Many clients that contact us ask this simple but yet complex question and we are often forced to give a quite short straight forward but mostly less detailed response.
‘What is the best way to bring your family (spouse and children) to Canada in 2021?’
Thus, I would like to answer this very interesting question while bringing to your knowledge the many ways through which you and your family members can migrate to Canada stress-free…
Many clients that contact us ask this simple but yet complex question and we are often forced to give a quite short straight forward but mostly less detailed response.
‘What is the best way to bring your family (spouse and children) to Canada in 2021?’
Thus, I would like to answer this very interesting question while bringing to your knowledge the many ways through which you and your family members can migrate to Canada stress-free.
The Five Major Ways
Now, I would like to divide my conversation today into three main parts in relation to the major ways through which you and your family members can move and stay in Canada. Some of these ways are popular immigration programs used by many foreign nationals especially Nigerians to take their family to Canada while others are far more unknown but still effective media to relocating not only you but also your relatives to Canada. The parts are International Student Program, Family Sponsorship, Work Permit, Visitor Visa and Permanent Residency Programs.
International Student Program
Foreign nationals interested in studying in Canada who are married and/or have dependent children may wish to bring these family members with them to Canada during their study program. Canadian visa officers will consider study permit applications which include accompanying family members, but including family members on a study permit application may influence the visa officer’s decision.Study Permit
Canadian study permits are temporary resident permits, meaning that the holder of a study permit must satisfy the visa officer that they will leave Canada when their permit expires. In some cases, if a student requests to bring their whole family with them to Canada, the visa officer might suspect that the student doesn’t really have the intention to leave Canada after their study program. This can affect the visa officer’s decision on whether or not to issue the study permit. All study permit applicants are asked to submit a statement explaining why they want to pursue education in Canada. The applicant may use this section of the application to explain why they wish to have their spouse and/or children accompany them to Canada. The final decision on study permit approval is at the discretion of the immigration officer.
Amended Application
Please note that it is possible for a person to apply for a study permit without their family members, but to later submit an amended application requesting authorization for family members to join them in Canada.However, applying to amend an application in this way can result in misrepresentation, including a five year ban from Canada, if the applicant does not follow the correct procedures. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their first year of study. Those who wish for their family members to accompany should be prepared to demonstrate additional funds to support their family. If an international student is accompanied by their spouse and/or dependent children, they should be aware of how this will affect their housing and health insurance needs.Bring Your Spouse
A foreign national is welcome to include their spouse on their application for a Canadian study permit, keeping in mind the above-mentioned impacts this may have on the approval of the study permit. If a foreign national is approved for a study permit in Canada with their spouse accompanying, then the spouse will be eligible to apply for a spousal open work permit. This work permit will authorize the spouse to work full-time for any employer in Canada for the same period as their partner’s study permit. If both partners are interested in pursuing studies in Canada, they each must apply for separate study permits.
Bring Your Dependent Children
A foreign national is welcome to include dependent children on their application for a Canadian study permit, keeping in mind the above-mentioned impacts this may have on the approval of the study permit. If a foreign national is approved for a study permit in Canada with their dependent child accompanying, then the child will be issued a visa authorizing their stay in Canada for the same period as the primary applicant’s permit. All minor children are entitled to pursue education at the pre-school, primary, or secondary level of study provided one of their parents is authorized to work or study in Canada.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada defines ‘dependent child’ as a person under the age of 22 years old without a spouse or partner. A person over 22 years old may still be considered a dependent if they are unable to financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.Family Sponsorship
Both Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their partners to obtain permanent residence. The sponsor and the person they are sponsoring must show Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that their relationship falls under one of these three categories:
Spouse
Common-law partner
Conjugal partner
Canadians and permanent residents are eligible to sponsor a loved one if they are at least 18 years old, prove they are not receiving social assistance for a reason other than a disability, and can demonstrate you are able to financially provide for the basic needs of your partner. If you are a Canadian citizen living abroad, you also need to prove you plan to live in Canada with the person you aim to sponsor.
Eligibility Criteria of Partners
The person you are sponsoring needs to meet the following eligibility criteria:
Spouse: They must be legally married to you and at least 18 years old.
Common-law partner: They must be at least 18 years old and have lived with you for at least 12 straight months.
Conjugal partner:They must be at least 18 years old, have been in a relationship with you for at least one year, live outside of Canada, and cannot live with you in their country or marry you due to significant legal or immigration causes. For example, they live in a country where same-sex marriage or divorce is not allowed. You need to prove to IRCC you could not live together or get married in your partner’s country.
Child Sponsorship
If a child meets the definition of a dependant and the parent meets the requirements to be a sponsor, then the parent can submit an application for the child to become a Canadian permanent resident. In order to qualify for sponsorship, both the sponsoring parent and the dependent child must meet the eligibility requirements listed below, as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).To qualify as a sponsor, a parent must be at least 18 years old and have status as either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Sponsoring Conditions
All sponsors must agree to provide for the basic needs of the person that wish to sponsor. In addition, sponsors must sign an undertaking, agreeing to provide financial support to their sponsored family member once they become a permanent resident and repay any social assistance payments received by the sponsored family member during the period of the undertaking.In most cases, the sponsoring parent does not have to show proof of financial income. However, if the dependent child being sponsored also has dependent children of their own, then the parent will be required to meet a certain income requirement.Additionally, in order to be eligible for sponsorship, you must be sponsoring your own child, or the child of your spouse/partner. However, if you are sponsoring your spouse/partner’s child who is not your child, then you must be sponsoring your spouse/partner at the same time. Please note that Canada has a separate process for sponsoring adopted children.Inadmissibility to Canada
All sponsored family members must not be inadmissible to Canada. Family class applicants may be deemed inadmissible for having committed past criminal offences or for having medical conditions that pose a risk to Canadian public health and safety.Notably, sponsored family members are exempt from medical inadmissibility on the grounds of causing excessive demand on the Canadian healthcare system. This means that if a sponsored family member has a medical condition requiring costly treatment, they will not be denied immigration on the basis of that condition.
Work Permit
If you receive a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, and are applying for a work permit, you may be eligible to have your spouse and dependent children accompany you to Canada.If your children are school-aged, they’ll be able to attend Canadian educational institutions without needing separate study permits. Your spouse or partner may also be eligible to apply for an open work permit, allowing him or her to work for any employer in Canada.Spousal Work Permit
In most cases, your spouse or common-law partner can work in Canada. However, they will usually need a work permit to work in Canada. They must apply for their own work permit. In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work permit—allowing him or her to accept any job with any employer. For more information, see Who can apply for an open work permit?In other cases, your spouse or common-law partner must apply for a work permit for a specific employer. The employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job. Find out if your spouse or common-law partner’s employer needs an LMIA to hire them.
Visitor Visa
A visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) is an official document that we stick in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada.Most travellers need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need one if you’re transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.If You are Coming to Canada for a Short Time
Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can come with you to Canada or visit you in Canada, if they:
meet all the requirements for temporary residents to Canada,
satisfy an immigration officer they will only stay in Canada temporarily,
can prove they have no criminal record, if necessary, and
meet all the conditions for getting a temporary resident visa, if they are from a country or territory whose citizens require a visa in order to enter Canada as visitors.
Permanent Residency
Permanent residency (PR) in Canada is a status granting someone who is not a Canadian citizen the right to live and work in Canada without any time limit on their stay. To become a permanent resident a foreign national must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), under one of several programs. In addition to the conferred right of abode in Canada, a primary benefit of permanent residency is the eligibility to apply for Canadian citizenship after a certain period of permanent residency.Your PR Dependents
You can bring family members with you to Canada if they were processed for permanent residence as your dependents. This includes:
your spouse or common-law partner
your dependent child
your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child
a dependent child of a dependent child
The family members that can’t come with you include:
your parents
grandparents
brother or sister
uncle or aunt
nephew or niece
other relatives
If You are Moving to Canada Permanently
Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can come with you to Canada if:
you and your family members meet the eligibility requirements of your program (for example, you meet the income requirement to sponsor your family members),
your children qualify as dependants, and
your family members are not inadmissible to Canada
Your dependents can’t arrive in Canada before you. They must arrive with you or after you.
You may be able to sponsor them after you immigrate to Canada.Consultation Session
Find out more about how to take your family members to Canada by booking a consultation session with one of our Canada immigration experts now via the contact details +2348107714449 or +2349091884943. You can also reach out to us via our migration desk @ https://aosacademy.com/migration-agency