Family Sponsorship

The family definition in Canadian immigration law is different from definition of a family in most cultures of the world. While in an extended family all members are considered family members, in Canadian immigration the definition of family and family members is much more restrictive. All family members are not members of the family class. You may get confused if you are not familiar with who is considered a member of the family class according to the Canadian immigration legislation.

a) Spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent children of either spouse or partner, parents and grandparents.

b) Under some specific circumstances orphaned children including children brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, grandchildren, adopted dependent children who are under 18 years may be sponsored under family class.

Additionally, the definition of members of the family class depends whether you are immigrating to Canada or sponsoring a family member. 

When you immigrate to Canada the family class is restricted to:

• Your spouse or common-law partner
• Your and your spouse of common-law partner’s dependent children

When you sponsor a family member the category widens to include all members described above under a) and b). Family Reunification Programs and the Immigration Regulations allow Permanent Residents in Canada and Canadian citizens to "sponsor" applications for Permanent Residence made by these relatives.

A Canadian immigration applicant can become inadmissible due to a family member. This happens when one accompanying or non-accompanying family member is found inadmissible, for example, on medical or criminality grounds. In addition, if an applicant fails to declare a family member inadvertently or fearing that he or she being inadmissible may make the applicant and other dependents on the immigration application inadmissible, that undeclared family member will be barred for life from being sponsored. This consequence results from the fact the undeclared family member is not considered part of the family. A family member is considered undeclared if 

• His/her name is not mentioned on immigration forms such as IMM 5406 
• He/she did not taken a medical examination.

These regulations were crafted to safeguard the integrity of Family Class immigration by providing full disclosure in family sponsorship canada application.