The Canadian government has always been committed to reuniting its citizens with loved ones and family members. Therefore, it provides different types of immigrant visa programs so that citizens can sponsor their spouses and relatives to move there. In addition, Canada is the country with the easiest immigrant visa application process in the world, which also explains why so many Hong Kong people choose Canada as their immigration destination.

As a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, you can apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse or eligible family member who intends to immigrate to Canada. The Canadian dependant visa included in the Family Reunion Immigration Program is one of the appropriate options. Canadian dependant visas provide a convenient channel for adult permanent residents or citizens to apply for immigration to Canada for their relatives, dependent children and spouses so that they can be reunited in Canada as a family.

 

Application Procedures

If you intend to become a guarantor for a Canadian dependant visa, you must first be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada. Once you become a permanent resident of Canada, you basically have the same rights and obligations as a Canadian citizen. As long as you have lived in Canada for at least 2 years within 5 years, you can retain your permanent resident status indefinitely. If you have lived in Canada for 3 years, you can even apply for citizenship. In addition, because the Canadian government recognizes dual citizenship status, you do not need to give up your current passport.

 

Sponsored spouse or common-law partner

Compared with other Canadian immigration projects, the spouse immigration project is relatively simple. Whether your significant other lives overseas or currently live in Canada on a temporary residence visa, you can apply for a spouse visa as a sponsor to obtain permanent resident status. The visa approval time for Canadian adopters is about 12 months, which is much faster than other Canadian immigration projects. If the applicant currently lives in Canada, he will have a better chance of qualifying for a work permit, which will undoubtedly reduce the financial burden on the couple.

Even though the immigrant sponsored visa application is still in progress, both the spouse visa and the spouse work permit give the sponsored party the right to work in Canada. The Canadian government recognizes a de facto marriage relationship, which means that even though you and your partner are not yet married, as long as you live together for at least 12 months, the party who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada can still sponsor your partner.

 

Sponsor children or other dependent children

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, your children can apply for permanent resident status together in the name of accompanying family members. However, if you do not choose to do so for some reason, they can also come to Canada to reunite with you by applying for a child sponsorship program. This plan allows Canadian permanent residents and citizens to apply for permanent resident status as a sponsor for their dependent children. Please note that the plan stipulates that dependent children must be 21 years old or younger, unmarried, and have no children.

 

Sponsor parents or grandparents

Canadian permanent residents and citizens can sponsor their parents and grandparents to apply for a reunion in Canada through the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program. Canadian permanent residents or citizens interested in this program must meet the minimum income requirements set by the authorities on the basis of the number of family members to prove that they have sufficient financial capacity to meet daily expenses. If the guarantor fails to make a permanent guaranty, his parents or grandparents can also apply for a super visa. The Super Visa is a long-term visa that allows the holder to enter Canada multiple times. It is applicable to the parents and grandparents of permanent residents and citizens of Canada.

 

Eligibility

If you are planning to apply for a family reunion visa, you must ensure that all applicants meet the relevant qualifications.

First, the family reunion visa applicant must have one of the following relationships with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident:

• Dependent children
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Spouse, de facto marriage partner or husband and wife relationship partner
• Siblings, nephews, nieces or grandchildren or granddaughters who are under 17 years old, unmarried and both parents have died

Nevertheless, there are various definitions of eligible applicants, and every detail has a significant impact on the application, which requires special attention.

 

How to define a spouse or partner

• Spouse: legally married in the country of origin and in compliance with Canadian laws
• Marital relationship partner: Have a relationship of at least 12 months, but are prohibited from cohabiting due to religious reasons, immigration barriers, sexual orientation, or marital status (for example, one of them is legally married to a person from a country where divorce is impossible)
• De facto marriage: Have an uninterrupted cohabitation relationship for at least 12 months
• Homosexual relationships will also be defined in accordance with the above categories, and they will all be regarded as valid immigration applications.

 

How to define dependent children

The guarantor, the common-law partner of the guarantor, or the single child of the spouse who is 21 years old or younger are all defined as dependent children. If children need to be financially dependent on their parents at the age of 21 or before and are not financially self-sufficient due to physical or psychological conditions, they will be regarded as dependent children even if they are 22 years of age or older.

Although the custody of the children belongs to the former spouse, they will still be regarded as dependent children. However, they must clearly state their relationship when applying for a family reunion visa. In addition, if the dependent children being sponsored also have at least one dependent child themselves, the guarantor must prove that they have sufficient financial capacity to meet the minimum income requirement.

 

Who can be a guarantor

Any permanent resident or citizen living in Canada can act as a guarantor (Canadian citizens currently living overseas can also act as guarantors as long as they plan to return to the place for permanent residence after their relatives arrive in Canada.)

There are many restrictions in the sponsored visa program. In the following situations, you may not be able to become a sponsor:

• Imprisoned
• Repatriation order issued
• Going through bankruptcy
• Have committed, attempted or threatened to commit a crime related to violence or sex and have been convicted
• Are receiving social assistance from the government (except for disabilities)
• Failure to pay child support
• Failure to repay immigration loan
• Sponsored a relative who was not eligible to apply for an immigrant visa
• Sponsored a former spouse or partner who has been a non-permanent resident for more than 3 years
• Have sponsored yourself and have been a permanent resident for less than 5 years

 

Required documentation

If you intend to sponsor your family to apply for a dependant visa, you need to submit a complete document to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to prove your financial status in the past 12 months to determine whether you have sufficient financial capacity to meet the applicant Of living expenses.

The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) announced that from October 24, 2017, the main applicant for a dependant visa can add their unmarried and not cohabiting children 21 years of age or younger to their immigration application.

The sponsored party must attach a medical report when submitting the application, while applicants from Africa, Europe and the Middle East need to submit additional biometric data.

In addition, the applicant and any relatives over 18 years of age must submit a criminal record certificate from the country of origin, living for a long time, or country where they have lived for more than 6 months.

Finally, if the applicant intends to move to Quebec, in addition to meeting the above-mentioned conditions required by the federal government, the Quebec authorities may have other requirements. For example, a potential guarantor living in Quebec must submit a special agreement to the Quebec government after submitting an application.

 

Required cost

The Canadian government will charge family reunion visa applicants for handling fees and sponsorship fees, and each sponsored relative must also pay for permanent residency fees. This fee does not apply to dependent children. If your guarantee is rejected or cancelled, the permanent residency fee is the only refundable item.

 

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