A Canadian citizen or a Canadian
permanent resident can sponsor close family members for
the Family Class Immigration. The Canadian relative is
known as the Sponsor. To qualify as a Family Class
Immigrant, an applicant must be the Canadian Sponsor's:
spouse; or
common-law partner; or
parent or grandparent; or
dependent child; or
orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece,
or grandchild -- under 19 and unmarried.
Also included are children under 19 who are
either orphaned or placed with a child welfare authority for
adoption and who the Sponsor intends to adopt. If the Sponsor has no
relative as listed above and no relatives who are Canadian citizens
or Canadian permanent residents, he or she may sponsor one other
relative.
The Sponsor must be able to demonstrate the financial ability to
provide for the essential needs of the Family Class Immigrant and
dependents. The financial ability requirements are eased when
sponsoring a spouse and/or an unmarried child(ren) under 19 years
old.
The Sponsor must enter into an agreement with the Government of
Canada (or the Government of Quebec, if that is where the Sponsor
resides) whereby he or she agrees to provide for the essential needs
of the Family Class Immigrant and dependents for a period of
10years. Failure to meet any of the commitments provided for in this
agreement could result in legal action being taken against the
Sponsor.
The Sponsor must be: a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
at least 19 years old; physically residing in Canada (or able to
demonstrate an intention to reside in Canada by the time the
sponsored family member lands in Canada); not in prison; not
bankrupt; and not under a removal (deportation) order if a permanent
resident.
Immigrating to Canada
Copyright 2005 Ayodele
Akintunde & Co. All rights reserved
