The complexity of the Canadian immigration system can lead to misinterpretations that spread through communities and online forums as truth. These popular myths mislead those trying to understand what it takes to make it through the process.
The most popular myths spread about the Canadian immigration system often revolve around money and time, making it appear that spouses that want to immigrate have few other options than to pay a lot of money or wait for a decade to get into Canada. Here are some of those myths...
Myth #1 » You Can Buy a Spousal Sponsorship
Some people have the impression that people who have a lot of money can get to the front of the line when it comes to dealing with the immigration system. This is untrue and doesn't work with spousal sponsorship.
The Canadian Immigration System does consist of numerous policies designed to accommodate applying for citizenship through many different family sponsorship programs. At the same time, these laws are also intended to protect Canadian citizens, immigrants, and refugees from those who would take advantage of the system.
Several laws exist barring entry into Canada to people deemed to be a danger to Canadians, including criminal, medical, and national security issues. Applicants refused on these grounds of inadmissibility can expect to be continually rebuffed regardless of the size of their bank accounts.
Myth #2 » You’re Not a Permanent Resident Until You’ve Finished the Waiting Period
Although there used to be a waiting period that forced spouses to endure a conditional citizenship period before being granted permanent residency, Canadians have recently voted in a Liberal government that abolished the waiting period that the Conservatives had enacted in 2012, reducing the time it takes to achieve citizenship.
As of 2016, Immigration Minister John McCallum declared that the two-year waiting period would be scrapped, getting rid of a policy that had caused a lot of strife for new Canadians. There haven’t yet been any announcements when it comes to other waiting periods for sponsorship, such as the five-year waiting period between sponsorships.
Myth #3 » You Can Sponsor All Your Dependents
Another misconception that pops up far too frequently is the idea that all children can be sponsored for Canadian citizenship. The truth is that there are specific limits when it comes to sponsoring children and other family members.
One of the most important restrictions to be aware of is age. The previous limit of 22 years of age to sponsor a child has changed, effective August 1st 2014, as per the Government of Canada immigration and citizenship website. The law now states that dependent children have to be under 19 years to qualify for sponsorship purposes.
This means dependent children over 18 must now apply according to their own merits, whether it’s a work visa situation or a student visa.
