Family class immigrants are persons who are sponsored by a close relative to come to Canada. Sponsors must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18. They must demonstrate that they are willing and able to provide financial assistance and support to the immigrating relative. Applications are assessed based on the sponsor's ability to care for the relative and the relative's ability to successfully settle in Canada.
Who can be a sponsor?
As a sponsor, you must make a commitment to financially support the sponsored family members. Therefore, you must meet certain income requirements. If you have already sponsored family members to come to Canada and they have subsequently applied for financial assistance while in Canada, you may not be allowed to sponsor another person.
What does a sponsor do?
When you agree to be a sponsor, you must sign a contract called an "undertaking" with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This is a promise to provide financial support and basic requirements for the family members being sponsored. The basic requirements include:
- Food
-Clothing
-Public services
-Personal needs
-Refuge
-Fuel
-Household supplies
When the sponsored family member becomes a permanent resident in Canada, the sponsors and co-signatories will still be obliged to provide the basic requirements throughout the period of the commitment.
