Road To Canada Forums

I'm going over "The Immigrant's Guide" to being sponsored, from the CIC... (this is PDF IMM 3998)... Two things have stuck out that I really had no idea that I'd have to even think about. I'm really glad I'm taking this slow...

I'm being sponsored by my Canadian boyfriend, and, eventually, I'd like to maybe sponsor my parents. However, there are no immediate plans for my parents to move here. I'm thinking in the next 3-8 years or so, or maybe wait until I'm an actual citizen. Now, that said, it says on this form:

"All your family members, whether accompanying you or not, must be declared on your application and be examined. If family members are not examined, it is generally not possible to sponsor them at a later date."

This worries me, as I didn't even think I had to mention my parents' names on the applications at all, much less have them examined or forgo any chance of them immigrating in the future? Perhaps I'm misunderstanding; maybe they are only referring to dependents? Are they considered family members I must list??

Also -- and this is potentially a much more serious issue -- I was planning on just having my PR and holding onto it for 5 years and then becoming a citizen of Canada; no muss, no fuss. However, I didn't even think of the possibility that a PR EXPIRES. I'm just a week or so away from applying for PR, and I kind of need to, as I really don't want my status to expire here in Canada and lose my ability to work and live. So I just read:

"A permanent resident visa is issued for a period not exceeding the earlier of:
- the expiry date of the medical results for you and your family members or
- the expiry date of your or your family members' passport."

My U.S. passport expires in December of 2012. Does this actually mean that my permanent residence (which hopefully I'll get in 2011) will EXPIRE in December of 2012, and I'll have to apply to permanent residency all over again? It's far too early to apply for a new U.S. passport, isn't it?

Thanks so much for your help... This whole thing is incredibly nerve-wracking.

The visa is the document that you use to ENTER the country as a permanent resident; once you arrive, you stay a permanent resident unless you don't meet the residency requirement (2 years in Canada in each 5 year period, with some exceptions). You only need the visa itself for that first entry to Canada as a permanent resident. As long as you land (enter Canada to become a permanent resident) before the visa expires, you're fine.

On the question about family members, my understanding is that this only applies to spouses, common-law partners, and dependents ... and the first two don't apply in your case because your partner is your sponsor. One of the more experienced forum members could probably say for sure.

Thank you so much!!

I kind of worried myself into a frenzy and called the CIC Call Centre, who basically said the same thing. I was very confused until she actually stated "the visa is not the same thing as the permanent residency." That's very helpful, thanks!

She basically said that I should list my parents under Section A "Additional Family," but not in the other sections.

This is wonderful, thanks!