Sponsorship To Canada: Father-In-Law As A Sponsor

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouses, common-law partners, children, parents, and/or grandparents to immigrate to Canada. In certain circumstances, it is also possible to sponsor an extended family member, such as an adult son or daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew. However, the sponsor must be related to the person being sponsored by blood. In the case of sponsoring in-laws, the spouse will be the sponsor, and the applicant will be their parent or grandparent. The spouse's partner can act as a co-signer, pledging to help support their in-laws, but they cannot be the primary sponsor.

Sponsoring a father-in-law to Canada

Sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner

If you are sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner, you may do so under the Family Class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class. You must specify the "Class of Application" on the checklist you submit. If your spouse or common-law partner has a study permit and wants to maintain their temporary resident status as a student, there is a separate guide to help you through the process.

It is important to note that there is a five-year sponsorship bar for permanent residents. This means that if your sponsorship application was received on or after March 2, 2012, you must have been a permanent resident for five years to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner. Additionally, if you have been convicted of a crime that caused bodily harm to certain relatives, you may be barred from sponsoring anyone under the Family Class or Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class.

In terms of financial requirements, as a sponsor, you must meet the necessary financial requirements and be prepared to support your spouse's parents or grandparents in Canada. The IRCC may consider your combined income with your spouse when assessing your sponsorship application. As a sponsor, you will be liable for any obligations arising from your spouse's sponsorship, including any debts they may incur with social support.

Sponsoring dependent children

Sponsoring a dependent child to immigrate to Canada is possible. The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, Registered Indian, or permanent resident of Canada, and the child must meet the requirements of a dependent.

To qualify as a dependent child, the child must be under 22 and not have a spouse or partner. If the child is over 22, they may still qualify as a dependent if they have depended on their parents for financial support since before they were 22 and cannot support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.

If sponsoring a biological or adopted child, the sponsor must commit to providing for the child's basic needs for 10 years or until they reach 25, whichever comes first. For a dependent child over 22, the duration of the undertaking is three years. The sponsor is also required to go through several steps, including obtaining an application package from the government website and paying the online application fee. The sponsor must also ensure that the child passes any applicable police, security, and medical checks.

It is important to note that if the sponsor has been convicted of a crime that caused bodily harm to the dependent child, they cannot be sponsored under the Family Class or Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada (SCLPC) class. Additionally, if the sponsor is unable to meet the requirements of sponsoring a parent or grandparent, they may be able to sponsor their extended family members under the "Lonely Canadian Program" or the "Other Relative Program." However, if the foreign parent or grandparent does not meet the requirements due to medical or criminal inadmissibility issues, the Canadian sponsor cannot sponsor a different relative.

Sponsoring parents and grandparents

To sponsor your parents or grandparents, you must first submit an interest to sponsor form. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will then decide whether to invite you to apply. If you are invited to apply, there are two applications: you must apply to become a sponsor, and your parents and/or grandparents must apply for permanent residence. The person you are sponsoring will submit both applications online at the same time using the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal. If they are using a paid representative, the representative will use the Representative Permanent Residence (PR) Portal. If more than one parent or grandparent is applying on their own, each must create their own portal account and submit their own application.

If your parents are a couple (married or in a common-law relationship), you will need to submit two separate sponsorship applications: one application per couple. On your grandparents' application, you must designate one of them as the principal applicant and their spouse as a dependent. On your parent's application, they must be the principal applicant, and their spouse will be listed as their dependent. You cannot change the principal applicant once you have submitted your application. If you have siblings, you can include them in the application only if they qualify as dependent children. If they do not meet the requirements, they cannot be included in your parents' or grandparents' application and will have to immigrate on their own.

Sponsored parents and grandparents are eligible for Canadian social programs, but their sponsor must pay for any social assistance they receive for the duration of the undertaking (20 years outside Quebec or 10 years in Quebec). Sponsors remain financially liable for their relatives even if their relationship deteriorates. It is important to discuss any concerns and expectations with your relative before sponsoring them.

Sponsoring extended family members

To sponsor an extended family member, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident must show that they do not have a spouse, common-law partner, child, or parent. They must also meet the financial requirements and remain financially liable for their sponsored relatives, even if their relationship deteriorates. It is important to note that if the Canadian sponsor does not meet the requirements due to financial issues, they may still be able to sponsor an extended family member. However, if the foreign parent or grandparent does not meet the requirements due to medical or criminal inadmissibility issues, the Canadian cannot sponsor a different relative.

The process of sponsoring an extended family member can be complex, and it is recommended to seek legal advice to ensure all requirements are met. The sponsorship application process may vary depending on the specific situation and relationship of the sponsor and the sponsored individual.

In the case of sponsoring in-laws, the spouse of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident will be the primary sponsor of their parents or grandparents, and the citizen or resident will act as a co-signer. The spouse must meet the financial requirements for sponsorship, but the combined income of the couple may be considered by the IRCC. The co-signer will be responsible for supporting their in-laws and will be liable for any obligations arising from the sponsorship.

It is important to note that there is a five-year sponsorship bar for sponsoring a foreign national as a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. This means that an application cannot be submitted until the citizen or permanent resident has been a resident for five years. Additionally, individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes, such as causing bodily harm to a relative, may be barred from sponsoring anyone under the Family Class or Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class.

Co-signing a sponsorship application

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, children, parents, and/or grandparents to immigrate to Canada. In this case, since you are addressing your father-in-law, we are assuming that you are looking to co-sign the application with your spouse.

To co-sign a sponsorship application, your spouse will have to meet the requirements for sponsoring their parents or grandparents. This includes financial requirements. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations state that a sponsor's family size and minimum necessary income must be assessed on a year-by-year basis for each of the three tax years immediately preceding the date of receipt of the sponsorship application. As a co-signer, you will be liable for any obligations arising from your spouse's sponsorship. For example, if your spouse is unable to pay back any debts with social support, you will be equally liable for those debts. You will also be responsible for supporting your spouse's parents or grandparents in Canada.

As a co-signer, you must meet the same eligibility requirements as a sponsor. When you agree to be a sponsor, you must sign an undertaking, promising to give financial support for the basic needs of your spouse or partner and their dependent children. You must make sure that the people you are sponsoring will not need to ask the government for financial help. If they do receive social assistance, you will have to pay back what they received during the time you are legally responsible for them. You will not be able to sponsor anyone else until you have repaid the amount.

It is important to note that if your spouse or their parents or grandparents do not meet the requirements of immigration (because of medical or criminal inadmissibility issues), you will not be able to sponsor them. Additionally, you cannot sponsor any person who is deemed inadmissible to Canada.

Frequently asked questions