Opportunity comes with price

[asgaina]

In 2009 I took my Canadian employer's offer to be sent off to work on a project outside Canada, primarily to save my job.
I believe that this effectively disqualifies me from applying as a sponsor for my parents, as I am not residing in Canada. Does it matter if the country I am in is a "tax treaty" country, meaning that I pay same income taxes as if I were in Canada?
Project is due to finish in another 2-3 years, so it looks to me that to start the application for sponsorship I should quit, and return to Canada. It's a shame, as I understood that CIC won't look at the papers for another 41 months. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[RobsLuv]

Assuming you are a Canadian PR: you would have to be residing in Canada in order to be eligible to sponsor a family member(s). It doesn't matter how long it will take them to assess the application - you have to be resident in Canada in order to be eligible to sponsor. If you're a Canadian citizen, you can apply to sponsor while living abroad - you just have to submit proof with the application of your intent to re-settle in Canada.

 

[chelley]

Also, you didn't say when you came a PR... If it has been more than 5 years (including time spent working abroad for a Canadian company), then you could sit the citizenship test and start the process earlier without becoming unemployed (which would likely be detrimental to the application!)

Good luck!

 

[Leon]

The exception of the rule that allows Canadian citizens to sponsor while living overseas only applies to spouses and dependent children. Even a citizen can not sponsor parents while he himself is living overseas.

 

[chelley]

The exception of the rule that allows Canadian citizens to sponsor while living overseas only applies to spouses and dependent children. Even a citizen can not sponsor parents while he himself is living overseas.

Didn't know that... Thanks!

 

[RobsLuv]

I didn't know that either - thanks Leon. Guess that answers the question, then.

 

[asgaina]

Thanks to all.

Called CIC to clarify and was put on hold for a while. In the end they referred me to the Guidelines of who can sponsor, and pointed out the Canadian residency requirement.

In summary a citizen sent by Canadian Corp for employment and fulfilling all tax obligations, cannot sponsor parents... As the sponsorship process drags for years, it seems a onerous requirement.

Strange, so I thought to share it with you.