Canada Family Sponsorship Lawyer
  • Specializing in All Types of Sponsorship Cases
  • Over 20 Years of Experience
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Sponsor Your Family to Canada

Fill out our FREE Family Sponsorship Assessment form to see if you qualify.

Canadian citizens or permanent residents may sponsor certain close family members who are citizens of other countries to immigrate to Canada.

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Family Sponsorship Services

Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor certain foreign family members for permanent residence in Canada through the Family Class Sponsorship category. This includes a spouse, partner, parent, or child. Applications to sponsor a family member are generally processed through Canadian visa offices abroad where the foreign family member is living in another country, or they may be processed through an immigration office in Canada where the foreign family member is inside the country.

Sponsor Spouse to Canada

Spousal Sponsorship

Spousal sponsorship is a two-step application in which the Canadian first applies to the government to be approved as a sponsor, then once that application is approved, the foreign spouse or partner applies for permanent residence on this basis.

Sponsor Your Spouse
Common-Law Partner Sponsorship Lawyer

Common-Law Partner Sponsorship

A common-law relationship means an opposite or same-sex couple that has cohabited together in a conjugal or marriage-like relationship for a period of at least one year excluding any brief breaks of cohabitation due to work and family obligations.

Sponsor Your Common-Law Partner
Conjugal Partner Sponsorship

Conjugal Partner Sponsorship

A conjugal partner relationship exists where two people are in a marriage-like relationship but are not married and have not lived together for a period of at least one year due to extenuating circumstances.

Sponsor Your Conjugal Partner
Child Sponsorship

Sponsor Children to Canada

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their foreign-born dependent child or children to immigrate to Canada. A dependent child means a child under the age of 22 who is unmarried and not in a common-law relationship. The child may be your biological or adopted child.

Sponsor Your Child
Parental Sponsorship

Sponsor Parents to Canada

Sponsored parents and grandparents will obtain permanent resident status, allowing them to live in Canada indefinitely, to work or study and access to social services such as medical care. A parental sponsorship application is a two-step process whereby the Canadian applies to be approved as a sponsor.

Sponsor Your Parents
Undeclared Family Members Sponsorship

Undeclared Family Sponsorship

Family members include your spouse or common-law partner, any dependent children, and any dependent children of your dependent children (grandchildren). If you fail to provide information on or don’t disclose a family member on your application, they are considered ‘undeclared’.

Sponsor Your Undeclared Family

Begin Your Immigration Process

Step 1

Fill out a FREE Assessment form to see if you qualify for one of our immigration services.

Step 2

Your submission will go directly to our lawyer. If you are qualified, you will receive a reply within 1-3 business days.

Step 3

Book a consultation with our lawyer to go over the details of completing your immigration case.

FILL OUT FREE ASSESSMENT

Requirements for Family Sponsorship in Canada

The dream of reuniting families in Canada is deeply embedded within its immigration system. While the intention is to bring families together, the system to ensure this comes with its fair share of complexities. Understanding these nuances is the cornerstone of a successful family sponsorship application.

Basic Criteria:

Age:
 Every sponsor must be at least 18 years of age.

Residential Status:
Sponsors should be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Those who are citizens but live outside Canada must provide proof of intention to reside in Canada once the sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.

Financial Stability:
Canada’s immigration system wants to ensure that those coming to the country won’t be a financial burden. Therefore, a potential sponsor must demonstrate they have the means to support the relative they’re sponsoring without relying on public funds.

Beyond these fundamental requirements, there are specific conditions based on the family member you aim to sponsor:

Spouses/Partners:
Evidence of a genuine relationship is pivotal. This could include shared financial documents, photographs, correspondence, and more. If the relationship is less than two years and there are no children in common, the sponsored spouse or partner might get a conditional permanent resident status.

Children:
Age is a crucial factor. Dependent children should be under the age of 22 and not have a spouse or partner.

Parents/Grandparents:
The number of applications accepted in this category is limited annually. As a sponsor, one needs to meet a minimum necessary income level, the specifics of which might vary based on family size.

Brothers, Sisters, Nephews, Nieces:
These can only be sponsored under specific circumstances, such as being orphaned and under 18 years of age, and not married or in a common-law relationship.

The intricate nature of the family sponsorship process in Canada means there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Factors like the relationship type, the applicant’s country of residence, and more can all influence the process and requirements.

As experienced Canadian Immigration Lawyers, we emphasize the importance of transparency. With the maze of forms, documents, and ever-evolving regulations, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This is why it’s paramount to make the process as transparent and straightforward as possible for clients. By doing so, not only are sponsors better prepared, but they’re also more at ease knowing they have expert guidance at every step.

Furthermore, periodic changes in immigration laws underscore the need for expertise. What was true a year ago might no longer be valid today. An experienced immigration lawyer ensures that sponsors are always working with the most up-to-date information, significantly increasing the chance of a successful sponsorship application.

In essence, while the promise of family reunification under the Canadian sky is enticing, the path there is paved with meticulous requirements and processes. And while it might seem daunting at first, with the right guidance, it’s a journey worth undertaking.

Canadian Immigration Sponsorship

Canadian Immigration Sponsorship is a system designed to reunite families in Canada. Under this system, eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor certain family members to become Canadian permanent residents themselves.

There are several classes and categories of sponsorship. The Family Class is the most common, including spouses, partners, dependent children, and parents or grandparents. A more recent addition, the Super Visa, allows parents and grandparents to visit for up to two years at a time.

Benefits: Being a sponsor is a privilege and offers the chance to bring loved ones to a country known for its high quality of life, opportunities, and robust social benefits.

Challenges: Meeting sponsorship obligations can be stringent, requiring the sponsor to support their sponsored family members financially.

Evaluating Your Eligibility

Eligibility to sponsor is based on several factors:

  • Age: Sponsors must be at least 18.
  • Status: Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • Residency: While Canadian citizens can sponsor from anywhere, permanent residents must live in Canada.
  • Financial Capacity: Sponsors should prove they can financially support the persons they sponsor.

Before starting the sponsorship process, it’s wise to do an assessment. Tools like the Free Family Sponsorship Assessment can be invaluable.

Bring Your Family to Canada

Here's how we can help you:

We provide a full service of preparing, filing, and processing the application to completion to ensure that your application is done as quickly and smoothly as possible.

We will formulate an initial strategy based on your particular circumstances and tailor the supporting documents to best present your case. Our team will work with you to ensure that all necessary documents and forms are accurately prepared.

We will collect and review supporting documentation to ensure you have a strong application.

Our lawyers will prepare detailed written legal submissions in support of your case to be filed with the final application. This will clarify your qualifications with the immigration authorities and enable them to easily process your application.

We will collaborate with you throughout the entire sponsorship process, including dealing with all correspondence from the immigration authorities on your behalf, and until your spouse is approved for permanent residence.

Our lawyers will prepare you and your sponsors for any required interviews with the immigration authorities.

FILL OUT FREE ASSESSMENT

Shamil & Nino

We helped answer Shamil & Nino’s burning questions such as the difference between applications made in and outside Canada. Shamil was concerned about her wife’s ability to work in Canada while the application was being processed. We addressed these concerns, prepared the necessary documents and filed their application in a professional, organized and thorough manner. We are happy to have helped Shamil bring Nino into Canada in a professional and smooth immigration process. At the law office or Matthew Jeffery, we strive to help couples like Shamil and Nino fulfill their dream of building their new life together in Canada.

The Role of an Immigration Family Lawyer

  • A lawyer provides invaluable support:
  • Documentation Assistance: Helping gather and organize necessary papers.
  • Strategy Development: Optimizing your application for approval.
  • Updates and Follow-ups: Keeping the sponsor informed about application status and any changes in immigration policies.

Sponsoring Extended Family Members

While immediate family sponsorship is more common, Canada also allows for certain extended family members’ sponsorship. This includes siblings, nephews, nieces, and certain other cases. However, the criteria and processes for extended family members are stringent, often requiring the sponsor to demonstrate no other eligible relatives in Canada.

Benefits of Successful Family Sponsorship in Canada

  • Once sponsored family members arrive, they enjoy:
  • Healthcare: Canada’s renowned healthcare system.
  • Education: Access to world-class public education.
  • Employment Opportunities: With Canadian residency, better job opportunities emerge.
  • Social Benefits: Including unemployment benefits, child benefits, and more.

Understanding the Financial Responsibilities

  • Sponsors commit to supporting their sponsored relative financially for a specific period. This means:
  • Providing essentials: Food, clothing, shelter, and more.
  • Repaying any social assistance their family member receives.
  • The commitment period varies, typically ranging from 3 to 20 years.

Key Differences: In-Canada vs. Outside-Canada Applications

  • In-Canada Applications: Allows for concurrent applications for permanent residency. This can be ideal for spouses or partners already living in Canada. They might, however, face stricter scrutiny.
  • Outside-Canada Applications: Often swifter than in-Canada applications, especially for parents and grandparents. However, family members must remain outside Canada during processing.

Supporting Documents Checklist

  • Having the right documents is crucial. These include:
  • Proof of relationship: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, photos, etc.
  • Financial documents: Proving the sponsor’s financial ability.
  • Immigration history: Prior visas, travel history, etc.
  • It’s always beneficial to consult a checklist or an expert for a comprehensive list.

Dealing with Application Rejections

Facing a rejection can be heartbreaking. Common reasons include:

  • Doubts about the genuineness of the relationship.
  • Inadequate financial proof.
  • Medical inadmissibility of the sponsored person.

If rejected, one can appeal or address the identified issues and reapply. An Immigration Family Lawyer can provide guidance on the best steps forward.

Family sponsorship in Canada is a pathway to reunite families, but it requires a comprehensive understanding of processes, responsibilities, and criteria.

Common Questions About Family Sponsorships

Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor certain close family members from other countries to immigrate to Canada. This can include a spouse, partner, parent, or child.

Spouses, partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents can be sponsored.

The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
They should be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
They must demonstrate financial stability, ensuring they can support their sponsored family without relying on public funds.

Shared financial documents, photographs, correspondence, and other evidences are required.

Yes, dependent children should be under the age of 22 and not have a spouse or partner.

They can be sponsored if they are orphaned, under 18 years of age, and not married or in a common-law relationship.

An experienced immigration lawyer offers guidance on the complex process, keeps sponsors updated with the most recent immigration laws, assists in documentation, and strategizes for successful sponsorship application.

In-Canada applications allow for concurrent applications for permanent residency, especially useful for those already living in Canada. Outside-Canada applications are often quicker but require family members to remain outside Canada during processing.

They get access to Canada’s healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and social benefits.

The sponsor commits to providing essentials like food, clothing, and shelter to their sponsored relative for a specified period. They must also repay any social assistance their family member receives.

Addressing the identified issues and reapplying or appealing are options. It’s beneficial to consult an Immigration Family Lawyer for guidance.

The firm helps in strategizing, collecting and reviewing documentation, preparing individuals for interviews, providing legal submissions, and communicating with immigration authorities to ensure smooth processing.
For more details and to check eligibility, one can fill out the FREE Sponsorship Assessment form provided by the firm.

Immigration Family Sponsorship Overview

Welcome to our FAQ section about Family Sponsorship! If you’re navigating the complexities of common law relationships and immigration, we’re here to provide you with some answers. Read on to find clarity on the most common questions we encounter: