Guide 3999 – Family Class Sponsorship – What Happens Next

Once your sponsor receives your application

When your sponsor receives your forms and supporting documentation, he or she will forward these together with his or her application to sponsor and supporting documents to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M), Canada.

---

Completeness check

CPC-M will verify that all forms and documents are complete and signed, that the applicable fees have been paid by your sponsor and that your sponsor in Canada meets sponsorship requirements.

If your sponsor meets the requirements or fails to meet the requirements but chooses to proceed with the application, CPC-M will send details of their assessment and your application for permanent residence (with supporting documents) to the visa office for processing.

---

Eligibility Review

The visa office will process your application and decide if a visa may be issued to you and your family members. The visa office may require:

• an interview,
• additional information, and
• documentation before it can make a decision about your application.

• If you are asked to provide additional documents,
  • the visa office will send you a written request.

    Note: It is in your interest to comply as quickly as possible. If the visa office does not receive the additional information or documents within three months of the date of the request, your application may be refused.

     

• If you need to be interviewed,
  • the visa office will notify you in writing in advance of the date, time and location of the interview as well as of the documents to bring with you.
• If you have to meet other requirements such as;
  • additional medical tests, or
  • provide more current or additional information needed for background checks,
    • it could take considerably longer to reach a decision about your application.

      Note: Visit our website or contact your sponsor for additional information on processing times.

• If you and your sponsor meet all immigration requirements,
  • the visa office will:
    • request you to submit passports and
    • issue permanent resident visas to you and your family members accompanying you to Canada.
  • You must then arrive in Canada either with or before your family members, and within the validity period of the visas.
• If you or your sponsor do not meet all immigration requirements,
  • your application will be refused, and
  • you will receive a letter outlining the reasons for the refusal.

    Note: Your sponsor will also receive a copy of the refusal letter and will be informed of his or her right to appeal the decision to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

• If your sponsor chooses to withdraw the sponsorship in the event he or she fails to meet the sponsorship requirements,
  • CPC-M will return your complete application (including supporting documents) to your sponsor.

    Note: Your sponsor will be repaid all processing fees except the sponsorship fee of $75. Your application for permanent residence will not be processed.

---

What you should expect at the interview?

You, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be asked to come to the interview. The visa officer may ask, among others, about your:

• relationship to the sponsor
• education,
• reasons for emigrating
• plans and preparations
• family
• your health
• your financial situation
• past difficulties with the law

---

Factors that can facilitate processing

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

• ensure that all the documentation and information requested are provided with your application
• advise the visa office of a change to your contact information. This includes:
  • mailing address
  • telephone number(s)
  • 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
• 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

---

Permanent resident status

If your application is successful, you and your family members will receive permanent resident visas. You will become permanent residents of Canada when you move to Canada within the validity of your visa(s). Some conditions will apply:

• You will remain a permanent resident until you become a Canadian citizen, as long as you spend at least two years of each five-year period in Canada.
• You may leave and re-enter Canada as often as you wish.

---

Residency obligations

Permanent residents may leave and re-enter Canada as often as they wish to settle their affairs or to travel. But, at the time they re-enter Canada, they must prove that they have been physically present for at least 730 days within five years, starting from the day they became permanent residents.