Guide 3900 – Sponsor a Member of the Family Class What Happens Next

What happens to your application at the Case Processing Centre?

Phase: Completeness check

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) reviews your application to make sure that:

• all required fields in your application forms are complete,
• you submitted all required documents, including the required forms and documents of the person you are sponsoring,
• the correct processing fee payment has been made, and
• all of the application forms have been signed.

Phase: Eligibility Review

An officer will review your application to ensure you meet the sponsorship requirements.

If the requirements are met:

• the application for immigration to Canada of the person you are sponsoring will be sent to a Canadian visa office for processing.

If you are a Quebec resident and meet the federal requirements to sponsor:

• the CIC officer will send you a letter with instructions to download the MIDI undertaking kit, to complete and submit it to the MIDI with a copy of the letter received.
• processing will begin when MIDI informs us of their approval of your undertaking.

Phase: Selection and Admissibility

If you fail to meet the sponsorship requirements:

• CPC-M will inform you that you have not met sponsorship requirements. If you checked the box on your Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) to withdraw your sponsorship application if found ineligible, no further processing will occur and all the fees will be refunded except for the $75 sponsorship fee.
• The application of the person you are sponsoring will not be sent abroad and, therefore, will not be processed.

If you are a Quebec resident and MIDI refuses your undertaking:

• we will refund your processing fees, with the exception of the $75 sponsorship fee, provided you checked  the box on your IMM 1344 to withdraw on your sponsorship application if found to be ineligible.

In the event you do not meet the sponsorship requirements:

• the application of the person you are sponsoring will be sent for processing at a Canadian visa office if you checked the box on your IMM 1344 to proceed with the application for permanent residence if you do not meet sponsorship requirements, and

• you will not be entitled to a partial refund of the processing fees once processing of the application for permanent residence has begun.

What if your co-signer withdraws their financial support

If your spouse or common-law partner withdraws support for the sponsorship application, you or your spouse or common-law partner must write a letter to CPC-M and the visa office before permanent resident visas are issued to the person you are sponsoring and their family members.

You must include an amended copy of your sponsorship application and agreement, initialled by you and your co-signer, removing the co-signer’s support.

We will assess your financial situation to see if you have enough money to support your family without a co-signer. If you do not meet the financial requirements on your own, the application for permanent residence will be refused.

Informing CIC of any changes

Consult the table below to know how to inform us of any changes following the submission of your application:

• If there are any changes to your family status such as:
  • marriage;
  • divorce;
  • births;
  • deaths; or
  • any other important information.

  Inform us immediately by email at:
  CPCM-EXTCOM@cic.gc.ca

  Note: Clearly state your name, date of birth and Universal Client Identification (UCI) or file number that you can find at the top of the acknowledgment letter, if you received one from CPC-M.
• If you move
  Inform us immediately by doing one of the following:
  • Use CIC’s on-line service. Go to Change my address and follow the instructions for filling out and submitting the electronic change of address form
  • Contact our Call Centre
• If you move from Quebec to another province in Canada
  You must fill out and sign Application to sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking(IMM 1344).
• If you move to Quebec from another province in Canada
  You must sign an “engagement” with the province of Quebec.

Factors that can facilitate processing

There are certain things you can do to help ensure that your application is processed as fast as possible:

• make sure that all the documentation and information requested are provided with your application
• advise CPC-M and the visa office of any change to your contact information. This includes:
  • mailing address
  • telephone number
  • facsimile number (fax)
  • e-mail address

Factors that may delay processing

The following factors may delay the processing of your application:

• missing signature on application forms
• missing documentation
• unclear photocopies of documents
• documents not accompanied by a certified English or French translation
• verification of information and documents provided
• a medical condition that may require additional tests or consultations
• a criminal or security problem
• consultation is required with other offices in Canada and abroad