Family Class Sponsorship – MSAWEST Immigration & Visa Services

Bring Your Loved Ones to Canada

Every year, over 100,000 individuals find a new home in Canada through family sponsorship. The majority, approximately 80%, are welcomed under the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program, while the remaining 20% arrive under the Parents and Grandparents Program.

An Overview of Family Sponsorship in Canada

Reuniting families has always been a foundational aspect of Canada’s immigration framework. Post World War II, Canada embraced an inclusive approach towards immigration to bolster its economy, bridge families, and act on humanitarian concerns. The family class category is a prominent segment in Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, symbolizing the nation’s commitment to keeping families together.

The nation’s immigration structure is overseen by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, often abbreviated as IRCC. This department is responsible for setting criteria, scrutinizing family sponsorship applications, and granting both permanent and temporary resident visas.

Understanding Canadian Family Sponsorship

Family sponsorship in Canada serves a dual purpose:

It facilitates the immigration of your family member to Canada, granting them permanent residence.
It mandates you, as the sponsor, to ensure the basic needs of your family member are met and to offer financial assistance.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Family Sponsorship

Despite the global challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRCC continues to accept and process family sponsorship applications. Recognizing the importance of family reunification, the Canadian government has undertaken numerous measures to expedite and adapt the process during these unprecedented times:

A significant 66% increase in the workforce is dedicated to reviewing spousal sponsorship applications to enhance processing speed.
The introduction of a pilot initiative aims to use state-of-the-art technology to digitize paper applications, thus ensuring swifter processing.
Advanced measures, such as remote interviewing techniques and potential biometric facilitation, are under consideration.
Sponsors who have availed Employment Insurance or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) retain their eligibility to sponsor family members, provided all other sponsorship criteria are satisfied.
If the sponsored individual accessed Employment Insurance (EI) or CERB during the agreement period, it won’t breach any sponsorship commitments.

Conclusion

Canada’s commitment to family reunification stands as a testament to its values of inclusivity, compassion, and understanding. Even in the face of global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation continues to prioritize bringing families together under its robust immigration framework. If you aspire to bring your loved ones to Canada, the Family Class Sponsorship program provides a trusted path. With the unwavering support and up-to-date guidance from MSAWEST Immigration & Visa Services, reuniting with your family in Canada can become a seamless reality. We’re here to assist every step of the way.