In Canada, Immigration visas for Permanent Residence allow a resident to sponsor one of their relatives allowing them to migrate to Canada without a work permit or the need to undergo an assessment against a points scheme. Relocating to Canada via an application for a family visa allows relatives to seek employment without any restriction.
Unlike a Canadian work permit application, no specific offer of employment is required by the Canada immigration service for an immigrant to begin working. Canadian family visas do not impose points based assessments upon applicants. Canadian visas under this class mean that the need for work permits is bypassed and that candidates, once accepted, may work freely upon arrival.
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor:
Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who is at least 16 yrs old.
Dependent child or a dependent child of your spouse/common-law partner/conjugal partner who is less than 22 yrs old. They can be more than 22 yrs old if full-time students or disabled.
Father, mother, grandparents, or orphan brother/sister/niece/nephew who is less than 18 years old (unmarried and not a common-law partner).
Any relative regardless of the age (who is related to you by blood or adoption) if you have no relative in Canada (your spouse and common-law partners are considered relatives).
On February 18, 2005 Citizenship and Immigration Minister Joe Volpe announced a new public policy under which legal immigration status is no longer a requirement for spouses and common-law partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Canada who wish to apply for permanent residence status in the Spouse or Common Law Partner in Canada Class.
Under the previous policy, the Spouse or common-law Partner in Canada Class was only available to spouses and common-law partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who had valid temporary immigration status in Canada. Those without status only had the option of applying for permanent residence under the humanitarian and compassionate Class.
Now, the out of status spouse or common-law partner may submit an application under the Spouse or Common Law Partner in Canada Class. To qualify, the out of status spouse or common law partner must be in a genuine relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsor. The Canadian sponsor must also be eligible to sponsor the applicant and, as always, the applicant must successfully complete criminal, security and health checks.
