Who Can Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada? [Updated for 2020]

Under the Family Class immigration category, citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their relatives, including foreign spouses, partners, dependent children, parents, or grandparents for immigration to Canada. The Canadian government makes family reunification an important goal, and over the next three years, the country will welcome over 260,000 people who will be reunited with their family in Canada.

 

 

Who Can Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada?

A person can become a sponsor if:

• They are at least 18 years old;
• They are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act,
• They can prove they are financially able to assist the sponsored person(s); and
• They have enough income to provide for basic needs of dependent children of the principal applicant.

 

Who Cannot Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada?

 Certain people cannot sponsor immigrants to Canada:

• People who failed to pay an immigration loan, a performance bond, or family support payments;
• People who have not been able to provide for the basic needs of previously-sponsored relatives who received social assistance from the government;
• People who are under an immigration removal order;
• People who are incarcerated;
• Those who receive social assistance (unless they are disabled), or who are going through bankruptcy;
• People who were sponsored by a spouse or partner who became a permanent resident less than five years ago;
• People who have sponsored a previous spouse or partner and three years have not passed since the spouse or partner became a permanent resident; and
• People convicted of sexual offences, violent offences, or offences which caused bodily harm to a relative, and persons who attempted or threatened to commit this type of offence.

 

Sponsorship of Spouses, Common Law Partners and Dependent Children

 

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child as long as the applicant and spouse or dependents are not inadmissible. For sponsorship purposes, a spouse can be opposite or same-sex and must be married to the Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

If a couple was married in Canada, they must provide a marriage certificate from the territory or province where they were married. If the couple was married outside of Canada, the marriage must be legally valid in the country where the marriage was performed, as well as legally valid in Canada.

A couple does not need to be married to take advantage of the spousal or common law partner sponsorship provision. If a couple has lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months, with no interruptions, they are eligible for family sponsorship. However, the CIC may require couples to prove their relationship with photographs and other evidence.

The government wants to ensure that sponsored family members have adequate support once they arrive in Canada. Spouses and common law partners must sign a formal agreement which confirms that both people understand their responsibilities. The sponsoring person must also sign an agreement pledging to provide for the basic needs of the spouse, partner, dependent child or other relative.

There are unique requirements to sponsor a close relative to Québec. If you live in Québec, it is important to review the law and consult with a lawyer about the Québec process.

 

Spousal Sponsorship Processing Time

 Generally, it takes 18 months to complete the sponsorship process for people who live outside of Canada, and 24 months for applications by people living inside Canada. In December of 2016, the Canadian government announced its plans to process 80 percent of the spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months. New application forms and procedures are streamlining the process and reducing the waiting time. For example, medical examinations are no longer needed upfront and police certificates are only required for the countries where the spouse or partner most recently lived and where they spent most of their lives since age 18. Complicated or unusual applications may still take more than one year to process.

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The Ultimate Canada Visitor Visa Checklist [Updated for 2020]

Are you planning to visit Canada in the near future? If so, you need to be aware of the requirements for obtaining a visitor visa. A visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, is an official document stamped in your passport demonstrating that you meet the legal requirements to travel to Canada. This post explains exactly what travelers must do to enter Canada.

Step 1: Canada Visitor Visa Checklist

The first step is making sure you meet the basic requirements for travel to Canada. You must have:

• A passport or other valid travel document
• Be in good health (a medical certificate may be required)
• Have no criminal convictions
• Demonstrate an intent to return to your home country
• Have enough money for your stay (bank statements may be required)

Step 2: Determine if You Need a Medical Exam

People who intend to visit for six months or less generally do not need a medical exam unless they work in specified health fields or in agriculture. You need a medical exam if you will remain in Canada for more than six months, and:

• You have lived temporarily for six or more months in a row in specified countries in the year immediately prior to the date you will enter Canada.
• You are coming to Canada to work in a job where public health must be protected.
• You are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.

If you need a medical exam, contact the visa office for instructions on how to proceed.

Step 3: Documents Required for Canada Visitor Visa

The nearest visa application center (VAC) can help with the paperwork. Generally, you need the following forms and documents to complete your visitor visa application:

• Application for Temporary Resident Visa
• Family Information Form
• Photocopy of the Information Page of Passport
• Two Photographs (with name and date of birth written on back)
• Proof of Financial Support (bank statements)
• Photocopy of Marriage License or Certificate
• Purpose of Travel Statement
• Photocopy of Current Immigration Status (if your country of residence is different from your country of citizenship, you must provide proof of legal status)
• Custody Documents or Letter of Authorization from Both Parents (for minor children traveling with one parent)

You can apply online or on paper. Each person who seeks entry into Canada must submit a separate application.

Step 4: Pay Application Fees

As of December 2017, the fee schedule for visitor visas and super visas is as follows:

• Visitor visa / super visa = $100 per person
• Visitor visa for family of five or more = $500 total

To be eligible for the visitor visa for a family of five or more persons, dependent children must be under age 22 and the family members must apply at the same time and place.

Step 5: Biometrics

Some visitors to Canada need to give biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph). If you need to give biometrics and are applying on paper, the application must be submitted in person at the VAC office.

Step 6: Submit the Application

Families are required to send their applications together with one package. To identify the proper office, visit the webpage and select your country where you currently live.

Step 7: Application Processing

After you submit the application, it will be reviewed to make sure it has all the supporting documentation. Most applications are processed in just a few weeks. After the application is processed, your passport and original documents will be returned to you.

Step 8: Approved

Once your application is approved, the visa will be stamped inside the passport. When you arrive in Canada, a border agent will ask for your travel documents.

Documents required for a Canadian visitor visa are subject to change. Be sure to check the VAC for the most recent information for your country.

Are you interested in immigrating to Canada permanently? Contact the Immigration Law Office of Ronen Kurzfeld to see how we can make your Canadian dream come true.

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Secret tech experience programs for PR

Canada is fast becoming the next tech and IT hub of the world. From innovative financial services, blockchain, to Artificial Intelligence there is a huge demand for tech talent. In fact, tech and IT workers in foreign countries will find they have many options for becoming permanent residents on the basis of their IT and tech education and experience.

In this article we are looking at permanent immigration programs that will let you live and work freely in Canada. If you qualify under any of the PNPs we mention below, you don’t face any of the restrictions you have to with a temporary work permit.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program – Tech Draws

The demand for skilled tech and IT workers in Ontario, Canada is sky high. Toronto, Ottawa and Kitchener-Waterloo, in particular, are home to vibrant tech industries. In light of that, the province allows the nomination of Express Entry candidates who have tech experience to apply for permanent residence. The following NOC codes are eligible for tech draws:

NOC 2173 – Software engineers and designers

NOC 2174 – Computer programmers and interactive media developers

NOC 2147 – Computer engineers

NOC 2175 – Web designers and developers

NOC 2172 – Database analysts and data administrators

NOC 0213 – Computer and information systems managers

Ontario invited nearly one thousand Express Entry candidates with tech experience in a January 2020 draw.

British Columbia Tech Pilot

BC will be running its ‘Tech Pilot’ Provincial Nominee Program till at least June 2020. BC, like Ontario, is seeing huge demand for tech skills international recruitment. This program works differently to Ontario’s program, though. Its benefits for applications are:

Invitations to Apply – ITAs are issued to qualified and skilled technology workers every week, reducing the time employers and employees must wait.

Prioritized applications – Applications of tech and IT candidates are fast-tracked to make sure the right talent is able to come to Canada immediately.

The list of eligible occupations for Tech Pilot is revised regularly. At the time of writing, there were 29 tech occupations that are in high demand. A few eligible categories are:

NOC 0131 – telecommunication carriers managers

NOC 0512 – Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts

NOC 2131 – Civil engineers

Read more

Minimum IELTS for Canada | Police verification requirements for PR | PR for Caregivers

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Manitoba has adopted a different approach to Ontario and BC for attracting foreign tech and IT talent. Instead of a dedicated tech-focused PNP, the province has been sending out missions to recruit skilled tech workers. Though the program does not offer the initial benefits that other PNPs do, the biggest draw is recruitment.

MPNP representatives actively assist Manitoba employers recruit foreign talent. Hundreds of IT positions across many different industries are up for grabs at their events. Keep up to date with the latest Manitoba PNP recruitment drive, expected to take place in spring 2020.

Quebec Skilled Worker

Quebec has been long regarded as having one of the toughest provincial nominee programs. Applicants must fulfill national criteria, then also demonstrate French language skills. What many don’t realize is that the Quebec Skilled Worker program gives tech and IT workers an advantage.

QSW requires a minimum of 43 points on employability factors alone. However, the “Listes Des Domaines De Formation’ (List of Training Areas) actually allocates the highest number of points for tech university education. Applicants who can show education in IT and technology can claim 12 points, the highest of any other category. What’s more, their spouses are also eligible to receive 4 points, which is the highest of any category too.

How to immigrate to Canada if you have tech and IT experience

If you have built a career in tech in your country, there is a very good chance your skills are in high demand in Canada. At Immigration Way we have helped thousands of people come to Canada legally and settle into prosperous lives. Speak to a qualified Toronto immigration lawyer and find the right program for you.

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