The Child Under 18 Sponsorship allows a person who is a permanent resident or is a Canadian citizen to sponsor the immigration of an individual that is under 18 years old. This is in line with the Government of Canada’s commitment to keeping migrant families together.
What is a Dependent Child
A child of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse or common-law partner can be considered a dependent child if they are under the age of 22 and doesn’t have a spouse of the common-law partner of their own.
An individual over the age of 22 can be dependents if they rely on their parents for financial support beyond the age of 22. Additionally, an individual over the age of 22 can also be considered dependent if he or she can’t financially support himself or herself due to a mental or physical condition.
Moreover, children in the sole custody of a previous spouse are considered dependent and must be declared so on the application. If a dependent child being sponsored has one or more dependent children of their own, the sponsor must prove their financial capacity.
Here are the eligibility requirements:
- Parent must be at least 18 years of age
- Parent must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident (PR)
- Parent must have the capability to support the child financially
- The sponsor should have completed five years of sponsorship if sponsored while migrating to Canada
- Parent cannot be a sponsor if he or is in jail or convicted of certain criminal offences, especially the ones against relatives
- If a parent is sponsoring a stepchild, the sponsor should sponsor the spouse as well
- The child must not be a spouse or a common-law partner
If you fit the eligibility requirements, then it’s time to process your application. How does it work? The application procedure for a dependent child consists of two components:
- Applicant must prove he/she meets the qualifications to be a sponsor
- Applicant must prove the child is eligible to be sponsored to live and settle in Canada as a PR
Remember that the dependent child sponsorship application will be based on country-specific requirements. Therefore, applicants should use the family sponsorship application package of IRCC. CIC will then generate all the necessary materials such as forms, instructions, and checklists about the sponsorship. Once done, the hard copy of the application must be sent to the CIC by either mail or courier.
The application processing time may take eight weeks from the time the application is submitted. Additionally, the processing of the application depends on the information and the documents submitted. That is why it is essential to ensure that all the right documents are there, along with the correct details. Any mistakes could potentially affect the application process, which can prolong the process.
When the application is accepted, the sponsor can proceed for the application of Canadian PR status for the sponsored child.
Conclusion
Applying for a Child Under 18 sponsorship can be tedious. As such, it’s best to have a consultant on immigration to help you out.
We are one of the top consultants on immigration that you can hire to help you out. Please contact us at info@brightimmigration.com or call 1-888-404-8472.
