Processing Times: Family Sponsorship
This information is updated weekly (step 1) and quarterly (step 2) and shows the time it takes to process an application after we receive a complete application package.
There are two steps in processing family sponsorship applications. In order to know the total approximate time it may take for your application to be processed, ADD the time in step 1 to the time in step 2 (the two steps are consecutive).
Last update: May 1, 2013
| Type of application | Step 1 Assessment of Sponsor |
Step 2 Assessment of Person Being Sponsored (applicant) Status available online |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse, common‑law partner or dependent child | 28 days Working on applications received on April 3, 2013 |
|
| Parents and grandparents | 31-55 months (working on applications received on September 11, 2007–November 17, 2009* ) |
|
| Issuing acknowledgement letters for applications received on April 29, 2011 | ||
| Adopted children, children to be adopted, orphans and other family classes | Processed daily on a priority basis |
*Sponsors who submitted sponsorship applications to CPC-M between 11 September 2007 and February 18, 2009, should have received a letter at the end of November requesting additional forms, documents, and information required for case processing. If you did not receive such a letter and have evidence that you submitted your sponsorship application during this period (September 2007 to February 2009), please contact the Call Centre to inform them of your situation.
*Sponsors who submitted sponsorship applications to CPC-M between February 19, 2009 and November 17, 2009 should have received a letter at the end of March requesting additional forms, documents, and information required for case processing. If you did not receive such a letter and have evidence that you submitted your sponsorship application during this period (February 19, 2009 and November 17, 2009), please contact the Call Centre to inform them of your situation.
| Type of sponsorship application | Step 1 — Assessment of sponsor and person being sponsored | Step 2 — Medical, security, background checks and other verifications for person being sponsored Status available online |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse, common-law partner in Canada | 6 months Working on applications received on October 8, 2012 |
8 months |
Notes
- For sponsorship OUTSIDE of Canada
- For Step 1: If you live inside Canada and it has been longer than the time shown above since you applied, please contact the Call Centre.
- For Step 2: If you have questions about Step 2, you must contact the appropriate visa office. Call Centre agents cannot answer questions about Step 2.
- For sponsorship INSIDE of Canada
- If you live inside Canada and it has been longer than the time shown above since you applied, please contact the Call Centre.
- Call Centre agents cannot speed up the process of your application or make decisions on your case.
- The processing times are calculated in calendar days.
Top questions
- If I apply today, will the processing times show how long it will take to finalize my application?
- Why are there differences in processing times among regions and offices?
- What happens after I send in my application?
- How can I check if my application has been received?
- How can I check the status of my application?
Find more answers in the Help Centre.
Application form
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