3. Learn about other rules dealing with your financial situation

There are other rules about who cannot be a sponsor because of their financial situation.

Getting social assistance

You cannot be a sponsor if you’re getting social assistance, unless it’s because you have a disability. This means that you can get income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and still be a sponsor.

You will not qualify to be a sponsor if you get financial assistance from Ontario Works (OW). But your family member can ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Immigration Appeal Division to approve their application for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds.

This is difficult to do and is rarely approved. So, if you think there are strong reasons why IRCC should make an exception for your situation, try to get legal help.

Debts and financial responsibilities

You cannot be a sponsor if any of the following apply to you:

• You sponsored someone who got social assistance, including disability benefits through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), during the period of the sponsorship undertaking, unless you:
  • paid back the money they got, or
  • are paying it back based on an agreement with the Ontario government.
• You owe money to IRCC. For example, you might owe money because you:
  • got a loan from IRCC, or
  • signed a performance bond to get someone released who was detained by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
• You owe money because you have not made child support or spousal support payments that a court ordered you to make.
• You filed for bankruptcy and have not been discharged from bankruptcy.