There are numerous ways that family-class immigration applicants can experience a material change in circumstances after submitting their application to IRCC. For instance, the sponsor’s financial situation might change, or there might be a new birth in the family. In such situations, IRCC has specific procedures for how sponsors, as well as applicants, must address different changes in their circumstances after the initial application is submitted. Here’s when to notify IRCC of family class application changes.   

New Family Member Added To The Application

The process for adding a family member to an existing application depends on their relationship with the sponsor. 

  • Dependent Child Of The Sponsor 

Sponsors do not need to undergo another minimum income assessment to add another dependent child. However, sponsors must ensure that they remember to pay any newly applicable fees, like application processing, and that the newly added family passes any necessary medical and/ or background checks. 

Note: The MNI assesses whether a sponsor possesses the necessary funds to support the family members they bring to Canada. 

  • Newborn Child

Family class applicants who have a newborn child ‘after they have been issued a permanent resident (PR) visa but before they officially become a Canadian permanent resident have different instructions.’

In this case, the applicant can add their child to the sponsorship application when the applicable processing fee for the newborn is paid. At the same time, the applicant should ensure they have a medical examination conducted on their child as part of adding them to the application. 

Change In Principal Applicant  

Changing the principal applicant of a sponsorship application for a parent or grandparent, a dependent spouse, or a dependent common-law partner is only possible. 

This isn’t something that happens often. However, if a principal applicant dies after an application is submitted, the applicant then needs to be changed. 

In such a case, IRCC permits the surviving spouse or partner to be processed as a new applicant. They assume that the new applicant is a ‘family member’ such as a parent or grandparent of the sponsor. 

In addition, the sponsor’s stepparents or step-grandparents might also be eligible, though IRCC may grant an exemption based on an assessment of humanitarian and compassionate grounds. 

What Happens Next 

Upon determining that the sponsor is eligible to change the principal applicant on their sponsorship application, IRCC will contact the sponsor to send an updated version of two kinds: 

  • Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement, and Undertaking   
  • Generic Application Form for Canada

No extra fees need to be paid alongside this change in circumstances. 

Changes In Sponsor’s Circumstances 

When to notify IRCC of family class application changes? Well, when there are changes in the sponsor’s circumstances. 

IRCC might decide to pause the issuance of PR visas to family members on a sponsor’s application. This will be when they believe the sponsor’s ability to meet any of their sponsorship requirements needs reassessment. 

If IRCC finds new information suggesting that the sponsor no longer meets the income test, the sponsor’s income might be re-evaluated. 

The sponsor will then submit ‘additional documents’ to prove that their financial situation enables them to act as a sponsor. 

In addition, the evidence related to the sponsor’s income should cover 12 months. This implies that it must ‘precede the date that the officer receives the new information.’    

It will further be used to assess if the sponsor’s change in circumstances is material to the via decision. 

IRCC clarifies that it will only issue permanent resident visas to family members of the family class if a sponsorship undertaking is still in effect after the assessment. 

Changes In Relationship StatusFor Spouses, Common-Law Partners, and Conjugal Partners 

Another thing as to when to notify IRCC of family class application changes is when there are changes in relationships.

Applicants and sponsors that change their relationship status while their application is being processed under another family class relationship category. This includes transitioning from common-law partners to spouses after marriage. 

These applications do not necessarily require reassessment. However, before their application is finalized, sponsors and their applicants are required to inform IRCC of this status change. This is because IRCC must continue to be satisfied that the relationship between a sponsor and an applicant is genuine. Also, it must meet Canada’s legal requirements.  

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