How Family Ties in Canada Can Fast-Track Your Permanent Residency

Navigating the immigration process can be complex, but if you have family ties in Canada, your pathway to Permanent Residency (PR) can be significantly streamlined. Whether you're a Ukrainian national or anyone else with close family members residing in Canada, family sponsorship is one of the most reliable ways to secure PR. 

The Canadian government recognizes the importance of family, and over the years, it has introduced several measures to facilitate family reunification. Recently, two new family sponsorship streams have been introduced for Ukrainian nationals, offering them expedited routes to PR in Canada.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how family ties can fast-track your journey to PR and how these new family sponsorship programs work.

The Effectiveness of Family Sponsorship

Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their close family members for PR. This approach ensures that families stay together while building a new life in Canada.

For Ukrainians, the Canadian government has gone the extra mile by introducing two new family sponsorship streams designed specifically to support those affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Let's dive into these two streams:

Category 1: Ukrainian Nationals with Family in Canada

This category is designed for Ukrainian nationals who have immediate family members in Canada. The process is designed to be faster and more flexible, so applicants can be reunited with their loved ones more quickly.

Here’s who qualifies:

• You are a Ukrainian national.
• You have a family member in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This family member can be a spouse or common-law partner, child (of any age), grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling (including half-siblings).
• You are currently in Canada when you submit your application and when you are granted PR.
• You hold a valid temporary resident status in Canada or have applied to restore your status if it expires within the last 90 days.
• You have a valid passport or travel document, or you can provide supporting identity documents if you don’t currently have one.
• You can provide a signed statutory declaration (IMM 0191) from your family member in Canada, verifying your relationship.

Additionally, your family member in Canada must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Currently reside in Canada.
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Have not been granted PR under this special policy.

The Canadian government has made this process as smooth as possible, so if you meet the above conditions, your pathway to PR through this category is already well-paved.

Category 2: Spouses or common-law partners of Ukrainian nationals who have family in Canada

The second sponsorship stream caters to spouses or common-law partners of Ukrainian nationals who have family members in Canada but are either unable to leave Ukraine, are missing, or are presumed to have passed away. This category provides a pathway to PR for those who have been affected by these circumstances and wish to reunite with their family members in Canada.

To qualify, you must meet these conditions:

• You are the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national who is either unable to leave Ukraine, is missing, or is presumed to have passed away.
• You have a family member in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• You are currently in Canada when you submit your application and when you are granted PR.
• You have not remarried or entered a new common-law relationship since leaving Ukraine.
• You hold valid temporary resident status or have applied to restore your status if it expires within the last 90 days.
• You have a valid passport or travel document or can provide alternative identity documents.
• You can provide a signed statutory declaration (IMM 0191) from your spouse’s family member in Canada, verifying your relationship.

Similar to Category 1, the Canadian family member sponsoring you must meet the basic criteria of age, residency, and citizenship.

Family Members Who Can Immigrate With You

One of the most reassuring aspects of family sponsorship is the inclusion of eligible family members in your PR application. This means your loved ones can also benefit from your PR status, provided they meet Canada’s medical, criminal, and security requirements.

Here’s a breakdown of who can be included in your application:

• Your spouse or common-law partner.
• Dependent children (under 22 years old and not married or in a common-law relationship).
• Children over 22 who are dependent on you due to a medical or physical condition and cannot support themselves financially.
• Your grandchildren, if they qualify as dependents.

It’s crucial to list all family members in your initial application, even if they are not currently in Canada or not immigrating with you right away. If they’re not listed, you won’t be able to sponsor them later, which could complicate family reunification down the road.

Additional Measures for Ukrainians

Canada has rolled out a series of initiatives to help Ukrainian nationals during these difficult times. These measures are designed to expedite the immigration process and ensure that Ukrainians can find refuge and start a new life in Canada as quickly as possible. Here are some of the support options available:

• A dedicated immigration hotline for Ukrainians.
• Travel documentation, including single-journey documents for members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents' immediate families, must be processed immediately.
• The ability to extend temporary stays, work permits, and study permits for Ukrainians in Canada.
• Open work permits for Ukrainian visitors, workers, and students who are currently in Canada and unable to return home.
• Waived fees for various travel and immigration documents, such as visitor visas and work permits.
• A suite of settlement program services, including language training, information on life in Canada, assistance with registering children in schools, labour market services, and more.

Final Thoughts

Canada’s family sponsorship programs are a lifeline for many Ukrainian nationals and others who wish to reunite with their families. With two new streams specifically designed to help Ukrainians, the Canadian government has ensured that the process is more streamlined than ever. 

Permanent residency is within your reach, and with the support of your loved ones and the Canadian government, your new life in Canada is just a few steps away.

Contact us today to start your application and fast-track your journey to Canadian permanent residency through family sponsorship!