Ottawa To Change Immigration Age Limit Of Dependent Children To Under 19

18 May 2013

Age at immigration is key to newcomers’ economic outcomes, Ottawa says

Older children of immigrants will be prevented from joining their parents and siblings in Canada under a new federal government plan to restrict the definition of "dependent child."

The change, which takes effect Jan. 1, will narrow the definition of a dependent child to someone younger than 19, rather than the current 22, and remove an exception for older children who study full time. The new rules could make roughly 7,000 immigrants a year ineligible to come to Canada.

According to an outline of the plan obtained by the Star, the changes reflect the government's immigration goals: to fuel economic prosperity, transition to a fast and flexible economic immigration system and target those with the skills to meet labour needs.

"The earlier in life immigrants arrive, the more their educational experience will resemble that of their Canadian-born counterparts and the easier it will be to learn an official language and adapt to Canadian cultural traits and social norms," it says.

Under the current immigration law, one's child is considered a dependent if they are under 22 and remain single. Exemptions are given to those over 22 if they depend on the parents' financial support and have attended school continuously as full-time students.

According to 2012 government statistics, dependents under the age of 19 made up 90 per cent, or 64,757, of all sponsored children to Canada, while those 19 or over made up just 10 per cent, or 7,237.

The change will ultimately apply to live-in caregivers and refugees. For these groups, the process of qualifying for permanent resident status in Canada varies and can take years; by then, their children may miss the age cut-off.

A seven-page outline of the plan says Canada's economic stability has remained fragile.

"Age at immigration frequently determines where a person receives his or her education. With the difficulties in determining a foreign credential's value in Canada and evidence that the return on Canadian education is much higher," it says, "age at immigration becomes the most important factors in determining the economic outcomes of immigrants."

Instead, immigration officials suggested these older children could come here separately as international students, who normally must pay double or triple the tuitions than domestic students. Upon their graduation, officials said, they could try to apply for immigration on their own.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada said it is time-consuming to process applications of older children.

"The verification of attendance and enrolment is both labour intensive and vulnerable to fraud," wrote Caroline Riverin Beaulieu, assistant director of CIC's social policy and programs.

The proposal also cited a survey result that found 54 per cent of the general public supported a proposal that would limit sponsorship to principal applicants and their spouses only, with 34 per cent disagreed.

There will be transitional provisions in place for immigration applicants already in the process. However, those who file an immigration application after January 1 will be bound by the new rules.

Source: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2878280-ottawa-to-change-immigration-age-limit-of-dependant-children-to-under-19/