Canada’s family sponsorship programs in 2021

Family sponsorship is one of the three major immigration options to Canada. Of course, the other two are economic immigrants and refugees. Roughly speaking, about 25 to 30 percent of immigrants fall under family sponsorship programs. However, this is about to change in the upcoming year. In this article, I explore Canada’s family sponsorship programs in 2021.

What do family sponsorship programs cover?

Before I discuss Canada’s family sponsorship programs in 2021, let’s explore these options. Regardless of the underlying options, in a typical sponsorship program, a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada sponsors their family members. Consequently, they could immigrate to Canada without adding direct economic value to our country. In other words, these programs focus on the reunification of family members in Canada rather than their contributions. Therefore, it is no surprise some Canadians have opposed these programs in the past. Nonetheless, as a first-generation Canadian, I know the importance of family and how they could help you settle in Canada and be a contributing citizen.

We can divide family sponsorship programs into these major groups:

Unfortunately, the sponsorship of the last group could happen only under exceptional circumstances. Regardless, the presence of humanitarian and compassionate factors could help.

Family sponsorship is different from refugee programs.

Some refugee programs, such as PSR, allow Canadians to cover the expenses of refugees. Therefore, they can resettle in Canada. However, these programs fall under refugee resettlement programs. Consequently, Canada’s family sponsorship programs in 2021 do not include PSRs, such as the Group of Five.

Canada’s family sponsorship targets in 2021

If we look back, Canada accepted 91,311 family class immigrants in 2019. Consequently, about 27% of all immigrants in 2019 were under family sponsorship programs. We do not have access to the 2020 statistics. However, there will be a significant drop due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although the government has decided to accept 401,000 new immigrants in 2021, this group will not benefit from the increase. Unfortunately, the 2021 targets for family sponsorship programs are 81,000 only. Thus, only 19% of the immigrants will be family class.

Considering the current backlog in parental and spousal applications, the new target means even more delays for these groups. However, I don’t want to disappoint you completely. There is light at the end of this tunnel. For example, IRCC will accept 30,000 parental applications in 2021. Moreover, they have recently increased their spousal sponsorship taskforce by 66%. As a result, we could see some positive movements under these two programs.

Let us help!

If you wish to sponsor a family member in 2021, fill out the following form. Canada’s family sponsorship programs in 2021 are not that promising. However, there is still hope. Regardless, you want your family members with you, no matter what. Of course, if your case is complicated, consider booking a consultation session with me.

    Full name (required)

    Email address(required)

    Have you entered your email address correctly?

    WhatsApp Number (Optional)

    Is the sponsor eligible to sponsor a family member to Canada?

    NoYesI don't know

    Which family member you intend to sponsor?

    Is there a strong humanatiran or compassionate reason for this sponsorship?

    Are you willing to hire an immigration consultant to help you with your sponsorship application?

    YesNoI don't know

    Please provide more explanation below (optional but helpful):

    Of course, you may click here to explore other options in 2021.

    Related Posts

    Special authorization and its alternatives for Canadian dual citizens

    Sep 23, 2023

    Are Canadian citizens admissible to Canada?

    Sep 17, 2023

    Foreign record suspensions and Canadian admissibility

    Sep 7, 2023

    OINP Foreign Worker Stream with an Employer Job Offer

    Sep 6, 2023

    If you wish to visit or move to Canada, please fill out our free assessment form. We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal advice from a licenced practitioner.

    Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
    Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
    Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
    Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

    Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!

    Disclaimer:
    This article provides information of a general nature only. Considering the fluid nature of the immigration world, it may no longer be current. Of course, the item does not give legal advice. Therefore, do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. Consequently, no one could hold us accountable for the content of these articles. Of course, if you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. Alternatively, if you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment.

    The characters and places in the articles:
    All the characters and locations in the articles are fictional, unless otherwise clearly stated. Therefore, any resemblance in names, dates, and places is coincidental.

    Important Notes:
    For our official addresses, trust this website only. We currently do not have offices outside Canada. Therefore, anyone who claims to be our agent is committing fraud. Also, note that we do not issue any work permits or study permits or similar documents. The government of Canada has the sole authority to issue such material.

    Click to read the disclaimer.

    Al Parsai

    This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.