Family Class Program

f you have a close family relation in Canada then the Family Sponsorship program may be of interest to you. The Canadian government will admit between 53, 500 to 58, 300 family class applicants in 2001. Only certain family relations qualify you for this class.

As a sponsor you may sponsor:

• your spouse.
• your fiancee.
• dependent child.
• parent or grandparent.
• brother, sister, nephew or grandchild who is an orphan child under age 19 and unmarried.
• a child under 19 whom you plan to adopt and who is an orphan OR a child who has been placed with a child welfare authority for adoption.
• if you have no relatives as listed above and no relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, you may sponsor one other relative (i.e., uncle, aunt, cousin, etc.).
• If you wish to sponsor a relative from abroad you must:
• sign an undertaking in which you promise to take care of your relatives' essential needs for 10 years and ensure that they do not receive welfare during this time,
• be at least 19 years of age,
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident,
• physically reside in Canada,
• provide information on your financial resources and obligations for the 12-month period before the date you submit your sponsorship application. Your income must come from a Canadian source,
• meet the Low Income Cut-Off figures for the size of your family unit (unless you are sponsoring your spouse or your dependent children),
• sign an agreement (contract) with your sponsored relative(s) which confirms that each of you understands, and will fulfill, your mutual obligations and responsibilities,
• you must meet medical, criminal, and security clearances.

As a sponsor you must not:

• be in default of previous sponsorship obligations,
• be in prison,
• be bankrupt.

Although the Immigration Act requires all immigrants to apply for and obtain an immigrant visa from outside Canada, there do exist exceptions to this rule. In some cases, the spouse of a Canadian citizen may apply for permanent residence status in Canada while he or she is in Canada. To apply for processing as a spouse from within Canada:

• you must be married to a Canadian citizen who is at least 19 years of age,
• you and your spouse must reside in Canada,
• your spouse (the sponsor) must complete sponsorship forms,
• your spouse must sign an undertaking in which s/he promises to take care of your essential needs for 10 years and ensure that you do not receive welfare during this time,
• you must meet medical, criminal, and security clearances.