Sponsoring Parents

[Tommysingh]

Hi Everyone

I obtained my Canadian PR Status in December 2007 and am now currently working & settled in Canada,  I now want to sponsor my parents who are both British Citizens who currently reside in UK.

Can someone please advise me how this process works, how long it takes?

Also i was told that i would have to show some funds, which indicate i will be able to support my parents, is this true, if so how much will i have to show?

Thank you!!!

[Leon]

You can read up on it at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/relatives.asp as well as you can find the processing times in the link "how long may it take to process my case".

[Tommysingh]

Hi

As i reside in Canada, will the application for sponsorship be processed in Canada or UK?

Regards

[Leon]

First you are approved as a sponsor which happens within Canada and takes about 7 weeks currently.  Then your file is sent to the visa office where your parents live for processing which in your case is in the UK.

[Bhooman]

The sponsorship application processing time is over 2 years for parents.  7 weeks are for spousal category.

[Leon]

Yeah, you are right.  25 months as per http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#sponsorship  That's a long time.  On top of that 5-12 months in the UK, as per http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/08-fc-parents.asp#europe

[Tommysingh]

I have been informed that i need to show some money inorder to show i can support my parents once here in Canada, does any one know how much i am required to show?


Thanks

[Leon]

Yes, you go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5196E10.asp

If you are in Quebec, use the Quebec income guidelines at the top.  If you are not in Quebec, scroll down to table 4 called LICO, add your parents to your family size and then you see how much money you have to make per year which you can prove by tax return.  If your spouse co-signs the sponsorship, you can count spouses income too.

You will be responsible for your parents financially for 10 years after they get PR.  If they have to go on social assistance, you will have to pay it back.

[Tommysingh]

Thanks Leon

I have just obatined my PR status recently and started working in Ocotber 2008, i am on a 60k job but currently cannot prove i earn more than $26,396.

Can i start the application for sponsorship or do i have to have the funds first?

please advise?

thanks

[Leon]

Check the application guide to see if you have to send proof of income right away.  If you do, call CIC and ask if you can send an employment contract, letter from employer and/or last few pay slips.  It might be enough to satisfy immigration that you make enough money.

[Tommysingh]

Thank you!

can you please forward me a link to the appiclation?

Thanks again

[Tommysingh]

Do i have to be a Canadian Citerzen to sponsor my parents?  I just got my PR  in Canada a few months ago?

Thanks

[Leon]

It's enough if you are a PR.

First you have to fill out a sponsorship application here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/family.asp

The application for your parents is here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/famcls.asp

[Bhooman]

If you have not filed your tax return in Canada, you can send your appointment letter from your employer with all the pay slips to prove that you have a permanent job and your annual income would be more than required to be eligible to sponsor.  I have done it that way for my parents.  I had a permanent job 3 months after I landed in Canada, I waited for 2 more months to accumulate few pay slips and after 6 months of my landing, I applied for sponsorship for my parents.  CIC accepted that and approved the undertaking for sponsorship.  It took about 25 months to process the spnosorship application and just recently filed for immigration.