Lonely Canadian Family Sponsorship

Unlock the Hidden Opportunity: Reunite with Extended Family in Canada

Imagine the joy of reuniting with your extended family in Canada. The lonely Canadian program offers a unique chance for Canadians with no immediate family members in the country to sponsor an extended family member of their choice—whether it’s a sibling, adult child, uncle, or niece. This lesser-known program allows you to bring your loved ones to Canada outside the usual sponsorship streams.

Living alone in Canada can be incredibly isolating, especially when your heart longs for the comfort and companionship of family. The “Lonely Canadian Rule” is designed specifically for individuals who find themselves no family members (blood relations) in Canada and yearn to bridge the distance with loved ones abroad. This program could be your gateway to transforming loneliness into joy by reuniting with those who matter most.

This program can reunite lonely Canadians with relatives. However, it is limited to only Canadians with no blood relatives in Canada. Further, if there are any sponsorable relatives anywhere in the world, such as living parents abroad, this excludes eligibility to this program.

Don’t leave your family’s future to chance. Contact MM Immigration Law today and let us help you unlock the potential of the lonely Canadian program to bring your extended family together in Canada. With our dedicated support, you can turn your dream of family reunification into a reality, creating a new chapter filled with love and togetherness.

Contents:

What is the lonely Canadian rule ?
Eligibility criteria
Application Process

What Is the Lonely Canadian Program?

The Lonely Canadian Program allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor certain extended family members who are not part of the immediate family class (spouse, child or parent). Under this program, you can sponsor:

Adult Sons and Daughters: Adult children over 22 years of age can be sponsored under this program.
Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): You can sponsor your brothers or sisters who are related to you by blood.
Uncles, Aunts, Nieces, and Nephews: If you have immediate relatives (blood relatives) in these categories, you can sponsor them.

Eligibility Criteria

Before diving into the sponsorship process, let’s understand the eligibility criteria:

Canadian Sponsor (Lonely Canadian) :
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
- The sponsor must NOT have a spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, grandparent, sibling or cousins in Canada or any relatives abroad who can be sponsored (spouse, minor child or parent). In other words, they must be “lonely” in terms of immediate family members in Canada and any family members anywhere in the world who can be sponsored. For example, parents living abroad who can be sponsored, even if they cannot travel for any reason including medical reasons, would make the sponsor ineligible for this program.
Relationship Requirement:
- The person being sponsored must be related to the sponsor by blood. This means they must share a biological relationship.
- If the extended family member is married or has children, they can bring their immediate family with them to Canada.
Financial Commitment:
- Meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements
- As with any sponsorship, the sponsor commits to financially supporting the sponsored relative for ten years after their arrival in Canada.

Application Process

Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

Eligibility Check:
- The sponsor ensures they meet the criteria and gather the necessary documents.
- The person being sponsored also prepares their documents.
Application Submission:
- The sponsor submits the sponsorship application online.
Processing and Approval:
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews the application.
- IRCC may request additional documents or conduct interviews.
- If approved, the sponsored relative receives permanent resident status.
Arrival in Canada:
- The sponsored relative makes arrangements for their arrival in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you are not eligible to sponsor your family member as you have a parent whom you can sponsor.

The income requirements are the current Minimum Necessary Income requirements as stipulated by IRCC for the current fiscal year. The current Minimum Necessary Income requirements for the fiscal year. The current requirements are as follows:

Federal Income Scales

Federal Income Table, 2024

The following table applies to all provinces except Quebec.

Size of Family Unit	Minimum necessary income
1 person (the sponsor)	$29,380
2 persons	$36,576
3 persons	$44,966
4 persons	$54,594
5 persons	$61,920
6 persons	$69,834
7 persons	$77,750
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add	$7,916

Guide 5482 – Instruction to fill the Financial Evaluation form (IMM 1283) – Canada.ca

The processing time for sponsorship under lonely Canadian program application exceeds one year. Since it is a unique program, the processing times are longer than usual family sponsorships and non-consistent. However, more complex of difficult application could take longer. The more inquiries and request for documents could delay the application. It is important to hire a legal professional to ensure your application has all the required information to ensure current processing time.

Example 1: Eligible to Sponsor an Uncle

Victor doesn’t have a spouse or a common-law partner. He has no children and lives in Canada as a permanent resident. His parents and grandparents have all passed away, and he doesn’t have any relatives in Canada who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians. Victor would like to sponsor his uncle Bob, who he is very close with. His uncle Bob is married and has a son.

Victor MEETS the requirements to sponsor his uncle because he does NOT have:

A close living relative he could sponsor instead (such as a spouse, partner, child, orphaned sibling, parent, or grandparent) and
Any other relative such as an uncle who is a citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian of Canada.

On the application, Bob will be designated as the principal applicant, and his wife will be designated as a dependent.

Bob’s son can be included on the application only if he qualifies as a dependent child. If his son is older than the age limit or doesn’t meet all the requirements, he can’t be added to Bob’s application and will have to immigrate to Canada on his own.

Example 2: Eligible to Sponsor a Cousin

Sam is an only child. His parents and grandparents have passed away. He was raised in the United States by his only cousin. He immigrated to Canada as a permanent resident. He’s single (doesn’t have a spouse or a common-law partner). Sam doesn’t have any relatives in Canada who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians. Sam wants to sponsor his American cousin. His cousin is single (doesn’t have a spouse or a common-law partner).

Sam MEETS the requirements to sponsor his cousin to come to Canada because he does NOT have:

A close living relative he could sponsor instead (such as a spouse, partner, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent) and
Any other relative who is a citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian of Canada.

Example 3: Not Eligible to Sponsor an Uncle by Marriage

Abe is a Canadian citizen. The only family he had in Canada was his mother, who passed away. Abe has always been close to his mother’s only brother and his wife. Abe’s uncle recently passed away, and Abe would like to sponsor his wife (his aunt by marriage) to come to Canada. Abe does not meet the requirements to sponsor his aunt because they’re not related by blood.

No, you will not be eligible for the lonely Canadian program as you have parents you can legally sponsor. Despite the fact that your parents cannot physically travel, Canadian immigration rules maintain that you can legally sponsor a parent and are thus ineligible.

Conclusion

The Lonely Canadian program, though often overlooked, is a lifeline for Canadians yearning to reunite with their extended family members. This program offers a unique opportunity to bring your loved ones to Canada, allowing them to build a new life and strengthen family bonds. If you’re a Canadian citizen no family in Canada but with relatives abroad, this could be the bridge that connects you to your cherished family members.

Navigating the intricacies of immigration policies can be challenging, but staying informed about updates and changes is crucial. More importantly, having expert legal guidance can significantly enhance your chances of success. At MM Immigration Law, we are dedicated to making your family reunification dreams a reality. Our experienced immigration lawyers specialize in the Lonely Canadian Rule and other family sponsorship programs, providing personalized and strategic legal support tailored to your unique situation.

With a deep understanding of Canadian immigration law and a commitment to excellence, MM Immigration Law ensures that your application is handled with the utmost care and professionalism. We stay abreast of the latest policy changes and leverage our expertise to navigate any legal hurdles that may arise. Trust us to advocate for your case, offering you peace of mind and the best possible chance of reuniting with your family.

Don’t leave your family’s future to chance. Contact MM Immigration Law today and let us help you bring your loved ones to Canada.

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Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer

Immigration is a dynamic and complex system that requires careful planning and preparation. By hiring an immigration lawyer, you can benefit from their expertise and guidance throughout the process. Here are some of the advantages of working with an immigration lawyer:

An immigration lawyer can help you avoid common mistakes or provide misleading information on your application that could lead to application denial or a five-year ban.
An immigration lawyer can help you find the proper forms to fill out, guide you through the process, and ensure that your application is complete and accurate.
An immigration lawyer can help you identify the best program or stream for your occupation and skills, and help you apply for it.
An immigration lawyer can help you prepare your application and documents to ensure that you meet the deadlines and criteria.
An immigration lawyer can help you spot errors made by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and advise you on the next steps.
An immigration lawyer can help you appeal an unfavourable decision, and represent you in court if necessary.

Hiring an immigration lawyer is not a requirement, but it can make a big difference in your outcome. An immigration lawyer can save you time, money, and stress, and increase your chances of becoming a permanent resident of Canada.

If you are interested in hiring an immigration lawyer, you can contact us at MM Immigration Law and we will be happy to assist you. We have extensive experience and knowledge in Canadian immigration law, and we have helped thousands of clients achieve their immigration goals. We offer a reasonable fee for our services. Contact us today and let us help you with your Express Entry application. 🍁

Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and it is not intended as legal advice. The information is not a substitute for professional legal advice, and it may not be appropriate for you. Do not rely solely on this blog. Always do your own research and due diligence. Immigration laws and regulations can change over time. It is important to consult with a qualified immigration lawyer if you are unsure how to proceed.