One of the main pillars of Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is to reunite families.

As per Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, this year, IRCC is targeting to invite 106,500 immigrants through family class immigration application.

IRCC has recently added a few guidelines for officers reviewing the family class applications with separated spouses. Officers are now encouraged to follow these updated and clarified instructions that also aligns with existing regulations.

The newly added guidelines are:

• Legislative requirements for the sponsor

• How to count family size with separated spouses

• Co-signers and non-co-signers of parent and grandparent application

Family class immigration program reunites families in Canada by enabling Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family members. Under this program, applicants can sponsor their parents, grandparents, spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and children for immigration to Canada.

In order to sponsor a family member, the candidate must be :

• at least 18 years old

• a Canadian citizen, registered Indian or permanent resident.

• residing in Canada

• if you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show your plan to live in Canada once your sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.

• you must be able to show that you can provide basic needs for yourself and the person seeking sponsorship.

Source: Canada.ca