Family Class Sponsorship

Immigroup has simplified the confusing sponsorship application processes and qualification guidelines of the Government of Canada for Family Class Sponsorship. One of the objectives of Canadian immigration law is "to see that families are reunited in Canada". This class of immigration is called the "Family Class".
 

		Download Sponsorship Questionnaire

Immigroup is a private company. We are not the government. All application forms can be found for free on the relevant government websites. Applying with a private company such as Immigroup entails service fees in addition to the fees charged by the relevant government agency. Experts will review, finalize, and submit all applications.

Quick Index
 

Family Class Sponsorship Program Details

For a family be reunited in Canada, a sponsor must file an application with Citizenship and Immigration. A sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident at least 18 years of age living in Canada.

This category of immigration includes the following relatives of a sponsor: spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child, adopted child, parent, grandparent, or an orphaned relative under 18 years of age who is the sponsor's brother or sister, nephew, niece, grandchild or adopted child. Each type of relationship has its own set of forms, requirements, and supporting documents that must be submitted to Citizenship and Immigration.

For International Marriage Visas please click here

Federal and Provincial Programs for Family Class Sponsorship

Immigroup has simplified the confusing application process and qualification guidelines of the Canadian Government this category of immigration. The grid below combines the federal and provincial programs for sponsoring your family member. By clicking on a box in the grid, you are directed to a page with qualification information and a simplified sponsorship application process.
 

Sponsoring Parents, Grandparents or an Orphaned Relative

Sponsoring parents, grandparents, or an orphaned relative (under 18 years of age who is the sponsor's brother or sister, nephew, niece, grandchild, or adopted child) is permissible under this program of immigration providing the sponsor is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who lives in Canada and is at least 18 years of age. The relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person must be proven through documents issued by civil authorities.

Documents that prove relationship of the sponsor to a parent:

• Sponsor's birth certificate

Documents that prove relationship of the sponsor to a grandparent:

• Sponsor's birth certificate
• Sponsor's parent's birth certificate through whom the sponsor is related to the sponsored grandparent

Documents that prove relationship of the sponsor to an orphaned relative:

Sponsor's brother or sister

• Sponsor's birth certificate
• Sponsor's brother or sister's birth certificate
• Sponsor's and sponsored brother's or sister's both parents' death certificates

Sponsor's nephew or niece:

• Sponsor's birth certificate
• Sponsor's late brother or sister's birth certificate
• Sponsored niece's or nephew's both parents' death certificates

Sponsor's grandchild: 

• Sponsor's birth certificate
• Sponsor's son or daughter's birth certificate, through whom the sponsor is related to the grandchild
• Sponsored grandchild's both parents' death certificates

Sponsor's adopted child:

• Adopted child's birth certificate (showing names of biological parents)
• Adopted child's amended birth certificate (showing sponsor's name as parent)
• Adopted child's both biological parents' death certificates
• Adoption decree, issued by authority of the country where the adoption took place

Federal and Provincial Programs for Family Class Sponsorship

Spousal Sponsorship

Marriage to a foreign spouse by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident under the spousal sponsorship marriage immigration initiative is a complex process.

A spouse is a person who is at least 16 years of age and is legally married to the sponsor by the civil authorities of a country. A marriage is valid in Canada if it is valid in the country where it took place. A couple can prove they are legally married if they have a marriage certificate issued by the civil authorities of the country where the marriage took place.

Documents to prove the relationship to a spouse:

• Marriage certificate issued by the civil authority of the country where the marriage took place.
• If one of the parties was married in the past, a divorce certificate issued by a Court must be submitted.

Common-Law Sponsorship

A common-law partner is a person who has lived together with the sponsor in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. In a common-law marriage, there is no document to prove that a couple is living together. A common-law marriage exists from the day a couple decides to physically live together. To qualify under the Family Class, Canadian immigration law requires a couple to prove that they have lived together continuously for at least one year. Documents that may prove the existence of a common-law relationship:

• Joint bank accounts
• Joint credit cards
• Proof of property purchased in both names
• Invoices in both names
• Lease agreement showing both names
• Correspondence/bills sent to either party at the same address
• Insurance policies showing the other partner as beneficiary

Conjugal Relationship

A conjugal partner is a person who lives outside Canada and who has been in a conjugal relationship with the sponsor for at least one year. A conjugal relationship is one where there is a considerable amount of physical, emotional, social, and financial attachment between the couple. Both partners are committed to each other in a permanent, long-term and exclusive life together. They share the same values and interests; they spend time together as a couple and with each other's families. Conjugal partners socially present themselves as a couple with their friends, family, and community, and they are viewed by others as being a couple. Documents that may prove the existence of a conjugal relationship:

• Photos of the couple
• Long distance phone bills (pre-paid phone cards are usually not considered evidence)
• Plane tickets or boarding passes for visits of one partner to the other or for trips the couple has made together
• E-mails, letters, greeting card
• Joint bank accounts
• Joint credit cards
• Money transfers
• Insurance policies showing the partner as beneficiary
• Declarations from family, friends or prominent members of the community (doctors, lawyers, religious workers, etc.) stating their recognition of the couple being in a conjugal relationship

IMPORTANT

In all relationships (spousal, common-law partner, conjugal relationship), if there are minor children their birth certificates and Court resolution regarding their custody must be submitted.

Dependent Children
According to Canadian immigration law, a dependent son or daughter is a biological or adopted child who:

1. Is less than 22 years of age and has not been married or in a common-law marriage
2. Has been financially supported by a parent since before age 22, or if the child has been married or in a common law marriage since before age 22, has been supported by the parent since the date the child got married or into a common law marriage and since before age 22 or since the child got married or in a common law marriage, has been a post-secondary full-time student in an academic, professional or vocational training.
3. Is more than 22 years of age and financially supported by a parent since before age 22 and is unable to support him or herself due to a mental or physical condition.

Sponsorship Time Lines

The Family Class is one of the objectives of Canadian immigration law therefore applications submitted under this class are given processing priority.

When a sponsorship application is submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, with all the required forms properly completed, including all supporting documents and information, it is usually processed within eight weeks from the date it is submitted. It is then forwarded to the Canadian visa office responsible for processing the application and issuing the permanent resident visa to the sponsor's relative. Every Canadian visa office has its own processing time, according to the volume of applications they receive.