Does an Adult Sister with Learning Disability Qualify as Dependent?

[rkun7191]

Good day,

I'm PR applying for Citizenship soon and I would just like to ask because I am planning to apply to sponsor my parents after I settle my citizenship and was wondering if my parents would be able to include my sister in the application? She's currently 28 years old but is officially a PWD in my home country due to a learning disabilty (she gets government assistance for her condition and has official medical records from a Psychiatrist dating from when she was 14) and is financially dependent on my parents until now. If it's possible to include her, what documentation would we need to prepare/include in the application in order to prove her financial dependency and/or disability?

TYIA!

 

[scylla]

Good day,

I'm PR applying for Citizenship soon and I would just like to ask because I am planning to apply to sponsor my parents after I settle my citizenship and was wondering if my parents would be able to include my sister in the application? She's currently 28 years old but is officially a PWD in my home country due to a learning disabilty (she gets government assistance for her condition and has official medical records from a Psychiatrist dating from when she was 14) and is financially dependent on my parents until now. If it's possible to include her, what documentation would we need to prepare/include in the application in order to prove her financial dependency and/or disability?

TYIA!

You can certainly try including your sister as a dependent when you sponsor your parents. It will be up to IRCC if she is approve. You'll want to show she is financially dependent on your parents and unable to live independently due to her disability. You'll definitely need to get updated assessments from doctors. The ones from 14 years ago won't be sufficient.

Assuming you are successful in sponsoring them, note that you'll be financially responsible for your parents and your sister for a period of 20 years after they arrive.

Also note that you don't need to be a citizen to sponsor your parents. You can do that as a PR. You just need to meet the income requirements and be selected through the lottery.

 

[rkun7191]

You can certainly try including your sister as a dependent when you sponsor your parents. It will be up to IRCC if she is approve. You'll want to show she is financially dependent on your parents and unable to live independently due to her disability. You'll definitely need to get updated assessments from doctors. The ones from 14 years ago won't be sufficient.

Assuming you are successful in sponsoring them, note that you'll be financially responsible for your parents and your sister for a period of 20 years after they arrive.

Also note that you don't need to be a citizen to sponsor your parents. You can do that as a PR. You just need to meet the income requirements and be selected through the lottery.

Hi, thanks for the quick response. Do you know what are the ways we can show that she is financially dependent on my parents? I’m okay with being financially responsible for all of them, it’s just that my parents would rather stay in our home country if it meant leaving her alone and I totally understand them since my sister won’t be able to survive on her own. But I really want to bring my parents here to stay with me so that I’ll be able take care of them easier than if they stay so far away, specially since they’re not getting any younger.

 

[scylla]

Hi, thanks for the quick response. Do you know what are the ways we can show that she is financially dependent on my parents? I’m okay with being financially responsible for all of them, it’s just that my parents would rather stay in our home country if it meant leaving her alone and I totally understand them since my sister won’t be able to survive on her own. But I really want to bring my parents here to stay with me so that I’ll be able take care of them easier than if they stay so far away, specially since they’re not getting any younger.

You should show that she is unable to work or live independently and take care of herself due to her disability (e.g. provide letters from doctors that support his). You can show evidence that she lives with her parents and that they cover her expenses. You can also show the government support payments.

 

[Naturgrl]

Good day,

I'm PR applying for Citizenship soon and I would just like to ask because I am planning to apply to sponsor my parents after I settle my citizenship and was wondering if my parents would be able to include my sister in the application? She's currently 28 years old but is officially a PWD in my home country due to a learning disabilty (she gets government assistance for her condition and has official medical records from a Psychiatrist dating from when she was 14) and is financially dependent on my parents until now. If it's possible to include her, what documentation would we need to prepare/include in the application in order to prove her financial dependency and/or disability?

TYIA!

You will need to prove that she can't function without financial support. Doctor/psychiatric reports and assessments. Proof that she can't work or live on her own etc. What does she do now? Has she ever gone to school? Most people with a learning disability (reading, dyslexia) can lead productive lives.

 

[rkun7191]

You should show that she is unable to work or live independently and take care of herself due to her disability (e.g. provide letters from doctors that support his). You can show evidence that she lives with her parents and that they cover her expenses. You can also show the government support payments.

What evidence can be used that she lives with my parents and/or that my parents are paying for her expenses? Would photos work? Bank statements? Bills? She doesn’t have her own bank account and doesn’t have bills to her name (she does have a cellphone line but it’s under my mother’s name) but if needed, we can open a bank account for her so that we can get some statements in her name mailed to us. Electricity, water, internet and the house are all also under my parents’ names too…

 

[scylla]

What evidence can be used that she lives with my parents and/or that my parents are paying for her expenses? Would photos work? Bank statements? Bills? She doesn’t have her own bank account and doesn’t have bills to her name (she does have a cellphone line but it’s under my mother’s name) but if needed, we can open a bank account for her so that we can get some statements in her name mailed to us. Electricity, water, internet and the house are all also under my parents’ names too…

Photos won't work. The don't prove anything.

Don't her government payments have her home address? How does she receive these payments?

 

[rkun7191]

Photos won't work. The don't prove anything.

Don't her government payments have her home address? How does she receive these payments?

Unfortunately, our government doesn’t give support payments/allowances for children, disabled people, or senior citizens. They only provide subsidies on health care, medication and other necessities. In order to avail of the subsidies, she has an ID that she presents whenever she gets a check-up or when we pick up her subscription and stuff like that so that we can get some of the cost covered by the government but none of it comes free. In fact, they won’t even give her the subsidy if she doesn’t have her ID with her even if it’s obvious that she’s disabled. It’s part of the reason why I decided to become a Canadian after living here for a few years on a work visa.

 

[scylla]

Unfortunately, our government doesn’t give support payments/allowances for children, disabled people, or senior citizens. They only provide subsidies on health care, medication and other necessities. In order to avail of the subsidies, she has an ID that she presents whenever she gets a check-up or when we pick up her subscription and stuff like that so that we can get some of the cost covered by the government but none of it comes free. In fact, they won’t even give her the subsidy if she doesn’t have her ID with her even if it’s obvious that she’s disabled. It’s part of the reason why I decided to become a Canadian after living here for a few years on a work visa.

Does her ID have her address? Something she has must have her address.

 

[rkun7191]

Does her ID have her address? Something she has must have her address.

There isn’t an address on the PWD ID, unfortunately. But she does have another government-issued ID that has our parents’ house’s address on it. Can we present both IDs instead? Would those, along with the updated records from the Psychiatrist be enough as documentation?

 

[YVR123]

On top of trying to proof that she is dependent to your parents, you also need to show that her condition won't cause excessive healthcare demand once she becomes a PR.

 

[scylla]

There isn’t an address on the PWD ID, unfortunately. But she does have another government-issued ID that has our parents’ house’s address on it. Can we present both IDs instead? Would those, along with the updated records from the Psychiatrist be enough as documentation?

I don't know if that will be enough. For a case like this, you may be best off hiring a lawyer to help you put together a strong application since the path is unsure. Good luck.

 

[rkun7191]

I don't know if that will be enough. For a case like this, you may be best off hiring a lawyer to help you put together a strong application since the path is unsure. Good luck.

Thank you for all your replies!

 

[canuck78]

On top of trying to proof that she is dependent to your parents, you also need to show that her condition won't cause excessive healthcare demand once she becomes a PR.

Agree. Showing that she receives disability payments would likely be a negative because that would mean that she would likely apply for disability in Canada which would be a large expense. There is a sweet spot where she can function enough not to need full-time care if your parents pass away but also dependent on your parents. If your sister is denied usually the parents are as well. The system is set up so you can’t abandon a sick parent or dependent family member in your home country while only applying for the healthy family member.

 

[pinda18]

Thank you for all your replies!

Hi, any updates on ur case. I am in very similar situation.