If you are 18 years of age or more and a permanent resident of Canada, a Canadian citizen, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian then you can are eligible to sponsor your family member or spouse to Canada. However, there are certain conditions that you need to fulfill to apply for this sponsorship. And the first and foremost is that you must live in Canada and should be financially capable of supporting those whom you are sponsoring.
Meeting Set Guidelines is Must for Sponsoring Family Member or Spouse
It is important to fulfill certain set guidelines for sponsoring any of your family members. Apart from that, it is mandatory for the sponsor to give in writing that he/she will support the relative and any other eligible relative coming with them financially starting from the date they become a permanent resident of Canada. The sponsor will have to extend financial support for 20 years depending on the age of the family member and your relation with him.
The person whom you are sponsoring will also have to sign in agreement that he/she will try and become financially independent as soon as possible after entering Canada. The rule is applicable also to sponsored dependent children who are 19 years and above. Children below the age of 19 years do not need to sign this agreement.
How Long Are You Financially Responsible as a Sponsor for Family Member?
The responsibility to support your relative/family member financially during their stay in Canada is technically termed as a promising undertaking. The extent of period for which you need to support the relative financially varies from person to person and begins once the relative/family member becomes a permanent resident of Canada. Broadly speaking the time span depends on the age of the relative, your relationship with that person, and in which province of Canada you live.
It is because the rules in Quebec province for sponsoring a relative/family member are a bit different from the rest of Canada.
You continue to remain financially responsible if:
- Your relationship with the sponsored person has undergone some change (divorce, separation)
- The sponsored person is now a Canadian citizen
- Your financial condition has worsened due to loss of job, loss in business, or because you are in debt
- Your request to withdraw the sponsorship was received by the immigration officials after the sponsored person has become a permanent resident of Canada
As a rule, you are financially responsible for
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for 3 years
- A dependent -biological or adopted child or child adopted in Canada after you have completed 22 years of age – 10 years or until the child reaches 25 years of age
- A dependent child who is 22 years or above for 3 years
- Parent or grandparent for 20 years
- Other relatives for 10 years