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Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
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Parents & Grandparents
who Can be a Sponsor?
To be eligible to sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must meet the following requirements:
Invitation to Apply
To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must first be invited to apply through this specific sponsorship program. This process involves a selection phase where potential sponsors are chosen based on a lottery with criteria set by IRCC.
At Least 18 Years Old
You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible to sponsor your parents or grandparents. This ensures that sponsors are legally considered adults and are able to take on the responsibilities associated with the sponsorship.
Live in Canada
You are required to live in Canada, and your primary residential address must be within Canada both at the time you submit your application and until a final decision is reached.
Citizen or PR Status
Eligible sponsors must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. This confirms that the sponsor has a stable and legal status in Canada.
Financial Capability
You must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to support your parents or grandparents. In some cases, a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the application to combine incomes, which can help meet the financial requirements.
Commitment to Support
By signing a sponsorship agreement known as an undertaking, you commit to providing financial support for your parents or grandparents for 20 years. This agreement ensures that you will support them without relying on public assistance.
Who Can I Sponsor?
If they meet the eligibility criteria, you can sponsor the following family members to come to Canada:
Parents & Grandparents
Your own parents and grandparents, whether related by blood or adoption. Sponsoring them allows them to become permanent residents in Canada, provided they meet all the requirements set by the immigration authorities (IRCC).
Dependent Children
The dependent children of your parents and grandparents and their dependent children: This can include your siblings, half-siblings, or step-siblings, as well as their own dependent children, allowing everyone to stay together.
Current Partner
If your parents or grandparents are divorced, you can sponsor their current spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. You will need to submit separate applications for divorced parents, if they are separated its only one application.
When applying, your parents and grandparents, along with their dependents, will need to provide all necessary documents, such as medical exams, police certificates, and biometrics, as part of the permanent residence process.
How to Sponsor your Parents and grandparents
Here’s a 5-step process to sponsor your parents and grandparents to come to Canada:
Determine your Eligibility and Submit an Interest to Sponsor Form
Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria: be at least 18 years old, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act living in Canada, and meet the income requirements for the last three tax years. Submit the "Interest to Sponsor" form during the annual intake period on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
The IRCC randomly selects potential sponsors from the pool of Interest to Sponsor submissions. If you are selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to sponsor your parents or grandparents. Only those with an ITA can proceed.
Complete Your Application
Prepare two applications: one to become a sponsor and another for your parents’ or grandparents’ permanent residence. Gather all required documents, such as proof of relationship, income, and civil status documents, and follow the IRCC document checklist. Ensure that the forms are filled out correctly to avoid delays.
Pay Fees and Submit the Application
Pay the required fees, including processing fees, the right of permanent residence fee, and biometrics fees, online via the IRCC website. Submit your completed application package, including payment receipts and all supporting documents, via the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal IRCC within 60 days of receiving the ITA.
Get Approved and Prepare to Come to Canada
Track your application status online using your IRCC GC Key account account or their online tool. Be prepared to provide additional information, submit medical exams, police certificates, and biometrics if requested. If approved, your parents or grandparents will receive instructions on how to finalize their permanent residence status. If the application is refused, you will receive information on the reasons for the decision and any potential next steps.
Sponsoring your parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada can be challenging, with strict eligibility criteria, income requirements, detailed forms, and extensive supporting documents. Cantrust Visa can simplify the process by handling these complexities for you, ensuring that every step is completed accurately. With their expert guidance, you can focus on spending time with your family and planning their future in Canada without the stress of managing the application process.
Parent and Grandparents FAQs
You may not be able to sponsor your parents or grandparents if you:
- Are in jail, prison, or a penitentiary.
- Did not repay an immigration loan, a performance bond, or court-ordered family support payments like alimony or child support.
- Failed to provide financial support as agreed upon when sponsoring someone else in the past.
- Declared bankruptcy and have not been discharged.
- Receive social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
- Were convicted of a violent criminal offense, an offense against a relative, or any sexual offense, inside or outside Canada.
- Cannot legally stay in Canada and must leave the country due to a Removal Order.
There may be other reasons that could make you ineligible to sponsor. If deemed ineligible, you will be informed of the reasons.
There are specific family members you cannot sponsor under Canada’s family sponsorship program. These include:
- Your spouse or common-law partner’s parents and grandparents (your in-laws): While you can sponsor your own parents and grandparents, you are not eligible to sponsor your in-laws. If your spouse or partner receives their own invitation to apply for their parents or grandparents, you can only support the application as a co-signer, not as a primary sponsor.
- Individuals who are inadmissible to Canada: You cannot sponsor someone who is considered inadmissible to Canada. This includes anyone who has been barred from entering the country due to reasons such as criminal activity, health concerns, or security issues.
Additionally, it is important to note that you cannot transfer your invitation to apply to someone else, including your spouse or partner. If you receive an invitation to sponsor your parents or grandparents, it cannot be given to another person to use for their own sponsorship purposes.
If you were not invited to apply for the sponsorship program, your parents and grandparents might still be eligible to come to Canada through a super visa. The super visa allows them to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time.
Additionally, while they are in Canada, they can apply for extensions of up to 2 years for their stay. This provides an alternative way for your family to visit and spend time with you in Canada.
A Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Application for Canada typically costs CAD $1,205 when applied for directly through the Government of Canada.
At Cantrust Visa, we offer a comprehensive Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship application service for USD $2,000 (single parent or grandparent) and USD $2,500 (both parents or grandparents). Please note that government fees are not included.
The processing times for a Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Application can vary due to factors such as the applicant’s location, the completeness of the application, and specific case details. As of the latest updates, the general processing time is approximately 20 to 24 months from the date Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives the application.
Keep in mind that this is an estimate and actual processing times may differ based on individual circumstances. Delays can occur if additional information is required or if there are complexities in the case. On the other hand, a thoroughly prepared application with all necessary documentation can sometimes lead to faster processing.
To help ensure your application is processed efficiently, Cantrust Visa offers expert assistance in preparing a complete and accurate application, which can minimize the risk of delays.
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