Canada offers many family reunification programs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with certain relatives from outside of Canada. These programs allow relatives of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents and work freely within the country.
If you are an international worker with family in Canada, family reunification programs can be a great way to expedite immigration to Canada while potentially reducing pressures of lodging, extreme living costs, and other logistics. This article will discuss Canada’s current family reunification opportunities and how they can help family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents (including international workers) immigrate to Canada.
Family Reunification Programs (Canada)
Currently, Canada offers two main family reunification programs: the Family Class Immigration Program and the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Both programs require applications and processing fees, which vary depending on the program and nature of the family member receiving sponsorship
Family Class Immigration Program
The Family Class Immigration Program aims to reunite Canadian citizens and permanent residents (sponsors) with close family members. Through this program, sponsors provide for the basic needs of their family members so they do not have to rely on social assistance. Upon approval, sponsored family members become permanent residents of Canada.
Priority is given to sponsorship applications for:
- Spouses
- Common-law or conjugal partners
- Dependent children (must be under 22 years of age and cannot have a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner)
- Adopted children
- Children to be adopted
- Orphans
To apply for the program, sponsors and/or family class members being sponsored must fully complete and sign the required forms and submit an application/processing fee. All family class applications for permanent residence are submitted at the same time as the sponsorship application to a Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Canada.
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) allows children and grandchildren living in Canada to sponsor their parents and grandparents to become permanent Canadian residents. Potential sponsors who submit an interest to sponsor form are invited by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to apply for this program. A limited number of applications are accepted and approved each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for family reunification programs?
Sponsors: family members living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, who wish to bring a close relative (such as a child, parent, or grandparent) to live in Canada as permanent residents. These sponsors must demonstrate that they are related to the person they wish to sponsor and that they are able to properly provide for the immigrant’s basic needs.
Immigrants: close relatives of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Distant relatives such as aunts/uncles, cousins, etc. are currently ineligible for Canada’s family reunification programs, though they can still immigrate to Canada by other means.
How can family reunification programs help international workers land a job in Canada?
Family reunification programs can help international workers acquire important documents necessary for immigration and work in Canada. New measures added to family reunification programs in Canada allow for faster temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times for spousal applicants as well as a new open work permit for spousal and family class applicants. With these documents, international workers become one step closer to working in Canada.
How long does it take for family reunification program applications to process?
Processing times for family reunification program applications vary depending on the program and nature of the family member receiving sponsorship. Incomplete applications may prolong the wait time to get approved and, in worse cases, jeopardize a family’s ability to reunite in Canada. To avoid this, prepare any necessary documents beforehand and provide as much relevant information as possible to initial applications to increase chances of approval.
How Can I Immigrate to Canada as an International Worker?
With the help of No Limit to Canada, your immigration journey to Canada can start as soon as today! No Limit to Canada streamlines the Canadian immigration process by saving you money and resources, assisting with necessary immigration documents, and offering valuable advice and support from start to finish.
Give us a call at 888-391-1115 or contact us via email at info@nolimittocanada.com. We are available to answer all your questions on immigration for international workers and help you find the Canadian immigration program that fits best for you.