Living alone in a foreign country often leads to moments of homesickness and loneliness. Individuals handle these emotions in various ways, with some opting to bring their family to join them. In Canada, citizens and permanent residents have the opportunity to sponsor not only immediate family members but also extended relatives, such as spouses, children, parents, grandparents, or common-law partners.
The “Lonely Canadian Program” or the “Other Relative Program.” initiative allows sponsorship of adult sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, or nieces to immigrate to Canada. If the sponsored extended family member is married or has children, they also have the option to sponsor their immediate family.
It’s essential to note that a blood relation must exist between the sponsor and the sponsored individual. However, individuals looking to sponsor a relative must confirm that they lack a Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent.
Eligibility Criteria For Lonely Family Member Sponsorship
Eligibility criteria for sponsoring a relative, such as a nephew, niece, uncle, or aunt, include:
- Minimum Necessary Income: The sponsor must meet the minimum required income.
- Age Requirement: The sponsor should be 18 years of age or older.
- Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency: The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
- Residency in Canada: The sponsor should currently reside in Canada.
- Financial Stability: The sponsor must be free from debt or bankruptcy proceedings.
- Complete Application Submission: The sponsor should be ready to submit the sponsorship application along with all necessary forms and documents.
- Acceptance of Obligations: The sponsor must be prepared to accept the obligations associated with undertaking sponsorship.
- No Removal Order Restrictions: The sponsor should be free from any restrictions of removal orders.
- No Criminal Convictions: The sponsor must be free from any criminal convictions
Sponsoring Siblings & Other Relatives
Consider the following points regarding alternative options for sponsoring a brother or sister below 18 years of age who has lost both parents:
- Qualification as a Sponsor: To sponsor a sibling, you must meet the standard criteria mentioned earlier.
- Sponsoring a Brother or Sister Above 18 Years: If you are a lonely sponsor without a mother, father, child, spouse, common-law partner, or grandparents, you may sponsor a brother or sister who is more than 18 years of age.
- Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds: If you are ineligible to sponsor a sibling above 18, exploring humanitarian and compassionate grounds is an option.
- Other Possibilities:
- Study in Canada: Consider immigration through a study permit, supporting your sibling financially or assisting with the application process.
- Business Partnership: Successful business owners can secure a work permit if eligible for the program.
- Express Entry: Permanent residents can use the Comprehensive Ranking System for an Invitation to Apply.
- Consultation with Immigration Counselor: Seeking advice from an expert immigration counselor can help you understand various options for sponsoring other lonely family members. Contact us today for more information
Conclusion
To sum it up, Lonely Family Member Sponsorship is a wonderful way to bring families closer. This article has talked about how being far from loved ones can make us feel sad, and the sponsorship program helps fix that. Even though there are some rules and money matters to think about, the happiness of being with family again is much more important.
This program not only helps the family member who gets sponsored but also brings joy to the ones who are helping. Lonely Family Member Sponsorship teaches us that love and being together are super important for a happy family life. It shows that if we care and lend a hand, we can make our families stronger and happier, no matter the distance
