Canadian sponsorship can be an overwhelming task if you don’t prepare. In this article, we’ll talk about the basics of sponsorship and the various processes that the sponsor, principal applicant, and the principal applicant’s family are required to perform for an approved sponsorship.
What does it mean to sponsor someone?
When you sponsor someone, you’re bound by law to give financial support to the basic needs of the sponsored party, together with their dependents. According to the law, basic needs include food, clothing, shelter, and health care requirements not included in the offerings of public health services.
It would be best if you consider that you’re financially capable of providing the needs mentioned above before sponsoring someone. That is to ensure that they will not need to ask for financial aid from the government in the future. Otherwise, whatever financial assistance the government will give to your sponsored person will be charged to you. Furthermore, the law states that you can’t take any more sponsorship unless you pay for any prior balances incurred by the sponsored party.
The binding of the sponsorship agreement is definite that you’re obligated to continue financial support even if your situations change as long as the sponsorship period stands. Some of these situations include:
- The sponsored becomes a Canadian citizen
- Your relationship with the sponsored is cut
- You or the sponsored moves to another country
- You have financial difficulties
The length of time for the sponsorship varies on the type of family member you are sponsoring. It can last from three to ten years, depending on the situation.
Who is eligible to sponsor?
You can become a sponsor if you meet all of the requirements below:
- You are at least 18 years of age
- You are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident currently living in Canada
- You don’t receive any form of social assistance other than a disability assistance
- You can provide for the basic needs of the would-be sponsored
Who is eligible for a sponsorship?
The principal applicant is eligible for permanent residence as long as they meet the requirements. There are two types of sponsorships: for a child dependent or for a partner. The requirements vary significantly between each class.
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
The sponsorship for your spouse, common-law partner or marital partner is eligible if they are at least 18 years old. Their relationship with you must also be genuine and not entered for the sole reason of getting permanent resident status.
The law requires that your spouse or common-law partner must already cohabit with you in Canada to apply for the sponsorship. For conjugal partner sponsorship, the marital relationship of the sponsor with the sponsor must be at least one year and the partner must be living outside of Canada. A conjugal partner residing in Canada is not eligible for sponsorship as a marital partner. Instead, the best option or the couple is to go for the spouse or common-law partner route.
Dependent child
If your sponsored spouse or partner has dependent children, they should explicitly list it on their application forms. However, if the child or children is sponsored as your principal applicant, you need to complete and submit proper forms and documents for each child separately.
Conclusion
The entire sponsorship process is daunting to face alone. It would help if you had the guidance of a professional equipped with the knowledge and experience to expedite and maximize your chances of approval. If you’re looking for a Canadian immigration agency, get in touch with us to see how we can help.
