Maple News reports that Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to sponsor their dependent child or children for permanent residence. This process allows families to reunite and build their future together in Canada. However, it’s important to understand the eligibility rules, responsibilities, and steps involved before starting the application.
To sponsor a dependent child, you must be at least 18 years old and either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act. You must also reside in Canada, or plan to return as soon as your child becomes a permanent resident. Notably, only Canadian citizens are permitted to sponsor children while living abroad.
Financial requirements usually apply, but only in cases where the dependent child you wish to sponsor has children of their own. In such cases, you must show sufficient income to support your full household. This is evaluated using Immigration Canada’s Financial Evaluation Form (IMM 1283).
Certain circumstances may make someone ineligible to sponsor a child. These include being in default on a previous sponsorship, missing court-ordered payments, having an undischarged bankruptcy, serving a prison sentence, receiving non-disability social assistance, or being subject to a removal order from Canada. Quebec has its own set of rules, and some of these restrictions may not apply to residents of that province.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the child must be admissible to Canada and qualify as a “dependent child.” This means they must be the biological or adopted child of the sponsor or their spouse/partner, under the age of 22, and not married or in a common-law relationship.
According to Maple News, the Canadian government places a high priority on family reunification. The sponsoring process also includes an “undertaking”—a legal agreement where the sponsor commits to providing financial and personal support to the child so that they do not rely on public assistance.
If you’re considering sponsoring your child, it’s crucial to review all requirements carefully and ensure that both you and your child meet the eligibility criteria. With the right preparation and documentation, this pathway can bring families together permanently in Canada.