Pilot Program to Reunite Families Starts Today

Pilot Program to Reunite Families Starts Today

Foreign nationals whom apply to immigrate to Canada are required to declare and have all of their family members (e.g. spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, etc.) examined even if those family members are not accompanying them to Canada.

If a principal applicant fails to declare and / or have a non-accompanying family member examined, they are forever excluded from being able to sponsor that person under the family class or the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class pursuant to paragraph 117(9)(d) or 125(1)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Starting today, the Government of Canada has introduced a 2-year pilot program that allows these family members to be sponsored. This pilot program applies to:

  • Applications still in process on May 31, 2019;
  • Applications received between May 31, 2019 and September 9, 2021;* and
  • Applications pending reconsideration between May 31, 2019 and September 9, 2021.*

*The Government of Canada has introduced this pilot program via temporary public policy. Therefore, this pilot program can be cancelled at any time.

To book a consultation with one of our lawyers to discuss sponsoring a family member, please contact us on (403) 407-2733 or at .