FAMILY CLASS IMMIGRATION CANADA

The Canadian government has been committed to family reunification and has made efforts to streamline and improve the family class immigration process.

In MDS Consulting we are regulated Canadian immigration consultant agency, experts in the matter of different pathways to immigrate to Canada.

Some of our services include Family Class Immigration. In Canada, it refers to the immigration programs and policies that allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their close family members to come and live in Canada. The goal of these programs is to promote family reunification and ensure that families can be together in Canada.

The program for family class immigration Canada includes the following categories:

1. Spouses, Partners, and Children:

• Spousal Sponsorship: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their legally married spouses or common-law partners to immigrate to Canada. A common-law partnership typically requires cohabitation for at least one year.
• Conjugal Partner Sponsorship: This category allows sponsorship of a partner with whom the sponsor has a genuine and committed relationship, but they cannot qualify as spouses or common-law partners due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., immigration barriers or legal restrictions).
• Dependent Children: The sponsorship includes dependent children of the sponsor or their spouse/partner. Dependent children must be under the age of 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship.

2. Parents and Grandparents:

• The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP): This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come and live in Canada.
• The program usually operates through an application intake process, where potential sponsors submit an interest to sponsor form during a specified period. A limited number of sponsors are then invited to apply, and they must meet the eligibility requirements and financial obligations.

3. Dependent Children:

• This category includes dependent children of the sponsor or their spouse/partner who are under the age of 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship.
• If a dependent child has a physical or mental condition, there may be provisions to sponsor them even if they are over the age of 22.

4. Other Relatives:

• Sponsoring other relatives, such as siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren, is generally more limited and subject to specific requirements.
• These cases are considered under the Family Class category, but the availability and eligibility criteria may vary.

Financial Obligations:

• Sponsors are required to meet certain financial obligations to demonstrate their ability to support the sponsored family members financially.
• The sponsor must sign an undertaking, committing to providing financial support for the sponsored family member for a specified period after their arrival in Canada. This ensures that the sponsored person does not rely on government assistance.

Processing Times:

• The processing times for family class sponsorship applications can vary depending on the specific category and the volume of applications received.
• IRCC aims to process most spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months from the date of submission, while processing times for other categories like parents and grandparents sponsorship can be longer.

Definitions:

Spouse: For immigration purposes, a spouse refers to a person who is legally married to the principal applicant. It includes both opposite-sex and same-sex marriages that are legally recognized in the country or jurisdiction where the marriage took place. A marriage certificate or proof of marriage is typically required as evidence.

Common-law Partner: A common-law partner, for immigration purposes, refers to a person who is in a marriage-like relationship with the principal applicant but is not legally married to them. To be considered a common-law partner, the couple must have lived together continuously for at least one year in a conjugal relationship. Proof of cohabitation, such as joint financial documents, bills, or leases, is usually required to establish the existence of a common-law partnership.

Conjugal Partner: A conjugal partner, in the context of immigration, refers to a person who is in a genuine and committed relationship with the principal applicant but cannot qualify as a spouse or common-law partner. The conjugal partner category is intended for situations where partners are unable to live together due to significant legal, cultural, or other barriers. It requires evidence to demonstrate the existence of a committed relationship equivalent to marriage or a common-law partnership, including factors such as shared finances, communication history, and efforts made to be together.

It is important to note that the policies and regulations regarding Family Class Immigration Canada may change over time. For the most up-to-date and detailed information, we as a Canadian Immigration Agency, recommend consulting us before proceeding with any application.