co-sponsor financial responsibility

[nifley]

Hi everybody, I had signed up to be a co-sponser my wife's father to come to Canada. This is because my wife's income alone isn't enough, and I basically gave in to her begging and threats
He is not here yet but I my guess is that he will probably be here in the next year or so. Anyway, can someone please tell me what I am on the hook for if things turn sour after he comes here.

What I meant is let say once he's here he decided to go and get social assistance, how much would he be able to get from the government. How much of that I will have to pay back being a co-sponser?

 

[profiler]

Hi everybody, I had signed up to be a co-sponser my wife's father to come to Canada. This is because my wife's income alone isn't enough, and I basically gave in to her begging and threats
He is not here yet but I my guess is that he will probably be here in the next year or so. Anyway, can someone please tell me what I am on the hook for if things turn sour after he comes here.

What I meant is let say once he's here he decided to go and get social assistance, how much would he be able to get from the government. How much of that I will have to pay back being a co-sponser?

Are you a co-signer or a co-sponsor?

 

[Ponga]

You can't have a co-signer for a spousal sponsorship.

 

[CDNPR2014]

You can't have a co-signer for a spousal sponsorship.

the sponsorship is for the OP's wife's father, this is a parent sponsorship, not spousal.

 

[Ponga]

the sponsorship is for the OP's wife's father, this is a parent sponsorship, not spousal.

ooopsie.

Thanks for the correction.

+1

 

[Rob_TO]

What I meant is let say once he's here he decided to go and get social assistance, how much would he be able to get from the government. How much of that I will have to pay back being a co-sponser?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5772etoc.asp
May I have a co-signer?
The co-signer must:
-meet the same eligibility requirements as the sponsor;
-agree to co-sign the undertaking;
-agree to be responsible for the basic requirements of the person you want to sponsor and his or her family members for the validity period of the undertaking.
The co-signer will be equally liable if obligations are not performed.

I assume "equally liable" means you are on the hook for 50% of the total cost if he goes on social assistance anytime during the 20 yr undertaking.

 

[profiler]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5772etoc.asp
May I have a co-signer?
The co-signer must:
-meet the same eligibility requirements as the sponsor;
-agree to co-sign the undertaking;
-agree to be responsible for the basic requirements of the person you want to sponsor and his or her family members for the validity period of the undertaking.
The co-signer will be equally liable if obligations are not performed.

I assume "equally liable" means you are on the hook for 50% of the total cost if he goes on social assistance anytime during the 20 yr undertaking.

I was looking at IP-2 (granted I was looking at Spouse, Common-law and Conjugal partnership) and came across this about co-signers:

5.25. Co-signers
The spouse or common-law partner of the sponsor may co-sign an undertaking to
help meet income requirements by pooling resources; however, common-law
relationships must have met common-law requirements prior to co-signing . Other
family members may not co-sign. Co-signers should not co- sign when financial
requirements are not applicable or if the sponsor meets the income test. For further
details see: Consequences of co-signing, section 5.26.
Co-signers:
• must sign the undertaking and the Sponsorship Agreement to have their income considered;
• must meet the same requirements and are subject to the same bars as the sponsor ;
• assume the same obligations as the sponsor and become jointly and severally or solidarily liable if there is default;
• cannot co-sign when sponsorship involves a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner;
• should not co-sign for a child;
• are not permitted for sponsorship in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class.

5.26. Consequences of co-signing
• requirement to support the sponsored members of the family class if the sponsor defaults.
• repayment of social assistance given to the sponsored person and/or family members.
• bar on future sponsorship or support for another undertaking unless the sponsor or co-signer repays the social assistance paid to the sponsored persons and/or family members.

So, if we assume that because this is still in the Family Class Sponsorship program, perhaps it's virtually the same for PGP? $0.05 anyway..

 

[scylla]

Hi everybody, I had signed up to be a co-sponser my wife's father to come to Canada. This is because my wife's income alone isn't enough, and I basically gave in to her begging and threats
He is not here yet but I my guess is that he will probably be here in the next year or so. Anyway, can someone please tell me what I am on the hook for if things turn sour after he comes here.

What I meant is let say once he's here he decided to go and get social assistance, how much would he be able to get from the government. How much of that I will have to pay back being a co-sponser?

Any money he receives from the government in the form of social assistance within 20 years of landing in Canada and become a PR will have to be repaid by you and your wife jointly. You could be looking at over $10K per year.

 

[Regina]

Any money he receives from the government in the form of social assistance within 20 years of landing in Canada and become a PR will have to be repaid by you and your wife jointly

yes. even if you divorce your wife.
Besides if you decide to sponsor your parent (-s) you will need to include your wife's father as a sponsored by you member in your income calculation for that purpose.

 

[canadianwoman]

• assume the same obligations as the sponsor and become jointly and severally or solidarily liable if there is default;

This is the key sentence. The co-signer is responsible if there is default. If the new PR goes on welfare, then the sponsor and co-signer must pay back the government for this welfare. If the sponsor cannot pay, then the co-signer will be responsible for it all. Even if the co-signer gets divorced from the sponsor.

 

[nifley]

Any money he receives from the government in the form of social assistance within 20 years of landing in Canada and become a PR will have to be repaid by you and your wife jointly. You could be looking at over $10K per year.

Is this amount to be split by my and the spouse? So $5K each? Or each of us to contribute $10K ?

 

[profiler]

Is this amount to be split by my and the spouse? So $5K each? Or each of us to contribute $10K ?

If your spouse defaults or otherwise cannot pay, you are responsible for all of it.

 

[CDNPR2014]

Is this amount to be split by my and the spouse? So $5K each? Or each of us to contribute $10K ?

you both are equally responsible for whatever welfare he takes. 10k is an example, not a definite amount. it could be more, it could be less. the bottom line is you are jointly and severly responsible. legally this means you are both responsible for the total amount. whether the money comes from you or your wife doesn't matter. you are both on the hook for the TOTAL amount.

 

[nifley]

I heard that it is possible to back out of the co-sponsorship application by writing immigration services?

Up till when can I actually back out? Is it before he receives his PR document and land here? Or is it already too late?

 

[profiler]

I heard that it is possible to back out of the co-sponsorship application by writing immigration services?

Up till when can I actually back out? Is it before he receives his PR document and land here? Or is it already too late?

You can withdraw up until they decide.