Request to process following family members under the one-year window of opportunity provisions (IMM 5578)
Table of Contents
This is not a legal document. For legal information, refer to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations or the Citizenship Act and Regulations, as applicable.
This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.
Overview
This application contains the necessary form and instructions to request the processing for permanent residence of a family member under the One-Year Window of Opportunity Provisions.
Who may apply?
If you immigrated to Canada as a member of the Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-Protected Persons Abroad classes and had to leave family members behind due to circumstances beyond your control, you may be able to apply for your family members to come to Canada under the One-Year Window of Opportunity Provisions.
If you answer YES to all of the following questions, you may request that we process your family members’ applications for permanent residence:
- Did you arrive in Canada less than one year ago?
- Were you accepted as a member of the Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-Protected Persons Abroad (Country of Asylum) classes?
- Was the separated family member identified on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008) form?
- Does your family member meet the definition (see section Definition of family member)?
There is no fee for the processing of your family member’s application for permanent residence under these provisions.
Definition of family member
Family members include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children.
Common-law partner
This is a person of the opposite sex or same sex as you who was living in a conjugal relationship with you, and had done so for a period of at least one year before you became separated due to reasons beyond your control. There must be a significant degree of commitment between the two of you such as sharing the same home, supporting each other financially and emotionally, having had children together or presenting yourselves in public as a couple. You may need to provide proof that such a relationship exists.
Your common-law partner may still qualify even if you were unable to live together or appear in public together because of legal or cultural restrictions in your home country.
Dependent children
Dependent children include:
- Your dependent children
- The dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner
- The dependent children of your dependent children
A child must meet the requirements of type A, B or C below to be considered a dependent child:
Type A
He or she was under the age of 22 and single, that is, not married and not in a common-law relationship when you first submitted your application for permanent residence.
Type B
He or she married or entered into a common-law relationship before the age of 22 and, since becoming a spouse or a common-law partner, has
- been continuously enrolled and in attendance as a full-time student in a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority; and
- depended substantially on the financial support of a parent.
or
He or she is 22 years of age or older and, since before the age of 22, has
- been continuously enrolled and in attendance as a full-time student in a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority; and
- depended substantially on the financial support of a parent.
Type C
He or she is 22 years of age or older, has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22 and is unable to provide for himself or herself due to a medical condition.
Designating a third party or representative
Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
If you have questions or need clarification about this application kit, you may contact us. You may also choose to obtain the help of a representative if you need additional advice or support. We will process your application in the same manner, whether or not you have a representative.
A representative is someone who has your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). He or she will also be able to obtain information on your case file.
If you are appointing a representative, you must obtain and complete the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) and send it with your application. The form is available on our website or from our Call Centre.
Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475)
To authorize us to release information from your case file to someone other than a representative, you will need to complete form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) which is available on our website.
The person you designate will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, he or she will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with CIC.
How to complete the form
Use the following instructions to fill in the form. Most of the questions on the form are straightforward and extra instructions have only been provided when necessary. You must answer all questions. If you leave sections blank, your form will be returned to you for completion. Print clearly with a black pen.
If the space provided on the form is not sufficient, use an additional sheet of paper. There is space provided for three family members. If you have more than three family members to list, photocopy the form before you start completing it.
You must provide truthful, accurate information. It is an offence under section 127 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to knowingly make a false statement on this form.
Request for processing family members under the One-Year Window of Opportunity Provisions (IMM 5571)
The principal applicant in Canada must complete this form. The principal applicant is the person who completed the original Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008) form.
1. Your full name
Print your full family name as it appeared on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008) or as it appears on your permanent resident card.
Print all of your given names (first, second or more) as they appeared on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008) or as they appear on your permanent resident card.
3. Date of your arrival in Canada
This date is listed on your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) and on your permanent resident card, if you have received it.
9. Date of birth
If you do not know the exact date of birth, indicate the age your family member is today.
10. Relationship to you
See Definition of family member section.
Where to submit your request
If you arrived in Canada as a privately sponsored refugee, submit your completed request to:
Centralized Processing Office – Winnipeg (CPO-W)
Box # 1B
400-25 Forks Market Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 4S9
If you arrived in Canada as a government assisted refugee (GAR), submit your completed request to the local CIC closest to you.
If you live in Quebec, go to the Ministère de l’immigration et des communautés culturelles (MICC) website at: www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca to obtain the address of their regional officesor call the general information line at 514-864-9191 or 1-877-864-9191.
If you have received your permanent resident card, attach a photocopy of the front and back of your card to your completed form.
Atlantic
- Fredericton
495 Prospect Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 9M4 - Halifax
1741 Brunswick Street, Suite B110
Halifax, NS B3J 3X8 - St. John’s
North Atlantic Building, 2nd floor
31 Pippy Place
P.O. Box 13667, Station “A”
St. John’s, NL A1B 4G1
Ontario
- Greater Toronto Area,
including Etobicoke, Mississauga and Scarborough
25 St. Clair Avenue, East, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M4T 1M2 - Outside the Greater Toronto Area
Send your application to the closest CIC as follows: - Hamilton
55 Bay Street North
Hamilton, ON L8R 3P7 - Kitchener
Waterloo/Wellington CIC
29 Duke St. East
Kitchener, ON N2H 1A2 - London
417 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 2Z3 - Niagara Falls
4318 Portage Road,
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6A4 - Orillia
25 Peter Street North
Orillia, ON L3V 4Y8 - Ottawa
(includes Kingston)
200 Catherine Street, Suite 101
Ottawa, ON K2P 2K9 - Windsor
1250 Walker Road
Windsor, ON N8Y 4T4
Prairies and Northern Territories
- Calgary
210 - 220 4th Avenue S.E.
Calgary, AB T2G 4X3 - Edmonton
(including residents of Northwest Territories)
Suite 240, Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3 - Saskatoon
660 - 410 22nd Street E
Saskatoon, SK S7K 5T6 - Winnipeg
(including residents of Nunavut)
Johnston Terminal, Room 400
25 Forks Market Road
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S9
British Columbia and Yukon
- Vancouver
1148 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C3 - Whitehorse
300 Main Street, Suite 215
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2B5
What happens next?
If your family member is eligible for processing as a following family member, the CIC office, or the Ministère de l’immigration et des communautés culturelles (MICC) if you live in Quebec, will contact you with further instructions on the application procedures for your family members.
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