Sponsoring my Sister

[eager_ruby]

Good day!

I am currently in Alberta with my family on PR status. I am thinking of sponsoring my half sister who is 12 years old to come live with me here in Alberta. Would that be possible?

Parents are still alive but separated but gave their consent for sponsorship. Is there any way for me to sponsor her? Hope anyone who has gone through same situation will feel free to share their story and will be much appreciated.

 

[truesmile]

No, you cannot sponsor your half-sister.

 

[biag_ni_lam-ang]

Good day!

I am currently in Alberta with my family on PR status. I am thinking of sponsoring my half sister who is 12 years old to come live with me here in Alberta. Would that be possible?

Parents are still alive but separated but gave their consent for sponsorship. Is there any way for me to sponsor her? Hope anyone who has gone through same situation will feel free to share their story and will be much appreciated.

Who you can sponsor

Depending on your circumstances, there are two options for who you can sponsor.

Option 1 – Orphaned close relatives

You can sponsor close relatives, related by blood or adoption, such as brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren only if they meet all of the following conditions:

They are orphaned,
They are under 18, and
They do not have a spouse, common law partner, or conjugal partner.

Option 2 – Other relative

You may sponsor one relative, related by blood or adoption, of any age if you meet all of the following conditions:

you do not have a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, or one of the following living relatives you could sponsor instead:
son or daughter,
parent,
grandparent,
brother or sister,
uncle, aunt,
nephew or niece.
you do not have any of the above-named relatives who is a:
Canadian citizen,
permanent resident, or
registered Indian under the Indian Act.

If the relative you want to sponsor has a spouse, partner, or dependent children who will come with them to Canada you must include them on the same sponsorship application.

If your relative does not qualify for sponsorship they may still be able to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant through Express Entry. Express Entry manages applications for certain economic immigration programs and selects applicants for their skills, experience and ability to contribute to Canada’s economy. Express Entry candidates may be awarded points for having a family member living in Canada. More information is available on the Express Entry

 

[scylla]

Good day!

I am currently in Alberta with my family on PR status. I am thinking of sponsoring my half sister who is 12 years old to come live with me here in Alberta. Would that be possible?

Parents are still alive but separated but gave their consent for sponsorship. Is there any way for me to sponsor her? Hope anyone who has gone through same situation will feel free to share their story and will be much appreciated.

You cannot sponsor her independently. The only way you could sponsor her is if you sponsored her parent (your parent) and included her as a dependent in the application. If your parent has a new spouse or common law partner - they would be included in the application as well.

 

[Leon]

As others have said etc. You could however bring her over to join you by applying for her study permit as a minor. Depending on the school district, you may have to pay her tuition because she would be considered to be an international student. She might not have health care either. Student health care depends on the province, so you might have to arrange private insurance. The parents would have to sign a form allowing you custodianship of your sister.

Another way would be for you to adopt her as your own child. However, immigration is aware that this can be abused in order to sponsor someone for PR that you otherwise would not be able to sponsor. Hence they would require that you show that you have a parent - child relationship with her and that you and your spouse have accepted her as your own child and that the adoption is in her best interests. I remember one case of a person here who adopted their niece in order to bring her to Canada but the adoption was questioned. This person was posting here and explaining that the child had gone "home" to stay with her "parents" for a couple of months and this gave them away that this was not a real adoption. If you adopt her, then you are her parents and her home is your home.

 

[scylla]

As others have said etc. You could however bring her over to join you by applying for her study permit as a minor. Depending on the school district, you may have to pay her tuition because she would be considered to be an international student. She might not have health care either. Student health care depends on the province, so you might have to arrange private insurance. The parents would have to sign a form allowing you custodianship of your sister.

Another way would be for you to adopt her as your own child. However, immigration is aware that this can be abused in order to sponsor someone for PR that you otherwise would not be able to sponsor. Hence they would require that you show that you have a parent - child relationship with her and that you and your spouse have accepted her as your own child and that the adoption is in her best interests. I remember one case of a person here who adopted their niece in order to bring her to Canada but the adoption was questioned. This person was posting here and explaining that the child had gone "home" to stay with her "parents" for a couple of months and this gave them away that this was not a real adoption. If you adopt her, then you are her parents and her home is your home.

Agreed with Leon's comments on adoption. In addition to what Leon has said, typically you must also show that you already have a "parent like" relationship with the child you are adopting. This means you are already their primary provider from a financial perspective and preferably the child is currently living with you or has lived with you exclusively in the past (i.e. without either parent being there as well). If you don't have this king of history with the child, CIC will most likely classify it as an adoption of convenience. Good luck.

 

[zardoz]

Just to provide added vital information.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/adoption/

http://www.adoption.ca/intercountry-adoptions