The Government of Canada gives significant importance to Family Unification. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to become a Permanent Resident in Canada. Moreover, there are other various programs available to uphold this key Canadian value. Below are some of the categories that summarize the family categories. These are designed to understand the opportunities available under the Canadian Immigration System.
- Spouse/Partner Sponsorship
- Relative Sponsorship
- Parent / Grandparent Sponsorship
- Parent / Grandparent Super Visa
- Dependent Child Sponsorship
- PNP Family Stream
Family Sponsorship
If you are a Canadian permanent resident or citizen with a family member who wants to immigrate to Canada, you may be able to help them become a permanent resident. Family reunification remains one of the pillars of the Canadian immigration system.
The Family Class Sponsorship Program reunites families by enabling adult permanent residents or citizens to sponsor a relative for Immigration to Canada.
To be eligible, the person seeking sponsorship must be a:
- Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
- Dependent child
- Parent
- Grandparent
- Sibling
- Nephew, niece, or grandchild
- under 18 years who is unmarried, and whose parents are deceased.
The person sponsored must live outside Canada unless they are residing legally in Canada temporarily, for example, with a work or study permit.
Who can Sponsor?
A sponsor must be an adult Canadian permanent resident or citizen over the age of 18. A sponsor must reside in Canada unless they are a citizen currently living abroad and planning to reside in Canada once the sponsored individual arrives.
An individual may not sponsor if they:
- Are in prison
- Are subject to a removal order
- Are in the process of bankruptcy
- Receive social assistance from the government (except for disability)
- Have been convicted of (or attempted/threatened to commit) an offence of a violent or sexual nature, or resulting in bodily harm of a family member
- Have failed to pay child support payments
- Have failed to pay back immigration loans or have made late or missed payments
- Have sponsored a family member in the past and failed to meet the terms
- Have sponsored a previous spouse or partner who has not been a permanent resident for more than 3 years
- Were themselves sponsored and became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago
Super Visa
A Super Visa in Canada allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods.
Super visas typically grant Entry to Canada for up to two years, with the ability to apply for extensions of one year at a time.
Who is it for?
Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to visit Canada for lengthy periods.
Super Visa: What do I need to do?
There are a couple of conditions that must be met in order to apply for the Super Visa:
1. You must have an invitation from a host in Canada (i.e. your child or grandchild). The host must meet a minimum income threshold, as they are responsible for your financial support while in Canada.
2. You must pass a medical examination.
3. You must have valid Canadian medical insurance coverage for at least one year. Applicants must show proof that they have purchased private medical insurance coverage from a Canadian insurance provider.
The insurance policy must:
– Be valid for at least one year
– Cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation
– Provide a minimum coverage of $100,000
– Be valid for each Entry to Canada
– Be available for review by an officer at a Canadian port of Entry
Super Visa letter of invitation
A successful Super Visa application must include a letter of invitation written by the host (child or grandchild) in Canada. This letter must include the following information about the invitee (parent or grandparent):
– Complete name
– Date of birth
– Address
– Telephone number
– Relationship to the host
– The purpose of the trip to Canada
– How long the invitee intends to stay in Canada
– Where the invitee will stay, and how he or she intends to finance purchases while in Canada
– When the invitee plans to leave Canada.
In addition, the following information about the host must be included:
– Complete name
– Date of birth
– Address
– Telephone number
– Job title
Information about status in Canada (citizen or permanent resident), including proof of status
– Family details, including names and dates of birth
– The total number of persons residing in the household.
The following must also be included in the Super Visa letter of invitation:
– A signed promise of financial support for the invitee by the host
– Proof of minimum income.
Mahil Immigration is here to guide you on your immigration goals. We will help you leverage these programs to find the quickest and most cost-effective way to enter Canada so you can achieve. Send us a message so we can help put together your immigration plan today! Please complete our contact form or call us at +1 (604) 585-2444.