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Moderator Moderator Posts: 4077
Posted On: 9/21/2023
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Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us.
We have answered a similar question in the past on sponsoring a sibling for someone who is a citizen, but as a permanent resident, you could also potentially sponsor your brother. Here is an excerpt from the discussion forum thread (on page 2) below:
As a Canadian citizen, you could potentially sponsor your sister in exceptional circumstances. You can choose any one relative of any age to sponsor if you do not have a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, child, parent or grandparent, or orphaned sibling, nephew/niece or child who is either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or who is a foreigner that can be sponsored. For example, if you are married you cannot sponsor your sister to immigrate. The system is designed to favour persons who do not have relations in Canada and have no possibility to sponsor immediate family.
Additionally, you must also be at least 18 years of age and you must be able to agree in writing to give financial support to your sister and her daughter beginning from when they first become permanent residents for up to 20 years afterwards. This means that you will have to meet the following criteria:
- be able to support your relative financially when they arrive
- be able to meet basic needs for yourself and your relative, such as:
- be able to make sure that your relative doesn’t need social assistance
Please note that your niece could be included on your sister’s application as a dependent so long as she is under 22 years old and does not have a spouse or partner.
If you are able to fulfill the above listed criteria, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) site provides step-by-step information regarding the application process and the forms that need to be signed on their page Sponsor a Member of the Family Class.
Please also note that the upfront fee that you will have to pay to sponsor your sister will be $1,050, if she is 22 years or older, or $650, if she is under 22 years old. The additional cost of including your niece as a dependent child on the application will be an extra $150.
Finally, it should be mentioned that although the IRCC is still accepting citizenship, sponsorship, and permanent resident applications, COVID-19 is affecting the review process and making it so that they are unable to estimate processing times at the moment.
We hope that you find this information helpful. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Your Settlement.Org Team
This response was prepared with the assistance of PBSC law student volunteers. PBSC volunteers are not lawyers and they are not authorized to provide legal advice. This document contains general discussion of certain legal and related issues only. This response does not contain legal advice. If you require legal advice, please consult with a lawyer.
It may be best to consult with an immigration lawyer You may want to contact a Lawyer or a reputable, registered Immigration Consultant who is familiar with Canadian immigration issues for some advice and assistance with this process. Steps to Justice also has a compiled list of free to low-cost programs and services in immigration law which may be helpful.
For assistance finding a lawyer, you may want to contact 211 and speak to a Community Resource Navigator. They may be able to refer you to community legal services in your area. 211 Ontario is a free, confidential service. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a link to their live chat if you prefer to communicate online. Their live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET.
We hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. Take care, and let us know if you are looking for more information and/or support.
Sincerely,
Your Settlement.Org Team
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