Legal Obligation of Sponsor

[Ibaadat]

Dear all,
I need your kind advise. I sponsored my parents and sibling (who has disability) after more than a decade of hard work and dedication. They are in Canada now and in my home. However, I am going through a lot of emotional, and mental abuse from them. They are extremely difficult people. Our home environment from my childhood was always abusive, yet, out of care of my parents, I sponsored them. For all that I've done, I am getting verbal and mental abuse and curses in return. I have my own family and my relationship with my husband is getting effected by this. We are providing for 3 people (accommodation, food, necessities). They have no money or assets neither in Canada nor back home. Yet, they are very ungrateful. I've also explained to them that as a sponsor I was required to sign an agreement that you will not seek govt help or welfare for 20 years. But they hide everything from me and at my back inquire about govt help and welfare. I am afraid they will secretly look for things which they are not suppose to under that agreement. They also want to get their citizenship as only a few months left in eligibility to apply for citizenship.

Now my question is, what is my legal obligation as a sponsor and that I've signed 20 years agreement. They threaten me that they will go to govt officials and say they don't have a place to live and they are helpless and are seeking govt help. With this emotional and mental abuse, should I continue to provide for them or do I have any legal recourse? If I discontinue providing for them, will there be any govt help and will I be obliged to the govt, given my true situation that I am facing stress, and abuse. I feel I will get health issues with every day problems. Is there a way to undo this agreement? I sponsored them with very good and sincere intention but I think that it was the worst decision of my life. Now, they live in my home as they are the owners and I am suffering. Please please help!

Also a note to everyone who wants to sponsor family members. Please think 100 times before you sponsor someone. Your good deeds can become your curse. I've learned my lesson very hard way!

 

[k.h.p.]

You should consider seeking the counsel of an immigration lawyer. You have signed that undertaking, and it's very hard to get out of - a lawyer may be able to advise if your situation would qualify for some kind of relief.

 

[Qwertypod]

I don't know enough about this to help in any way, but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you are going through this kind of abuse after everything you've done for your family. As khp advised, please seek the help of a reputable lawyer as this might turn into a very complex situation if you don't deal with it fast.

 

[Ibaadat]

Will they qualify for any govt help? If they secretly apply without telling me, will govt entertain their request? They are adults, and I can't force them to do or not do anything but govt should have controls in place if sponsored individuals secretly do things.

 

[scylla]

Dear all,
I need your kind advise. I sponsored my parents and sibling (who has disability) after more than a decade of hard work and dedication. They are in Canada now and in my home. However, I am going through a lot of emotional, and mental abuse from them. They are extremely difficult people. Our home environment from my childhood was always abusive, yet, out of care of my parents, I sponsored them. For all that I've done, I am getting verbal and mental abuse and curses in return. I have my own family and my relationship with my husband is getting effected by this. We are providing for 3 people (accommodation, food, necessities). They have no money or assets neither in Canada nor back home. Yet, they are very ungrateful. I've also explained to them that as a sponsor I was required to sign an agreement that you will not seek govt help or welfare for 20 years. But they hide everything from me and at my back inquire about govt help and welfare. I am afraid they will secretly look for things which they are not suppose to under that agreement. They also want to get their citizenship as only a few months left in eligibility to apply for citizenship.

Now my question is, what is my legal obligation as a sponsor and that I've signed 20 years agreement. They threaten me that they will go to govt officials and say they don't have a place to live and they are helpless and are seeking govt help. With this emotional and mental abuse, should I continue to provide for them or do I have any legal recourse? If I discontinue providing for them, will there be any govt help and will I be obliged to the govt, given my true situation that I am facing stress, and abuse. I feel I will get health issues with every day problems. Is there a way to undo this agreement? I sponsored them with very good and sincere intention but I think that it was the worst decision of my life. Now, they live in my home as they are the owners and I am suffering. Please please help!

Also a note to everyone who wants to sponsor family members. Please think 100 times before you sponsor someone. Your good deeds can become your curse. I've learned my lesson very hard way!

Sorry for what you're going through - this must be a very tough situation. Unfortunately I don't believe you have any legal recourse however you would be well advised to consult with a lawyer to be certain.

In terms of what the obligation means, it means that you are financially responsible for them for 20 years after they have landed and become PRs. If they take social assistance at any time during this period, you will be responsible for repaying these funds to the Canadian government.

There is nothing stopping them from getting citizenship as long as they have the required number of residency days to qualify. Note that you will still be financially responsible for them even after they become citizens.

 

[k.h.p.]

Will they qualify for any govt help? If they secretly apply without telling me, will govt entertain their request? They are adults, and I can't force them to do or not do anything but govt should have controls in place if sponsored individuals secretly do things.

The government does not have these controls in place specifically because of abusive situations. A person sponsored to Canada may be abused by their sponsor and as such, there should be no requirement for the sponsor to "approve of" government support. Unfortunately, that has to work both ways, and means that you won't necessarily be notified of anything.

 

[scylla]

Will they qualify for any govt help? If they secretly apply without telling me, will govt entertain their request? They are adults, and I can't force them to do or not do anything but govt should have controls in place if sponsored individuals secretly do things.

They can apply for social assistance without telling you and without you knowing. There is no requirement for them to notify you before applying.

I would speak with a lawyer - although not sure there's a way out of this.

Good luck.

 

[Ibaadat]

Sorry for what you're going through - this must be a very tough situation. Unfortunately I don't believe you have any legal recourse however you would be well advised to consult with a lawyer to be certain.

In terms of what the obligation means, it means that you are financially responsible for them for 20 years after they have landed and become PRs. If they take social assistance at any time during this period, you will be responsible for repaying these funds to the Canadian government.

There is nothing stopping them from getting citizenship as long as they have the required number of residency days to qualify. Note that you will still be financially responsible for them even after they become citizens.

But what if they secretly apply? I have been telling them not to seek any financial help but I have a sense they may secretly do things. Does the govt want me to spy on them and force them to do or not do anything. Would that be legal for me to do? And I am Canadian citizen myself, who should i reach out to for the abuse I am facing from them?

 

[Ibaadat]

They can apply for social assistance without telling you and without you knowing. There is no requirement for them to notify you before applying.

I would speak with a lawyer - although not sure there's a way out of this.

Good luck.

What kind of social assistance can they apply for?

 

[k.h.p.]

But what if they secretly apply? I have been telling them not to seek any financial help but I have a sense they may secretly do things. Does the govt want me to spy on them and force them to do or not do anything. Would that be legal for me to do? And I am Canadian citizen myself, who should i reach out to for the abuse I am facing from them?

Talk to a lawyer.

You have no obligation to sustain abuse, but that doesn't get you out of an undertaking you signed unless there is a legal remedy somewhere. You can kick them out, break off contact, etc., but they can still apply for welfare.

 

[k.h.p.]

What kind of social assistance can they apply for?

Welfare if they're unemployed, subsidized housing offered by the province if they have low income, etc.

 

[scylla]

What kind of social assistance can they apply for?

Social assistance / welfare if they are unemployed. This comes under slightly different names depending on which province you are in.

 

[canuck78]

Paying for longterm care or a hospital bed for both your parents and disabled sibling.

 

[YVR123]

It's a sad that since you have signed obligation of sponsoring your parents and your adult sibling (in his/her 30s), you will be on hook to pay for any social assistant that they applied for and get.

As stated above, welfare, housing assitant, longterm care bed if your parents or your brother now request it and got in the system.

Since they only landed recently, you still have many years to support them. (even if they do not apply for social assistant, it's not easy to provide for 3 adults)
You can try to seek help with immigration lawyer but I don't know if you can get out from it because they "mentally abuse" you.
If your husband cosign your application, he is responsible for half of the social assistant bill (even if your relationship doesn't work out at the end).

This shows there is a lot more than the LICO to consider before PRs/citizens apply to sponsor their parents. 20 years is a long time and a big commitment.

 

[canuck78]

It's a sad that since you have signed obligation of sponsoring your parents and your adult brother (in his 30s), you will be on hook to pay for any social assistant that they applied for and get.

As stated above, welfare, housing assitant, longterm care bed if your parents or your brother now request it and got in the system.

Since they only landed recently, you still have many years to support them. (even if they do not apply for social assistant, it's not easy to provide for 3 adults)
You can try to seek help with immigration lawyer but I don't know if you can get out from it because they "mentally abuse" you.
If your husband cosign your application, he is responsible for half of the social assistant bill (even if your relationship doesn't work out at the end).

This shows there is a lot more than the LICO to consider before PRs/citizens apply to sponsor their parents. 20 years is a long time and a big commitment.

Yes unfortunately people don’t take into account that it could end up being multiple thousand per month. I also wish the government was more clear about potential expenses. There was a somewhat recent case where the husband of the sponsoring sibling was being pressured when he wanted the parent to return home when he found out he would be paying $1200/month for longterm care plus other expenses. The parent could receive full-time care in their home country for a fraction of the cost and better care. The family members who were not paying were objecting to the move. They had not realized the longterm care is not free and didn’t not have the extra money in their budget for such a large monthly expense.