Reuniting Families Across Canada
The Family Class Sponsorship Program aids in reuniting families by enabling adult permanent residents or citizens to sponsor a relative for immigration to Canada. The Canadian government offers a number of ways to allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their loved ones from abroad to Canada under its Family Class Sponsorship.
The available sponsorship programs include:
- Spouse or common-law sponsorship
- Dependent children sponsorship
- Parent or Grandparent sponsorship
- Relative sponsorship
Your relatives can live, study and work in Canada if they become permanent residents of Canada. You can sponsor certain relatives to come to Canada if you’re at least 18 years old and a:
- Canadian citizen or
- person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or
- permanent resident of Canada
By undertaking to support sponsored members of the family class, the sponsor promises that, for a specified duration, they will provide for the basic needs of their family members so they do not have to rely on social assistance.
Sponsorship applications involving spouses, common-law or conjugal partners, and dependent children are given priority.
Sponsorship applications involving adopted children, children to be adopted and orphans are also given priority, as they often involve minors without parental care. See more Adoptions (PDF, 474 KB).
There are no processing priorities for other members of the family class.
Contact us to learn more about the requirements of each sponsorship program and begin your application process.
What’s New to the Alberta Opportunity Stream?
The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is a pathway to permanent residence in Canada for migrants working in Alberta and international graduates who have completed their studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution.
Changes in the Last Year
Effective November 1, 2018:
- The income threshold requirement was removed. This means if you applied to AOS prior to November 1, 2018, the income threshold criteria will not be applied to your application.
- Changes have been made to the planned increases to language requirements.
Effective November 30, 2018, the Alberta Opportunity Stream List of Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials will apply to Alberta international students enrolled on or after April 1, 2019
Effective April 1, 2019
- Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 4
- Minimum High School in Country of Origin
- Change in eligible Alberta post-secondary certificates/diplomas. If admitted and enrolled in Alberta program on or after April 1, 2019, must have a post-graduate-certificate or diploma on the Alberta Opportunity Stream List of Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials. No change to other eligible credentials (degrees and graduate-level certificates/diplomas)
Eligible post-graduate certificate holders must show occupation/work experience is related to their prior post-secondary field of study outside Canada.
Anticipated Changes
There are planned increased to the selection criteria for language and education between 2018 and 2021. Here is a list of what is expected to change and when it is expected to change:
- If you are admitted and enrolled in your Alberta credential program on or after April 1, 2019, your credential must be on the Alberta Opportunity Stream List of Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials.
As of January 1, 2020
- If you are working in a NOC 0, A or B occupation, you must meet a minimum of CLB 5 for each English or French language skill at the time of application.
- If you are working in a NOC C or D occupation, there are no planned changes to language requirements. The minimum of CLB 4 for each English or French language skill at the time of application will continue to apply.
- CLB/NCLC 5 for candidates working in NOC 0, A or B occupation. No change for NOC C or D occupations.
- Minimum High School in Country of Origin.
- Change in eligible Alberta post-secondary certificates/diplomas. If admitted and enrolled in Alberta program on or after April 1, 2019, must have a post-graduate-certificate or diploma on the Alberta Opportunity Stream List of Alberta Advanced Education Approved Post-Secondary Credentials. No change to other eligible credentials (degrees and graduate-level certificates/diplomas).
- Eligible post-graduate certificate holders must show occupation/work experience is related to their prior post-secondary field of study outside Canada.
Starting January 1, 2021, all candidates except Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must have completed a minimum of high school equivalent to Alberta standards.
To discuss if the Alberta Opportunity Stream is the right program for you, set-up an initial consultation with one of our knowledgeable RCICs by emailing info@activeprofessionals.com.
Everything You Need to Know About the Atlantic Pilot Program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) was developed for employers in the Atlantic provinces – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island – to hire foreign skilled workers and recent international graduates who want to live and work in the Maritimes.
This program is designed for the sole use of Employers who are designated under the program to be able to recruit and hire workers with the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the local economy.
There are three programs in the pilot that employers can hire you through. Although you may qualify for more than one program, you can only apply through one.
The three programs are:
- Atlantic International Graduate Program
- Atlantic High-Skilled Program
- Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
All three programs require you to show proof that you meet the language, education and work experience requirements and that you have enough money to support you and your family when you come to Canada.
Atlantic International Graduate Program
If you’ve lived and studied in one of the Atlantic provinces, you may be eligible to apply under the Atlantic International Graduate Program.
Are You Eligible?
To qualify, you must have lived in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the two years before getting your degree, diploma or credential, meet the education requirements, take a language test to show you can communicate in English or French and show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada.
Education Requirements
The education requirement state you must have at least a 2-year degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship credential from a recognized publicly-funded institution in an Atlantic province. And have been a full-time student for the entire duration of your studies. You also need to have graduated from this institution in the 24 months before your permanent resident application is received and had the visa or permit you needed to work, study or train in Canada.
Atlantic High-Skilled Program
This program is aimed at skilled workers with management, professional or technical/skilled job experience. If you have a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada for a full-time position of at least 30 hours per week, you may qualify for this program.
Program Eligibility Requirements
Work
You must have worked for at least one year within the last three years. It can be full-time, non-continuous, or part-time, as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours. The work must be in one occupation (but can be with different employers), paid, and at skill type/level 0, A, or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Your experience can be gained inside or outside of Canada.
Education
You must have one of the following:
- a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree
- a foreign degree, diploma or certificate, equal to a Canadian credential. You’ll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a recognized organization to show your credential is valid and equal to a Canadian credential.
Language
You must take one of the language tests approved. The test shows you can communicate in English or French well enough to live and work in Canada.
Proof of Funds
You need to have enough money to support yourself and your family when you get to Canada. If you’re already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you don’t need to show proof of funds.
Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
This program is aimed at candidates for jobs requiring a high school education and/or job-specific training. You will need to have a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada for a full-time position of at least 30 hours per week to qualify for this program.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- You must have a job full-time offer that is from an AIP-designated employer in an Atlantic province that is a skill type/level 0, A, B or C and is permanent. The offer must be made using the correct federal government form.
- You must have worked for at least one year within the last three years. It can be full-time, non-continuous, or part-time, as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours.
- You must have a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, or a foreign degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship education credential. You will need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to make sure your foreign degree is valid and equal to a Canadian credential.
- You must core at least a level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark exam in English or the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens in French.
Other Ways to Immigrate to Atlantic Canada
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
- Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
Not sure if this is the program for you? Complete our Consultation Questionnaire so we can help you determine the best fit for your situation.