Sponsorship for family reunification of spouse, partner, or dependent children.

Guarantee process

Welcome to the family sponsorship process in Canada. If you meet the requirements, you will be eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent children so they can become permanent residents of Canada.

When you sponsor someone, you need to ensure that you are able to financially support them. This means you must ensure that they are not receiving any social welfare benefits from the government. This is a crucial responsibility that you need to carefully consider before proceeding with the sponsorship process.

Remember that sponsorship is not just a financial commitment, but also a commitment to supporting your sponsor as they integrate into Canadian society.

Who is eligible to sponsor a spouse or children?

If you wish to sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent children in Canada, there are certain conditions you must meet:

1. First, you must be at least 18 years old.
2. You must be a Canadian citizen, a Canadian permanent resident, or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act.
3. If you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must demonstrate that you intend to live in Canada once the people you sponsor become permanent residents. This does not apply if you are a permanent resident (PR) living outside Canada.
4. You need to prove that you are not receiving social benefits, unless you have a disability.
5. Ultimately, you need to be able to provide for the basic needs of the person you want to sponsor.

If you live outside Quebec, you will need to provide a commitment that you will financially care for the people you are sponsoring for a specified period of time. You will need to provide financial support for them from the time they become permanent residents, and you will have to repay any social benefits they receive during this time.

Additionally, you and the person you are sponsoring will need to agree on certain responsibilities during the commitment period. This is called a sponsorship agreement, under which you will provide for the basic needs of the person you are sponsoring, and that person will endeavor to support themselves and their family.

When you apply, you will need to complete and sign a form containing a commitment and guarantee agreement.

Income requirements

In most cases, there is no income requirement to sponsor your spouse or partner or dependent children. You only need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to meet the income requirements if:

• You are sponsoring a dependent child who has one or more dependent children, or
• You are sponsoring a spouse or partner who has a dependent child, and that dependent child has one or more children of their own.

Please see the form instructions for more details. Conduct a financial assessment to understand how much money you need and how to fill out the form.

Who cannot sponsor their spouse or children?

You cannot sponsor your spouse or children in the following circumstances:

• If you are under 18 years old.
• Unless you will be living in Canada when the person you wish to sponsor becomes a permanent resident.
• If you are not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act.
• If you are a temporary resident, it means you are visiting, studying, or working in Canada on a visa or permit.
• If your permanent resident application is still being processed, you must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.
• If you don't have enough money to support the people you want to sponsor.

You may not be eligible to sponsor a spouse if you were previously sponsored by a spouse or partner and you became a permanent resident less than five years ago, or if you are still financially responsible for a previous spouse or partner you sponsored.

It's also possible you may be ineligible to sponsor a spouse or children if you are in prison, have not repaid an immigration loan, a performance bond, or court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support.

Additionally, if you have a long-standing bankruptcy claim, receive social assistance for reasons other than disability, or have been convicted of assault, threats, or violent criminal offenses, you will also be ineligible to sponsor bail.

Finally, if you are unable to legally remain in Canada and must leave the country because you have received a Deportation Order, you will also not be eligible to sponsor.

There may be other reasons why you might not be eligible to sponsor your spouse or children.

Your friend can act as a guarantor.

You can sponsor your spouse, legal partner, spousal partner, or dependent children.

Your spouse

Your spouse can be of either sex and must:

• legally marry your friend
• at least 18 years old

Your common-law partner

Your legal cohabiting partner:

• I am not legally married to you.
• It could be both genders.
• at least 18 years old
• You have lived together for at least 12 consecutive months, meaning you have lived together continuously for one year in a marital relationship, without any long periods of separation.
• Any time that is not together should be
• short
• temporary

If you or your legal partner choose to end the relationship, this is considered the end of the relationship.

You will need to provide proof of your legal relationship.

Your conjugal partner

Your marriage partner:

• not married to you or in a legal relationship with you
• It could be both genders.
• at least 18 years old
• have been in a relationship with you for at least 1 year
• living outside Canada
• They cannot live with you in their country of residence or marry you for important legal and immigration reasons such as
• their marital status (e.g., they are still married to someone else in a country where divorce is not possible)
• their gender identity (for example, you are in a same-sex relationship, and same-sex relationships are not accepted, or same-sex marriage is prohibited where they live).
• being prosecuted (for example, your relationship is between different religious groups that are not accepted and they may be punished by law or society)

You will need to provide evidence that you cannot live together or marry in your spouse's country (e.g., evidence of refusal of long-term residency in each other's countries).

Dependent children

Children are considered dependent if they meet both of the following requirements:

• They are under 22 years old.
  
• They do not have a spouse or legal partner.

• They are unable to provide for themselves due to a mental or physical condition.
  
• They have been financially dependent on their parents since before the age of 22.

Except for age, your dependent child must continue to meet these requirements until we have processed your application.

• your child
• If you are a Canadian citizen, your children may also be Canadian citizens, even if they were not born in Canada. You cannot sponsor your children for permanent residency if they are already Canadian citizens. Check to see if your children are already Canadian citizens.
• If you are only sponsoring your child, not your spouse or partner, you will name your child as the primary applicant on the application. You must demonstrate that the other parent or legal guardian consents to your child immigrating to Canada. See your checklist for what you need to provide.
• If the child you wish to sponsor has a child of their own (your grandchild), you would include your grandchild as a dependent in the application.
• If you wish to sponsor your adopted child or an orphaned family member, follow the instructions for sponsoring your adopted child or orphaned family member.
• your spouse or partner and their children
• If you are sponsoring your spouse or partner and a child (either their child or a child you have together), you would name your spouse or partner as the primary applicant and the child as the dependent on the application.
• If the child you wish to sponsor has a child of their own, you would include your grandchild as a dependent in the application.

Conditions of the people you are sponsoring

To demonstrate they meet the eligibility requirements, their spouse, partner, dependent children, and children of dependent children (if any) must provide:

• all the necessary forms and documents with their application.
• any additional information we request during the processing, including
• medical check-up
• fingerprints

You cannot sponsor someone who is not eligible to enter Canada. This means they are not permitted to come to Canada.

Open Work Permit: Register as a sponsored spouse or legal partner residing in Canada.

You are a spouse or legal partner in Canada.

You can apply for an open work permit once it has been confirmed that your permanent residency application is complete.

Who can register?

You can apply for an open work permit if you are the spouse or legal partner of

• currently being sponsored under the spousal or legal partner category in Canada.
• I have submitted a complete application for permanent residency.
• living in Canada with your sponsor

KeyApply's services

KeyApply specializes in providing family reunification sponsorship services for spouses and dependent children, both in and outside of Canada. Contact us for personalized advice tailored to your specific case. Here are some highlights of our services:

1. Certified Immigration Consultants in Canada: With experience in handling sponsorship applications, we also have experience in appeals, court proceedings, and handling complex cases.

2. Offices in Canada and Vietnam: We can assist out-land cases with paperwork and procedural matters.

3. Services for special cases requiring senior legal counsel: We have a team of professional lawyers to assist with special cases.

Additionally, Canada recognizes same-sex marriage, and KeyApply provides services for both same-sex and heterosexual marriage applications.

Q&A

What are the income requirements for guaranteeing the loan?

In most cases, there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse or dependent children. You only need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to meet the income requirements if :

• You are sponsoring dependent children, meaning your child has one or more dependent children, which includes your grandchildren, or
• You sponsor your spouse/partner who has dependent children, and their dependent child has one or more children from a previous relationship.

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