sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada, you can sponsor the following relatives:
- Spouse – if you are legally married to the sponsor and your marriage is legally valid.
- Dependent children – A child is dependent when the child is under the age of 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner, or is over the age of 22 and depends substantially on the financial support of a parent before the age of 22 as a result of a physical or mental condition.
- Common-law partner (restrictions apply) – you are a common-law partner (either the opposite or same-sex) if you have been staying together in a conjugal relationship for at least one year continuous (a 12-month period that was not interrupted). You will need proof that you and your common-law have mixed affairs and set up a household.
- Conjugal partner (restrictions apply) – This is for partners (either opposite or same-sex), where prodigious or exceptional circumstances beyond their control prevented them from living together, and therefore, cannot qualify as common-law partners or spouses.
- Parents – (Additional conditions apply)
- Grandparents – (Additional conditions apply)
- Brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, granddaughters or grandsons are orphaned, under 18 years of age, and not married or in a common-law relationship.
- Another relative of any age or relationship but only under some specific conditions.
- Accompanying relatives of the family member (for example, spouse, partner, and dependent children).
Common Agreement and Undertaking for the Family Class Sponsorship for Permanent Residence in Canada
The undertaking for the family class sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada is a binding contract between sponsors and the IRCC minister.
By signing an IMM 1344 form, sponsors and co-signers are required to support the sponsored applicant if they are unable to be self-supporting.This means, seeing to it that the sponsored applicant and accompanying family members are provided with basic requirements such as food, clothing, shelter, the necessary goods or services, and health care).
The IMM 1344 form for the family class sponsorship for permanent residence in Canada contains detailed information summing up the obligations that sponsors are shouldering that includes an explanation of the obligations and the consequences of sponsorship by default.By signing this form, the sponsor and the principal applicant concede that they understand the undertaking.
The IMM 1344 list of basic requirements includes:
- Food
- Clothing
- Shelter
- Fuel or gas
- Utilities
- Household supplies
- Personal requirements
- Other goods and services include dental care, eye care, or other health services that are not provided by public health care.
The sponsor and applicant are bonded by their obligations after signing this agreement. They cannot withdraw the agreement unless the entire undertaking is withdrawn earlier to the sponsored applicant becoming a permanent resident in the country.
A change in circumstances – like marital breakdown, separation, divorce, family rifts, unemployment, change in financial circumstances, or death of the principal applicants in cases where there are accompanying family members does not also annul the undertaking.Once the sponsored family member becomes a permanent resident, sponsors remain compelled to provide basic requirements for the full period of the undertaking.
Signing the IMM 1344 form
The IMM 1344 form for the family class sponsorship for permanent residence in the Canada immigration program must be signed by the sponsor, the co-signer (if relevant), and the family member being sponsored.A parent may sign on behalf of a principal child applicant who is too young to sign for themselves.
An individual with power of attorney may sign on behalf of a client they have signing authority, such as a person with impaired physical or mental capacity. In such cases, that individual must render a copy of a legal document to prove that they have been duly appointed.
