Canada, as a nation, upholds family values and understands their importance in driving a country forward. Hence, it has devised stellar immigration programs for Canadians and PR visa holders to invite their family members to the country.
That is where the family visa comes into the picture. Let’s take a look at how it works.
Canada family visa
With the aim of family reunification, the PR holders can seek a Canada family visa for sponsoring the member/s to the country. The members can include your spouse, common-law partner, child, adopted child, parents, and grandparents. However, you must meet the requirements deployed to sponsor a dependent.
For instance, you must be a Canadian citizen (PR holder or registered in Canada as an Indian as per the Canadian Indian Act). Furthermore, you will need to sponsor the dependent post-arrival in the country, including providing shelter, food, essential supplies, etc. The idea is to ensure that the dependent should not have to seek social assistance in leading any aspect of life.
Sign the undertaking
The first thing you must do as a sponsor is to sign the undertaking with Canada’s Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The undertaking will cover the standard procedure for rendering assistance and financial support to the dependent. The sponsor’s spouse or partner can serve as a co-applicant by assisting them in meeting the income terms and conditions.
It is crucial to note that the undertaking will be effective even if there is a case of relationship separation or the sponsor is granted full-fledged citizenship. Moreover, the relation with the dependent derives from the length of the undertaking. For instance, its time is three years for sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner, 20 years for supporting parents, ten years for sponsoring a dependent child under the age of 22 or until the child is of age 22, etc.
Identify the dependent you aim to invite
As mentioned above, the length of the undertaking depends on your relationship with the person you aim to sponsor. Basically, there are three programs under which you can choose the dependent:
- Partner, spouse, or children:
- Parents or grandparents:
- An adopted child or a relative:
As there are different visa options, it is crucial to identify the member you aim to sponsor under the Canadian family visa program. For instance, there are spouse visas, family-sponsored visas, PNP visas, dependent visas, and more. Furthermore, all these categories have different standards and obligations.
Prove your income
You will be required to fulfil the basic income requirements for sponsoring your parents and grandparents. The idea is to identify how many people are in the family, including yourself and the individual you aim to support.
Furthermore, if you have another signed another undertaking for sponsoring a dependent, you will need to disclose their details as well. For applying, you will be required to secure a notice from CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) for the last three years’ income receipts.
Apply for the family visa
Applying for a family visa is a rigorous process where you cannot afford to miss out on any details. Since the chances of rejection are high, it is best to check the provided information thoroughly before submitting the application. You can also seek professional help.
Moreover, the process will require an evaluation of your financial background and income receipts to check if you can bear the responsibility of a dependent. Hence, depending on your application, the initial period for a stay can be from 3 to 10 years. You may also have to sign an agreement with the sponsor to disclose that the basic obligations have been mutually agreed upon.
Avoid these things
Your application can be rejected if any of the following applies to you:
- You will not live in Canada once the dependent becomes a PR holder
- Your application for securing a PR is still pending
- You have filed for bankruptcy or failed to pay off an immigration loan, support payments, etc.
- You hold a temporary visa that is limited to studying, work, or visiting purposes
- You were convicted of any criminal offence, including outside Canada
Seek help from an immigration consultant
You can seek help from immigration consultants to streamline your application process. The idea is to avoid mistakes that you can invite rejection, and such consultants hold relevant information regarding the Canada family visa process.
Moreover, they can provide useful information to strengthen your case and seek approval effectively. But, it would be best if you looked for trustworthy consulting agencies that offer end-to-end guidance.
Final say
You need to oversee multiple factors to apply for a Canada family visa. So, incorporate the tips outlined in this post to improve your application and minimise the rejection rate.
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