How can my Family Immigrate to Canada?

Question 1:
My mother remains in India. I immigrated to Toronto, Canada ten years ago. Can my mother immigrate to Canada with my help?

Answer:
In many cases yes, she can. One way of your family immigrating to Canada is through family class immigration. In family class immigration, whose purpose is to unite families, members of a family can be allowed to follow the original immigrant to Canada. The original immigrant must make a legal promise to the government that he or she will support the new family members for a certain period of time.


Question 2:
Which of my family members are eligible to join me through family class immigration?

Answer:
Members of your family who may be eligible to join you in Canada include your husband, your wife, or your conjugal partner, which includes your same-sex partner. Your mother, your father, your grandparents and your children may also be eligible. In addition, other members of your family, including your brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchildren, are sometimes able to immigrate to Canada in the family class category.


Question 3:
What do I need to do?

Answer:
In order for your family to be able to join you in Canada through family class immigration, you must be at least eighteen years of age, a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident, and be residing in Canada if you are a permanent resident. In some cases Canadian citizens are eligible to sponsor their family members immigrating to Canada even while living outside of Canada.

Often sponsors must meet minimum financial requirements. The government established these financial requirements to help ensure that sponsors have the means to support their families in Canada. An important exception to financial requirements is when a spouse or common-law partner is being sponsored – in such cases the government generally does not take finances into account.

You must also fill out a sponsorship undertaking, which is a legal promise to the government that you will support the family member(s) you are sponsoring to immigrate to Canada. Depending on the situation, this promise will endure for between three and ten years. You and the family members you are sponsoring must also sign an agreement which states that all parties understand their obligations.


Question 4:
I want to immigrate to Canada but I have no family members already do. Can I still apply to immigrate?

Answer:
You certainly can. There are many ways to immigrate to Canada. Immigrating through the family class is just one of many paths. In addition, it is possible to come to Canada on a short-term basis only, through a temporary work, visitor, or study visa.


Question 5:
What are the chances of successfully immigrating to Canada?

Answer:
Between January and March 2005, approximately 56,374 non-Canadians became permanent residents, which is the first step to becoming a Canadian citizen. Of this number, 12,412 were in the family class.

In 2003, 9% of all immigrants to Canada were from India. Between January and March 2004, there were 5,647 new Indian immigrants.


Question 6:
What if I have additional questions?

Answer:
Please feel free to contact me at any time. My name is Sat-Sung Kalman and I am a Canadian Immigration Lawyer specializing in Canadian immigration, work, study, and visitor visas. You can reach me at http://www.canada-immigrate.ca." rel="nofollow">LINK

Please note that this article is not legal advice, but rather is merely informational. It is accurate as of October 19, 2005.