Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents may sponsor certain relatives so they become permanent residents. You can sponsor a spouse, children, parents or grandparents.
You may also sponsor brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, granddaughters or grandsons who are orphaned, under 18 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship.
You may sponsor another relative regardless of age or relationship if if you do not have a living spouse or common-law partner, conjugal partner, a son or daughter, parent, grandparent, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece who could be sponsored as a member of the family class, and and you do not have any relative who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
Requirements
The sponsor must be at least 18 years of age.
The sponsor should not have failed to provide financial support in a previous sponsorship, should not have alimony debts or any immigration debts.
The sponsor should not be receiving social assistance other than for a disability. Employment Insurance or other loans for study are not considered social assistance in this case.
The sponsor should not be in prison or have committed a crime. (A pardon must be issued for people that have committed a crime).
The sponsor should not have declared bankruptcy (If the bankruptcy has been released then the sponsor can apply).
The sponsor and the sponsored person must have a clean criminal record or the appropriate pardons should have been granted.
** Canadians citizens or permanent residents of Canada residing in Québec must also process their paperwork with Immigration Quebec.
*The sponsor must sign an agreement that states that he/she will be financially responsible for the sponsoree for ten years; 10 years for a dependent child, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first. (The sponsor's spouse can act as a co-signer to meet the financial requirements).
1 person (the sponsor) $22,171
2 persons $27,601
3 persons $33,933
4 persons $41198
5 persons $46,727
6 persons $52,699
7 persons $58,673
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $5,974
The State of Vermont (effective September 1, 2009)
What happens if in the country of residence of the sponsoree, same-sex marriage is not recognized?
You may submit your spouse sponsorship application as common law partners if applicable, or you may apply as conjugal partners if applicable.