Sponsoring my Children who are British Citizen

[nbashir227]

Hi,

I am a returning PR resident and have not completed the required days to renew my PR card. I plan to settle permanently now in Canada and have entered the country and am in the process of fixing my PR days (live in Canada for the 2 years straight). I would like to bring my 2 children under the age of 8 who are British citizen to live with me. I understand the sponsoring process is long and I do not want to apply for it until I have fix my file. In the meantime, being from a visa exempt country they can travel to Canada anytime but I am not sure if they can go to schools here. I can afford private schools so won't mind that as long as they can live here with me legally. Is it possible to enroll my children in a private school without then being Permanent Resident? If not, what's the fastest way for them to settle with me here?

 

[Msafiri]

1. Your children can enter Canada as visitors and change conditions or enter on study permits.

2. Either option requires you to provide proof of admission to a school and evidence of finances. I suggest go the visitor route as applying for a study permit at CHC London will inevitably raise the question as to if they will leave post study and why the children of a PR are applying for this permit instead of sponsorship. Contact the school board in your area for details admission to public schools or the relevant private school you want to enroll them in.

3. CIC will need proof of sole custody or consent from the other parent prior to processing any application.

4. What is your shortfall in the residency days?

 

[nbashir227]

HI,

I am short by 500 days. Can you elaborate on what is meant by "Change Conditions". They will join me in December for Christmas and New Years and I intend to settle them down starting Jan-2014. Do I need to contact the immigration?

 

[Leon]

In order to enroll them in school, the school may request that you get study permits for them. You can have them enter as visitors and apply to change their status to study permit later on. If the school does not require it, you may avoid it but still you need to keep their status in Canada legal by applying to extend their visitor status before it expires. Note that they also need insurance as they will most likely not be covered by health care.

 

[Msafiri]

HI,

I am short by 500 days. Can you elaborate on what is meant by "Change Conditions". They will join me in December for Christmas and New Years and I intend to settle them down starting Jan-2014. Do I need to contact the immigration?

Leon has covered this but to clarify change of conditions means you are applying to change status from visitor to students - each status comes with its own conditions some which may be the same and others different. The application to change status must be done before their visitor status expires - if the CBSA agent at the port of entry does not provide them with a visitor record then they have been admitted for 6 months. Expect CIC to require medicals prior to changing status.

There is sometimes a catch 22 element where the school wants you to have a study permit first then enroll but CIC need an enrollment letter to issue a study permit. You need to get them private health insurance for medical emergencies. Adding them to your employers health plan as dependents will help with say prescription costs but check that they are not required to have provincial health care in the first place.

If applicable and the other parent meets the residency obligation he/she can sponsor.