Sponsoring Ukrainian Family Members for PR in Canada - What is Known to Date?

On the 15th of July, an exciting announcement was made by the Minister of Immigration, unveiling a new program that would allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family members for Permanent Residence in Canada. This new program simplifies the process of family sponsorship and expands the range of eligible relatives who may be sponsored for Permanent Residence. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of the program, discuss its implications, and shed some light on who can benefit from this opportunity.

Who can sponsor Ukrainian family members?

Under the new program only Canadian citizens and Canadian Permanent residents will be eligible to sponsor their Ukrainian family members for permanent resident status.

Who can be sponsored under the new program?

The Minister's announcement highlighted a comprehensive list of family members who can be sponsored under this new family sponsorship program. The eligible relatives include:

• spouses (husbands or wives),

• partners (including same-sex partners) who have lived together in a civil union for over a year,

• children,

• parents,

• grandparents,

• brothers and sisters, and

• grandchildren.

When is the program scheduled to launch?

The new Ukrainian family members sponsorship program will span one year, starting from the 23rd of October 2023 and concluding on the 22nd of October 2024. As the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set clear timeframes and remained silent on the quotas, it is anticipated that there will be no limitations on the number of sponsorship applications during this period.

Requirement to be inside Canada

Both the sponsor and the family members being sponsored must be present in Canada at the time of filing the application. It's crucial for prospective sponsors to plan accordingly if their relatives are not yet in Canada or have already left. It’s crucial for the prospective sponsors to ensure that the sponsored relatives return to Canada before the application is submitted. Additionally, if the relatives haven't applied for the CUAET visitor visa, they'll need to obtain a regular tourist visa for entry, keeping in mind the standard visa application requirements from the 16th of July.*

CUAET program is closed as of July 15, 2023. All applicants will have to go through the standard application process for the TRV.

What are the advantages of the new Canada Family Sponsorship Program for Ukrainians?

Not a Lottery: The new program marks a significant improvement in the family sponsorship process for Ukrainian nationals. Previously, certain family members, such as parents and grandparents, could be sponsored under the Parent Grandparent Program (PGP). However, the PGP was a lottery-based program, where the sponsor had to be drawn from the pool of candidates before the sponsorship application could be filed. Now, under the new Ukrainian Family Sponsorship Program, the lottery-based approach is replaced, making the sponsorship process much easier and more accessible.

No Financial Undertaking: The new pathway to permanent residence requires no financial undertaking and families will have until October 22, 2024, to submit an application.

Expands the list of eligible relatives to brothers and sisters: One of the most noteworthy changes is the inclusion of brothers and sisters in the list of eligible relatives. In the past, sponsoring siblings was only possible in exceptional cases, based on specific criteria. However, with this new program, brothers and sisters can be sponsored without stringent conditions, making it more feasible for many families.

Let’s sum it up…

The newly announced Canadian immigration program for family sponsorship is a wonderful development for Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents who want to reunite with their Ukrainian family members, as it significantly simplifies the process and expands the eligibility criteria for sponsored relatives. Those with eligible Ukrainian family members will now have the opportunity to bring their loved ones closer, enriching their lives together in Canada.