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My son is estranged... will this render me inadmissible?

OO123

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Feb 3, 2025
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My son is estranged...will this render me inadmissible for PR
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OO123
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2 minutes ago
I am currently a US-educated nurse looking to apply for PR to Canada. I was looking around to get a general sense of what I might need. I came across the dependent section requirements.

I live in the US with my teen daughter. I have an older son who turned 18 last year. He's been estranged since he was 17. I don't know where he is or how to reach him. His last phone number is out of service. His last known email is probably blocked me because I have not received a response from him. Basically, he is not in my life anymore and I don't financially support him.

How do I go about this? My understanding is that I have to get a medical examination for him as well as his contact information. I have no way of doing this.

I saw some cases suggesting writing "unknown" and submitting an LOE but no clear guidance. Happy to accept suggestions on wordings and general process for this.

Open to hear from any and all with input on how to successfully navigate this.

Thank you
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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I saw some cases suggesting writing "unknown" and submitting an LOE but no clear guidance. Happy to accept suggestions on wordings and general process for this.
You should indeed submit an LOE explaining that your son is an adult, estranged, whereabouts unknown, and the last times you had contact with him, etc. Try to show (any way you can) that you've made attempts to contact with no response (returned mail, notices of phone disconnected, even police reports/correspondence if you've attempted to find that way), search efforts. Obviously if anyone else has guardianship/custody, or there have been court or educational docs about him not residing with you/the estrangement or if he's been legally 'emancipated'. Not saying you have to have all these things, but whatever you have.

IRCC may contact and request more docs (if any) or ask you to sign some document saying you understand you can never sponsor him. It may take a bit longer as they are VERY reluctant on this (because people change their minds and complain).
 

OO123

Newbie
Feb 3, 2025
9
2
You should indeed submit an LOE explaining that your son is an adult, estranged, whereabouts unknown, and the last times you had contact with him, etc. Try to show (any way you can) that you've made attempts to contact with no response (returned mail, notices of phone disconnected, even police reports/correspondence if you've attempted to find that way), search efforts. Obviously if anyone else has guardianship/custody, or there have been court or educational docs about him not residing with you/the estrangement or if he's been legally 'emancipated'. Not saying you have to have all these things, but whatever you have.

IRCC may contact and request more docs (if any) or ask you to sign some document saying you understand you can never sponsor him. It may take a bit longer as they are VERY reluctant on this (because people change their minds and complain).

Thank you for your detailed response. He is almost 19. What sort of documents can I show as proof of emancipation?
 

armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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Thank you for your detailed response. He is almost 19. What sort of documents can I show as proof of emancipation?
You would know if you had proof of emancipation - depends on jurisdiction, but basically it's a court order allowing a minor to be considered an adult in most legal respects (i.e. free of parent/other guardianship). That would be relevant if it had happened before reaching 18.

Like I said, you won't likely have all of above - provide what you can.
 

OO123

Newbie
Feb 3, 2025
9
2
You would know if you had proof of emancipation - depends on jurisdiction, but basically it's a court order allowing a minor to be considered an adult in most legal respects (i.e. free of parent/other guardianship). That would be relevant if it had happened before reaching 18.

Like I said, you won't likely have all of above - provide what you can.
I didn't have a court order but he did go to a military prep school at 17 and at the time was considered active duty. I can try to find the paperwork I signed giving my permission for him to join. Hopefully that will have some weight.
 
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armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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I didn't have a court order but he did go to a military prep school at 17 and at the time was considered active duty. I can try to find the paperwork I signed giving my permission for him to join. Hopefully that will have some weight.
I don't know about that but can't hurt.

Note, showing that he is 'an adult' doesn't fully resolve it for IRCC (they let parents sponsor until the kid reaches 22, i.e. not just 'minors' can be sponsored.) But this stuff may /can be useful as evidence they are independent/no longer in household.
 
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OO123

Newbie
Feb 3, 2025
9
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I don't know about that but can't hurt.

Note, showing that he is 'an adult' doesn't fully resolve it for IRCC (they let parents sponsor until the kid reaches 22, i.e. not just 'minors' can be sponsored.) But this stuff may /can be useful as evidence they are independent/no longer in household.
Thank you so much. I appreciate your responses. I may also try to get affidavit to show that I tried to reach him but couldn't. I just have to figure out effective wording.

Sigh! This is reopening wounds. I'm literally trying to change scenery with hope of some healing because of how this estrangement has impacted the family.
 
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armoured

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Feb 1, 2015
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Thank you so much. I appreciate your responses. I may also try to get affidavit to show that I tried to reach him but couldn't. I just have to figure out effective wording.

Sigh! This is reopening wounds. I'm literally trying to change scenery with hope of some healing because of how this estrangement has impacted the family.
I'm not sure an affidavit changes much - it is, after all, only a letter from you in the end - with a stamp from a notary or similar saying "this person said this." (If they don't believe your letter, you have bigger problems, is a different way to look at it)

If you had an affidavit (possibly) from some person in authority who could attest to all this - maybe. But even then - say it was from a school official - why would they need an affidavit instead of a letter? (This isn't a court proceeding, and they've no reason to disbelieve a letter from an official). Of course there are situations where an affidavit may be needed or useful, I just don't see it as obvious here. (And I don't feel like speculating as to which circujmstances might need it).

I don't know. Just my thoughts. You'll just have to use your judgment. Including as to what's necessary. I also don't mean to imply that you need 100 pages of docs.
 

OO123

Newbie
Feb 3, 2025
9
2
Thank
I'm not sure an affidavit changes much - it is, after all, only a letter from you in the end - with a stamp from a notary or similar saying "this person said this." (If they don't believe your letter, you have bigger problems, is a different way to look at it)

If you had an affidavit (possibly) from some person in authority who could attest to all this - maybe. But even then - say it was from a school official - why would they need an affidavit instead of a letter? (This isn't a court proceeding, and they've no reason to disbelieve a letter from an official). Of course there are situations where an affidavit may be needed or useful, I just don't see it as obvious here. (And I don't feel like speculating as to which circujmstances might need it).

I don't know. Just my thoughts. You'll just have to use your judgment. Including as to what's necessary. I also don't mean to imply that you need 100 pages of docs.

Thank you