Dedicated to solidarity and family unification, the Canadian government extends numerous immigration policies that enable its citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain family members for their immigration to Canada. However, there are certain specifications involved in the process that need to be fulfilled in order to immigrate a family member successfully. On satisfying such conditions, one can bring their family members to Canada, who may then become domiciled under the Family Class category.
Family sponsorship is one of the most popular immigration policies offered by the Canadian government. It ultimately allows sponsored family members to become permanent residents of Canada and enables them to live, work, or study in Canada without needing to meet extensive VISA requirements.
The primary objective being family reunification, such immigration policies represent an incredible initiative that showcases Canada’s understanding of the importance of family.
Family Sponsorship — Eligibility Criteria
Becoming a Sponsor
Meeting certain income requirements and committing in writing to support their family member financially would be the primary responsibilities of a sponsor. Depending on the sponsored person’s age and relationship to you, this financial obligation may begin on the day they become a permanent resident and continue for three to twenty years. The minimum eligibility requirements for sponsors are as follows:
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- They must be a minimum of 18 years old.
- Their financial stability must allow them to support themselves along with their sponsored relatives.
Let us also evaluate circumstances that disallow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor family members or relatives.
You would be considered ineligible to become a sponsor if:
- You are incarcerated.
- You have declared bankruptcy.
- You have not followed up on the financial responsibilities attached to being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You have failed to make repayments towards any immigration loans you may have taken.
- You have opted for social aid in situations where you were not physically incapacitated.
- You have a criminal record, depending on the severity of your crime.
- You have a history of family sponsorship where your sponsors have failed to meet the requirements of their sponsorship agreement.
Furthermore, it should be noted that in order to be sponsored by you, your family members must also fulfill certain requirements for eligibility.
Family Sponsorship — Immigrating One’s Siblings
Typically, it is quite challenging for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their brothers or sisters to Canada. This is because siblings are not directly mentioned in the Family Class category under Canada’s immigration structure. There are, however, some circumstances in which you can sponsor a brother or sister to immigrate to Canada. They are as follows:
- You may sponsor an orphaned brother or sister who is related to you by blood or adoption and is under 18 years of age.
- You may sponsor a sibling who is a dependent accompanying your sponsored parents.
- You may sponsor a sibling only if they are single, i.e., not married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship.
Although there are no direct provisions for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their siblings to Canada, there are other options one can resort to in order to accomplish the same. Such siblings can also apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system, an economic class immigration initiative, where they would score an additional 15 points.
Sibling Sponsorship — The Detailed Steps
For every Canadian citizen or permanent resident, their siblings have the opportunity to immigrate to Canada as sponsored individuals, provided they meet certain criteria. On fulfilling such criteria, they may apply for permanent residence either independently or under your sponsorship.
Let us look at the course of action to be followed:
The starting point would be to get the application package and start building your application. It should be noted that as of September 2022, the Canadian government has made it compulsory for applicants to complete their sponsorship applications online. Additional accommodations are available for applicants who are unable to do so due to a disability or any other reason. Your application package will contain an Instruction Guide, designed to streamline your application process.
STEP 1: Make the application to be a sponsor.
When building your sponsorship application, you must refer to the Document Checklist— Sponsor, provided by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This checklist will help you gather and organize your documents in the order you might need them. The documents you will need are:
- Filled-out applications for sponsorship.
- Evidence of your sibling’s relationship to you, such as birth certificates, adoption agreements, or parent death certificates.
- Evidence of the age and single status of your sibling.
- Evidence of your ability to pay, such as bank statements and income tax returns.
- Your sibling’s medical examination results.
Incomplete or missing information or documents can cause your application to be delayed. It is imperative that every detail in your application is accurate.
STEP 2: Pay the required application charges.
Sibling sponsorship comes with a number of processing fees. Essentially, your fees will consist of:
- Processing fees for you and the sibling you are sponsoring.
- The charges attached to the collection of biometric data.
- The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
STEP 3: Submit your completed application with proof of payment.
The final step would be to first double-check your sponsorship application and then proceed by submitting it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Applications for sibling sponsorship go through different processing times. That being said, the procedure should take a minimum of several months. The official IRCC website has a list of the current processing times where you can also check the status of your application and track its progress.
Sibling Sponsorship — Pointers for Success
Boost your chances of being granted sponsorship for your sibling by:
- Guarantee that both you and your sibling fulfill all requirements for eligibility.
- Assemble all necessary supporting documentation and make sure it is current and complete.
- Fill out the application forms precisely and with care.
- Send in your application as quickly as you can.
Conclusion
Sponsoring a sibling for immigration can be a challenging undertaking, particularly because of the stringent qualifying requirements and the demand for substantial proof of the sponsor’s capacity to provide the applicant with financial support.
Kurzfeld Law specializes in facilitating family reunions. Our skilled group of immigration attorneys is aware of the intricacies involved in the procedure, and we are available to assist you at every turn. It’s a sentimental journey to bring your adult siblings to Canada, and we’re committed to making it happen. With our knowledge, you can expeditiously handle the immigration processes and guarantee a seamless reunion.
