Applying for Parental Sponsorship (No more Lottery System)

No more Lottery System in 2019

Good news! Feds are replacing the lottery system for parent sponsorship starting in 2019! This means that more application will be accepted next year. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen announced that, the random selection process for the sponsorship program for parents and grandparents will be replaced by a first-come-first-served process. The current cap of 17,000 applications will be increased to 20,000 next year.

What the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program Entails

The Canadian government highly values family reunification and regards Family Class sponsorships with high priority. Under the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program, Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents of Canada have the opportunity of sponsoring their parents and/or grandparents to immigrate permanently to Canada. As a result, this becomes a great opportunity for family members to become reunited and live happily together in Canada.

Who is eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent

In order to be eligible to sponsor a parent or a grandparent, one must be at least 18 years old, living in Canada and

• A Canadian citizen or
• A permanent resident or
• A person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act

Please note that Quebec has its own requirements. If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements for a sponsor.

Who is not eligible to sponsor a person

Not every Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old can be a sponsor. There are certain restrictions that prevent one from becoming a sponsor. You may not be a sponsor if you:

• are in prison
• defaulted on an immigration loan (late or missed payments)
• have declared bankruptcy and haven’t been released from it yet
• received government financial assistance for reasons other than a disability
• didn’t pay a court-ordered support order, such as alimony or child support
• didn’t provide the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement to sponsor another relative in the past
• were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence, depending on circumstances

Other restrictions, which are not listed above, may also make you ineligible to become a sponsor.

Who is eligible to be a sponsored person

In order to protect Canada and its people from potential risks, a sponsored person need to undergo:

• Background checks
• Criminal history checks
• Medical exams

An applicant with a criminal record may not be allowed to enter Canada. People who pose a risk to Canada’s security are not allowed to enter Canada. The applicant may have to provide a certificate from police authorities in the home country.

Responsibilities as a sponsor

Generally speaking, a sponsor is responsible to support his or her parents or grandparents financially. One must meet certain income requirements to support the sponsored person and their dependants. The sponsor and the person being sponsored need to sign an agreement that:

• The person being sponsored will make every effort to support themselves
• The sponsor will provide financial support for a period of 3 to 20 years

Please note that Quebec applicants need to sign an “undertaking” with the province of Quebec.

Submitting a Successful Parental / Grandparental Sponsorship Application

We have discussed the eligibility of a sponsor and a person being sponsored and the responsibilities of a sponsor. However, simply meeting those requirements does not guarantee you to have a successful sponsorship. There are many more forms that need to be completed and documents that need to be prepared before submitting a final application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. If an application is submitted without the necessary forms or documentation, it will most likely be rejected anyway. As a result, it is very important that you prepare your application thoroughly. This is when professional help comes in handy. With professional help, you will have your questions answered and have someone who can guide you step by step to ensure you and fully prepared for your application.

Contact Akrami and Associates

Families deserve to spend quality time together. Nevertheless, Canadian immigration laws have certain requirements for applicants in order to protect the country. Filling applications and preparing for the correct documents can be confusing and, sometimes, overwhelming. In addition, the criteria set by the Canadian government are very strict. Your application can be denied if any vital information is missed or overlooked. Therefore, it is important to have your questions answered by immigration professionals. Talking to experienced immigration professionals not only will ease your concerns about the Canadian immigration progress, but also will allow you to gain more understanding of your own case. Most importantly, immigration professionals have profound knowledge of Canada’s immigration system that can aid the success of your case. Akrami and Associates is an experienced immigration law firm that works with different immigration cases professionally and efficiently. Our goal is to help you enter Canada and reunite with your family. If you still have questions regarding how to apply for a parental sponsorship or feel unclear about any aspects of parental sponsorship, please feel free to contact Akrami and Associates at 416-477-2545 or info@thevisa.ca to book a consultation with an immigration expert for further assistance.

There is always a way !!