Family Class Sponsorship comes with a mandatory requirement to sign an undertaking. This undertaking defines the sponsor’s responsibilities toward the sponsored party, who could be a spouse, partner, dependent child, parent, or grandparent.
Approximately 100,000 family-class immigrants arrive in Canada because of Canada’s initiatives under its immigration policy to reunite families.
Family Class Sponsorship- Defining financial responsibility
Signing an undertaking implies your legal binding toward the person you’re sponsoring. To elaborate, you become legally responsible for the food, shelter, clothing, daily requirements, etc., for the sponsored individual. For instance, if the sponsored party applies for social assistance or financial help and the provincial or federal government provides them with money, you will be liable to pay that money back to the government.
Permanent residents can access healthcare facilities under the provincial healthcare system. However, if the sponsored party doesn’t have private insurance, you must pay for their medication, dental and vision care.
Additionally, signing an undertaking implies that you essentially require to fulfill all obligations till the end. Moreover, you cannot end your responsibility before the time for the sponsored party. Instances where you undergo a divorce or separation also don’t end your responsibility toward them until the expiry of the undertaking. Even in cases where you undergo a financial crisis or lose your employment, you will be held responsible for the family member you sponsored.
All about Undertaking
The length of an undertaking will largely differ based on the program you have chosen. For instance, a spouse or partner will require an undertaking equal to three years. Sponsorship of parents and grandparents under the Parents and Grandparents Program will be twenty years. But, if you’re in Quebec, you will have to stay for ten years.
The sponsor must sign an undertaking for dependent children for a period of ten years, provided the dependent child is under 22. On the other hand, for dependent children who are over 22, the sponsor will sign an undertaking for up to three years.
Cancelation of undertaking
Once IRCC gives its final decision on your application, you lose the chance of canceling your undertaking. However, if you wish to reconsider your decision before the IRCCs decision, you can send them a letter requesting your application withdrawal.
Family Class Sponsorship- eligibility for sponsors
Potential sponsors have a few general eligibility requirements despite differences in each sponsorship program.
To be eligible for sponsorship, you must fulfill the following requirements-
- You must meet the age threshold of 18 years old.
- Must hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency status, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- Residing in Canada.
- In the case of being a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, display your intention to reside in Canada once the sponsored family member acquires permanent residence.
- If you are a permanent resident but reside outside Canada, you don’t have the right to sponsor your family members.
- You must be able to demonstrate that your social assistance requirement isn’t due to any disability.
- Prove your potential to cover your basic needs, spouse or partner, their dependent children, and your dependent child.
MNI for sponsorship programs
Your Minimum Necessary Income is also your eligibility to sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program. MNI proves your financial capability to assist yourself, your partner or spouse, parents, grandparents, and other dependents (if any). Each added family member raises your MNI. Additionally, you must also display your MNI in the past three tax years to become eligible.
