Adult children with pending Grant / Recognition of Citizenship - How To Outland Sponsorship

[nctobc]

Hi,

In preparing the outland sponsorship, we have a bit of a unique situation. The PA and I (the sponsor, Canadian citizen born in Canada) both each have an adult child that are (in one case likely, the other definitely) Canadian citizens from a previous marriage. In my case, I adopted my child during my first marriage and they currently have an application (in Part 2 processing) for grant of citizenship. My spouse's first marriage was also to a Canadian citizen so her child is Canadian by descent on her ex-husband's side. He is submitting the application for a certificate later this week.

Naturally, our proofs-of-relationhip feature our children prominently in several photos -- would you recommend using a letter of explanation to address any potential ambiguity if they are not listed on forms such as the IMM 5669 ["You (the principal applicant) must fill out this form for yourself and on behalf of any of your family members 18 years of age or older who are not already Canadian citizens or permanent residents"]. Or would you perhaps list the adopted child who has a pending application in process (since they are technically 'not already' Canadian citizens') but not list the other child who is already a Citizen but just doesn't have the certificate?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[armoured]

-What age are the adult children? If they are 22 or older, should not be an issue from the perspective of an outland sponsorship. Do either of them want to come to Canada (if under 22)?

-In general, yes, letter of explanation may be useful here. This may get complicated if the child is over 18 and under 22 - I don't know whether citizenship is granted in those circumstances. If the child's under 22, basically, I'd suggest including in the app - would have to do medical, but otherwise, no serious impact on app. If the child gets citizenship, no harm no foul.

 

[nctobc]

Thanks - they are both over 22. So you’re suggesting NOT including them on the paperwork then? And adding a letter of explanation?

 

[armoured]

Thanks - they are both over 22. So you’re suggesting NOT including them on the paperwork then? And adding a letter of explanation?

I'm a bit out of touch as to the functioning of the online forms. With the paper forms, it was quite clear what was to go on each type of form in your situation:
-the 5669 (background) is (was) to be filled out by each applicant for PR status over 18 years of age. Your children would not fill these out because not applicants (not eligible anyway as over 22 yrs of age i.e not dependents - although citizenship would also be a bar to applying).
-the children would be listed on addtional family information form (5406).
-they would NOT be included on the IMM0008 (general application form) because not applicants for PR (both because of age AND citizenship basis, assuming both eligible).

I cannot counsel what to do exactly here. Personally I would not include on forms that make it look like they are applying because - as over 22 years of age - they cannot be sponsored. And I'd include a letter of explanation that they are no longer dependents because of age, and at any rate should both be citizens (documentation in progress). I'd provide info on them (eg age DOB perhaps passport etc, and obviously the bit about having been adopted by you for the one).

Again, I do not know if the child who was adopted is eligible for citizenship (likely would be/would have been while a minor, dont' know if this can be done now).

 

[nctobc]

Thanks! That’s much clearer.

 

[armoured]

Thanks! That’s much clearer.

To be clear the issue that many are (seem to be) running into is that the online forms aren't as clear about children that are already PRs or citizens (and still eligible due to age). In the paper form days, you did as above, because otherwise IRCC would ask the (citizens or PR dependents) to get medicals which cost money and was a waste of time (i.e. writing to IRCC telling them to remove them). The language wasn't very clear but could be parsed correctly, you just had to read carefully.

Now I don't know. Occasionally IRCC still gets messed up and asks for medicals for kids who are over 22, but that's mostly clear.

But I don't think that worry applies to you - the children are only relevant for additional family information. Cover that part with the letter of explanation where you make it clear that they're over-age and not dependents anyway.