Sponsorship default mess

[Kacy]

In 2008, my ex-spouse filled out immigration sponsorship for her father, I co-signed with her ( we were still married at the time) in 2009 we divorced, in 2011 the Father got the PR status and moved to canada and lived with my ex and my son.
Jun 2013, my ex wife regrettably passed away. The father moved in with his other daughter and started collecting welfare, the government is after me for all the money he collects.
I don't know how to get out of this, he collects almost $1000 a month, while I am being a single dad caring for a 9 yrs old boy.
Please help with any info.
Kacy

 

[screech339]

Regrettable under the circumstances that due to you signing on as co-signer, you are responsible for your father-in-law until 2021, 10 years after your father-in-law landed in 2011. I don't think there are any loopholes you can use to get yourself out of it.

Screech339

 

[Patience09]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation Kacy. Does it matter that when the father in law landed in 2011, they had already been divorced? So technically, he could not have been a co-sponsor?

 

[screech339]

The only way I can see himself being able to get himself out of it was if he informed CIC prior to father in law landing that he wanted to withdraw his co-sign. Since he hasn't done this, CIC will assume he accepted the PR parent responsibilities of his father in law.

Screech339

 

[scylla]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation Kacy. Does it matter that when the father in law landed in 2011, they had already been divorced? So technically, he could not have been a co-sponsor?

I don't think it matters. Kacy should have withdrawn his support before his father in law landed. It's too late now.

It's probably worthwhile to speak with a qualified lawyer to see if anything can be done. Chances are very high that Kacy will be on the hook for the full 10 years. But it's worth a shot.

 

[Patience09]

Yeah maybe so. And if he had informed them, then the father in law probably wouldn't have been able to land for this exact reason

 

[screech339]

Yeah maybe so. And if he had informed them, then the father in law probably wouldn't have been able to land for this exact reason

Remember they got divorced before the father in law landed. So he has every right to withdraw his support and probably prevented his father in law from landing. If father in law was still able to land despite his withdrawal, he wouldn't be on the hook for next 10 years.

 

[Patience09]

Makes sense. i guess the only option would be if a lawyer is able to find some loophole or something.

 

[screech339]

Makes sense. i guess the only option would be if a lawyer is able to find some loophole or something.

I think the letter is pretty detailed about it. Closed any possible loopholes like parents becoming canadian, etc. He is still responsible for him even if father in law becomes Canadian.

 

[Edgehead78]

Its really sad to see that some people really dont have any consideration for their sponsor. They landed, they ask for free support, no matter the consequences for the one that gladly accepted to sponsor them....

 

[user828]

This is seriously some unfortunate situation, isn't' there a provision where sponsor says I can't afford it as I have my own family to take care of

I know someone who sponsored their folks and they quite well to do, the folks didn't get along with the wife, went to a different province and living with their daughter BUT collect welfare as well. Now, this has been like 5-6 years and the sponsor till date hasn't got any collection letter, now dunno if it will come later but the case was that there was indifference between sponsor and parent and things went hostile

 

[screech339]

If I was in the OP's shoes, I would have withdrawn the PR support on the first day of being granted divorce. Would have done that earlier if there was no signs of getting back together during the 1 year separation period.

 

[vania]

Hi Kacy,

I don't know how is going the relationship with your father in law.
But is there any chance he doesn't know that you will pay for his welfare.
You ate the father of his grand son .
You can try to speak with him.
Good luck

 

[zardoz]

This is seriously some unfortunate situation, isn't' there a provision where sponsor says I can't afford it as I have my own family to take care of
Nope. There is no get-out.
I know someone who sponsored their folks and they quite well to do, the folks didn't get along with the wife, went to a different province and living with their daughter BUT collect welfare as well. Now, this has been like 5-6 years and the sponsor till date hasn't got any collection letter, now dunno if it will come later but the case was that there was indifference between sponsor and parent and things went hostile
It's only a matter of time.. They don't forgive and they certainly don't forget.

 

[Rob_TO]

In 2008, my ex-spouse filled out immigration sponsorship for her father, I co-signed with her ( we were still married at the time) in 2009 we divorced, in 2011 the Father got the PR status and moved to canada and lived with my ex and my son.

Your participation as a co-signer was entirely voluntary. At any point before the parents landed, you could have withdrawn as co-signer. Is there any reason you didn't do this when you separated, or at any time in the years after that before they landed?

There is zero chance to get out of the sponsorship commitment you made. The only possible remedy i can see, is to explain to the father-in-law that you are personally paying for all his welfare payments, which you can't afford to do, and hope he voluntarily decides to stop collecting it.