Under the ‘Family Class’, citizens and permanent residents of Canada may sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child, or another approved relative, to enable that person to become a Canadian permanent resident. Application must be made to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and different processes apply depending on whether the sponsored person is in the first group of relatives (spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child), or is another type of eligible relative such as a parent or grandparent.
A person is a common-law partner if he or she has been living with the sponsor in a conjugal relationship for a year without interruption (other than short trips away for business or family reasons). However, sometimes a sponsor and his or her partner may have lived apart, and will not qualify as ‘common-law’ partners, in which case Citizenship and Immigration Canada will consider whether there were exceptional reasons, beyond the couple’s control, which prevented them from living together, so they may qualify under the ‘conjugal’ partners category.
However, a sponsored spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner must be aged 16 or over, and the sponsor must not have sponsored another spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner within the previous 3 years.
A dependent child must be under 22 years old (or in full-time study, or disabled) to qualify, and will not usually be approved if they have a spouse or common-law partner themselves. Each case will be carefully considered against the rules for the relevant category.
The process starts with an application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada by the sponsor, and the sponsored person must also file his or her own application to become a permanent resident. The two applications are usually filed at the same time. Applicants for permanent residence are required have medical clearance, and any applicant with a criminal conviction (depending on how serious the offending was) may be declined, and denied entry to Canada.
If the application for residency is approved, a permanent resident visa will be issued, along with a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document. The permanent residence visa must be current at the time when the applicant arrives in Canada. The applicant’s sponsor will then be responsible for supporting the relative financially upon arrival in Canada, at least until the new resident is able to support him or her self.
By: Stephen G Bourne
Posts Tagged ‘Citizenship And Immigration’
Canada Immigration – Members of My Family Already Live in Canada, Can I Move There Too?
December 23rd, 2009Canadian Citizenship Questions – Study and Pass With Ease
November 11th, 2009
To become a Canadian you are required to do a test which consists of 20 citizenship questions. Citizenship Canada expects you to answer all the questions correctly and it does not mean if you do not have all the correct answers you will fail but why take the chances?
The Canadian citizenship questions are selected out of a number of categories such as aboriginal people, symbol, geography etc. The answer to each question is found in the booklet called “A look at Canada.” This book covers all the categories in details and the object of its design is to help you learn a great detail of Canada before you can become a citizen.
It is important that you study all the questions and answers as you would eliminate any guessing when you do the actual test. If you waited so long to be a Canadian why spoil the opportunity by taking this test for granted? Take it serious make it your goal to pass it the first time.
In general, the Canadian citizenship questions are not difficult but many have failed due to the lack of preparation. You must develop a strategy to pass. Studying the booklet, quizzing yourself and having your friends questioning you are great strategies. The more you practice the more the answers stay in your memory.
There are many other ways you can get help to prepare you better if needed. A lot of experts in Citizenship and Immigration have developed quizzes and practice test to even make this easy for everyone. Many folks now Canadians have taken this direction to master the questions and answers and have passed. You are your own destiny. Take the citizenship test seriously and march on to be a patriot of this great nation.
By: Diana Camacho