Background check question (criminal past of an applicant's parent)

[reegs]

Hi everyone,

I am brand new to the forum, and I am excited/relieved to see all of the helpful information available on the site.

I've been living abroad for 4 years now (I am a Canadian born Canadian citizen), and for the past 2 years I have been living with my girlfriend (who is neither Canadian, nor a resident). I think I will have no problem sponsoring her as a common-law partner; however, I have one major concern regarding the background checks that are performed.

My girlfriend has a great managerial job at a bank and has no criminal history whatsoever, but her father was convicted of a non-violent crime and served some time in jail several years ago. Is this something that will cause significant delays or automatic refusal of our application? Will CIC automatically do background checks on all of the family members listed on the family information form? My girlfriend would be immigrating alone.

Thanks in advance... I am going to be here quite often for the next 12-18 months I'm sure.

 

[iarblue]

Well seeing as you are not sponsoring her parents and they dont request criminal checks for people who are not being sponsored then it will not be a problem.
Your spouse is required to list them on her application but that is as far as it goes,her fathers past has nothing to do with her or her application.

 

[RobsLuv]

If her father has/had strong ties to terrorist groups or organized crime, it could cause a "blip" in processing, but otherwise his past won't even factor into the process. Criminal convictions of applicants and their dependents are the only concern with spousal/common-law sponsorships.

 

[reegs]

Thanks for the swift replies.