Family Reunification & Immigration
Every year, many families in Canada enjoy reunification due to the national immigration program. Around 80,000 family sponsorship applications are approved each year.
These immigration applications are based on family ties between spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent minor children/adopted children, and parents or grandparents.
They fall under the Family Class sponsorship program, which waives the standard requirement to meet income thresholds to facilitate family reunions.
The process imposes stringent eligibility requirements, considerable documentation is required, and there may be an arduous application procedure before a final decision is made.
Our family reunification and immigration lawyers can help you sponsor your closest family members to join you here in Canada, removing much of the work and stress from the application process and providing the best possible chance of a successful outcome.
Can you sponsor your spouse, partner or child’s immigration to Canada?
Before you can decide whether to sponsor a loved one to join you in Kamloops, you must meet certain eligibility requirements under the Family Class sponsorship program.
The program allows a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 years or older to apply to sponsor a family member to settle here. Amongst many other things, sponsors must demonstrate that a genuine relationship exists and applications are closely scrutinized.
Often, immigrants choose to apply for Canadian residency through the economic program and later sponsor family members through the Family Class sponsorship program.
Who can and cannot sponsor loved ones?
The following eligibility requirements must be met before you can sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- If you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents.
- You can’t sponsor someone if you’re a permanent resident living outside Canada.
- You must prove that you’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
- You must provide for the basic needs of any people you want to sponsor
What are the obligations of sponsors?
The Government of Canada wants to ensure that sponsored family members do not become dependent on Canadian social assistance or welfare.
Accordingly, sponsors agree to a financial undertaking with the government as follows:
- To provide financial support for sponsored family members, starting from when they become permanent residents
- To repay any provincial social assistance that sponsored family members receive during that time
You may sign this agreement with a co-signer if necessary and both signatories will then be responsible for the financial undertaking.
How long are you financially responsible for sponsored family members?
In B.C., you will be financially responsible for the person you are sponsoring from the first day of permanent residence for the following periods:
| Family Members | Years of Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner | 3 years |
| Dependent child | 10 years, or until age 25 |
| Dependent child 22 years of age or older | 3 years |
| Parent or grandparent | 20 years |
| Other relative | 10 years |
What are the income requirements of sponsors?
Sponsors must sign a Sponsorship Agreement with their sponsored family member. This is a commitment to provide for their basic needs.
In the following cases, sponsors in Kamloops will need to show that they have enough money to meet the income requirements for immigration:
- If you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has one or more dependent children, or
- If you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has one or more children
- If you’re sponsoring a parent or grandparent
What does “basic needs” mean?
The “basic needs” provision includes paying for the following (if the sponsored person cannot cover costs):
- Food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities
- Dental, eye and healthcare needs that are not covered by public health services available to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents
The undertaking to provide basic needs can be shared by a co-signer, such as a sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner (who must also meet the same eligibility requirements).
Whose immigration to B.C. can you sponsor?
Providing you meet the eligibility requirements and can prove the relationship, you may sponsor any of the following loved ones:
Family reunification assistance in Kamloops
Bringing families together is a labour of love for the immigration lawyers at Taylor Janis LLP Kamloops. We can assist with all stages of your application, including preparation for interviews and representing you in sponsorship appeals.
Start with a confidential 30-minute consultation. Call us now to book a time: 604-423-2646
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