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Mike · 01-15-2006, 06:33 PM

Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close relatives or family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Sponsors must promise to support the relative or family member and their accompanying family members for a period of three to 10 years to help them settle in Canada.

Under the Canada–Quebec Accord, the province of Quebec has a role in determining sponsorship eligibility for Quebec residents. However, the Quebec portion of the process is begun only after Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has finished its assessment of your ability to meet Canada’s sponsorship requirements.

Mike · 01-15-2006, 06:36 PM

You can sponsor relatives or family members from abroad if they are:

spouses, common-law or conjugal partners 16 years of age or older;
parents and grandparents;
dependent children, including adopted children;
children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt;
brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans; under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship; or
you may also sponsor one relative of any age if you do not have an aunt, uncle or family member from the list above who you could sponsor or who is already a Canadian citizen, Indian or permanent resident.

A son or daughter is dependent when the child:
is under the age of 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner;
is a full time student and is substantially dependent on a parent for financial support since before the age of 22, or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner (if this happened before age 22); or
is financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 22 because of a disability.

Mike · 01-15-2006, 06:38 PM

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class

You may also sponsor a spouse or common-law partner from within Canada if they have been living with you in Canada. Sponsorship of a spouse or common-law partner includes their dependent children whether inside or outside of Canada.

NOTE: On February 18, 2005, CIC announced a change that affects the sponsorship of spouses and common-law partners applying from within Canada.

What is the change in policy?

The new spousal policy sets out that most spouses and common-law partners in a genuine relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, regardless of status, are able to apply for permanent residence while remaining in Canada. This change, however, only applies to situations where a family class sponsorship has been submitted.

Under the previous policy, the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class was only available to spouses and common-law partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who had valid temporary immigration status in Canada.

Applicants in the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class are also permitted to include family members, living both in Canada and abroad, in their applications (i.e., applicants may have these applications processed at the same time).