Application Guide For The Family Members Category
Application Guide For The Family Members Category
Application Guide For The Family Members Category
This Application Guide outlines the requirements for the Family Members
Category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). It includes
all the instructions necessary for preparing your application. To find out if you
are likely to qualify for the program, read this guide carefully before applying.
Saskatchewan selects the applicants who best meet the requirements of the
SINP. Decisions about applications are final.
Government of Saskatchewan
Immigration Branch
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
7th Floor – 1945 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan CANADA S4P 2C8
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I. What is the SINP?
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an immigration
program that the province administers. It operates under an agreement with the
federal government. This program can provide a quicker means of entry into
Canada; it allows Saskatchewan to nominate applicants to the federal
government for landed immigrant status. The SINP offers:
The SINP created the Family Members Category for immigrant families living in
Saskatchewan who want to help their family members live and work in the
province. Supporting family members must provide settlement assistance to
applicants and their dependents, which may include financial support.
CIC considers your application after they receive the nomination certificate
from the SINP.
CIC does health, security and criminal reviews, and then issues visas to
you and your family members.
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In addition to Health, Criminality and Security checks, Citizenship and Immigration
Canada may request any additional information that it deems appropriate at any time
during the application process. This may include asking Saskatchewan Immigrant
Nominee Program (SINP) nominees to submit International Language Testing System
test results.
You may not be eligible for immigration to Canada if any of the following
situations is true:
You or any dependent family member (accompanying or not) over the age
of 18 has a criminal record
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II. Eligibility Requirements
Principal Applicant – A family member who is not living in Canada and wants to
come to Saskatchewan to live and work. The principal applicant (you or your
spouse) is the person who has a better chance of meeting the selection criteria
for the SINP Family Members Category.
If you have family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
living in Saskatchewan for at least one year including:
Spouses or common-law partners are not eligible to apply under the SINP Family
Members Category. They need to apply under the Citizenship and Immigration
(CIC) Family Class.
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Eligibility
2. Have a signed affidavit of support (SINP 500-22) from one or more family
members in Saskatchewan.
6. Have the English language ability either to do the job you have been
offered by a Saskatchewan employer or to get a job in your field of
education or training. Your English language ability must be verified by
one of the following:
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Who Can Be a Supporting Family Member in Saskatchewan?
Eligibility
5. If providing settlement funds for you, show they have had possession of
the funds for at least three months
When you apply to the SINP Family Members Category, you must indicate if your
supporting family member (or your supporting family member’s spouse) is
already supporting other applicants to the SINP.
Under the SINP Family Members Category, your supporting family member
will receive all written correspondence from the SINP to you. Your
supporting family member is therefore responsible for making sure that
you receive all information concerning your application.
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III. The Application Process
How to Apply
Step 1: Print off the application package for the Family Members Category,
the provincial forms, the required federal forms and any other
federal forms that apply to your situation.
Step 2: Read the Application Guide for both the applicant and supporting
family member l and the instructions for completing the application
carefully.
Step 4: Have your supporting family member provide you with all the
applicable forms and supporting documents. See the Guide for
Supporting Family Members in Saskatchewan for more information.
Step 5: Complete the required provincial and federal forms and any other
forms that apply to your situation.
Step 8: Mail the original SINP forms, photocopies of the federal forms, and
supporting documents to:
If you have any questions at any time during this process, contact our office for
assistance:
Telephone: (Canada 001) 306-798-7467
Facsimile: (Canada 001) 306-798-0713
Email: immigration@gov.sk.ca
Website: www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca
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Who is Included with Your Application?
You must list all dependents on your application to the SINP Family Members
Category whether or not they are coming to Canada with you. Accompanying
dependents include:
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Dependent family members that are not included in your application cannot be
nominated for permanent residence as part of your SINP application at a later
date.
If you wish to have dependent family members join you in Canada later, you will
need to make a separate application to the Government of Canada Family
Sponsorship Program or another immigration category. That application will have
to be approved before your dependent family members will be allowed to join
you.
Please note: if you are the main applicant, your parents, brothers and sisters may
not be included in the SINP application. If you become a permanent resident of
Canada, live in Saskatchewan for at least one year, and can prove you have
been self-supporting for at least six months, you may be eligible to support these
family members through the SINP Family Member Category at that time.
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What Happens to Your Application Package?
Once your application package arrives at our office, an immigration officer will
review it to see if it meets the eligibility criteria for the SINP Family Members
Category.
You will be contacted by letter, fax, or electronic mail (e-mail) with the
results. The SINP may ask for additional clarification or documentation. If
further documents are required, the Immigration Officer will inform you of
the time you have to submit the documents.
If you are accepted for immigration under the SINP Family Members
Category, the SINP will nominate you to the federal government for landed
immigrant status.
If the SINP decides that you are not eligible for immigration to the province, you
may apply again at a later date if your situation changes and you meet the
requirements.
3. If you meet all the requirements, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will
issue permanent residence visas for you and your dependents.
4. If you receive a certificate of nomination and you have a job offer from a
Saskatchewan Employer, you may be eligible to apply for a Temporary
Work Permit. If you are eligible, the SINP will include instructions on
applying for a Temporary Work Permit with your nomination package.
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Correspondence between the SINP and the Applicant and
Information about Using a Representative
Under the SINP Family Members Category, your supporting family member in
Saskatchewan will receive all written correspondence from the SINP. Your
supporting family member is responsible for making sure that you receive all
information concerning your application, including applications where a
representative has been appointed.
Immigration Representatives
An application that does not include a duly signed Code of Conduct for
Representatives and Applicant Declaration Form will be returned.
All applicants must complete and submit an original copy of the Code of Conduct for
Representatives and Applicant Declaration Form.
If you are using a representative you must also complete IMM-5476: Use of a
Representative and submit it with your application.
You must complete and sign Section C of the Code of Conduct for Representatives and
Applicant Declaration Form to declare whether or not you are appointing a
representative to act on your behalf with the SINP and whether or not you obtained
assistance from anyone in completing the application form. If you have appointed a
representative, he/she must also complete and sign Section B of the form.
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It is against the law to give false or misleading information to the Government of
Saskatchewan or any of its officials. If you have a representative and do not disclose
the name of your representative to the SINP, your application may be refused. A
representative who advises an applicant to provide false or misleading information is
also breaking the law. The SINP reserves the right not to recognize or communicate with
a representative who has violated the terms of the Code of Conduct.
You may only appoint one paid or unpaid representative to conduct business on your
behalf with the SINP at any time. If you wish to cancel the appointment of your
representative at anytime, you must communicate this in writing to the SINP by letter, fax
or email. If you wish to appoint another representative, you and your new representative
must submit a new Code of Conduct for Representatives and Applicant Declaration
Form.
The SINP does not serve as a mediator in disputes between you and your
representative. All matters of dispute are to be addressed by the professional
association to which your representative belongs, i.e. CSIC or a Law Society in Canada,
if applicable. You must be aware that representatives who are not members of a
professional association (CSIC or a Law Society in Canada) are not regulated. This
means that they may not have sufficient knowledge or training and you cannot seek help
from the professional bodies if that person provides you with the wrong advice or
behaves in an unprofessional way.
Designated Individuals
In addition to your paid or unpaid representative, you may choose to let someone else
have access to information about the application. For example, if you hire a lawyer to
assist with the application, you may also want a family member to have access to
information about the application.
If you wish to have personal information released to someone who is not your
representative, you must complete the form IMM-5475: Authority to Release Personal
Information to a Designated Individual and submit it with your application to the SINP.
Designated individuals will not receive any written communication from the SINP, but
they can receive verbal information about the application by calling (001 for Canada)
306-798-2209.
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General Guidelines for Completing the Forms
All Federal forms must be photocopies only (do not submit original
signatures).
Print clearly with a pen or fill out the forms on your computer and print
them out.
Attach a separate sheet of paper if you need more space and indicate the
number of the question you are answering.
Answer all questions. If you leave any sections blank, your application
will be returned to you. This means that processing will be delayed.
If any sections do not apply to you, answer with “N/A” (“not applicable”).
For example, on Schedule 1: Background/Declaration, question 14 is
about past military service. If you have never served in the military,
answer this question with “N/A”.
Translators can be any person other than your family member or spouse.
Translators must not work for or be a paid consultant or representative
who is preparing the application. You must also supply an affidavit from
the translator describing their translation ability. Some Canadian
immigration visa offices may require that the translator is certified by a
regulatory body as a translator. It is the responsibility of the applicant to
ensure that translations meet all federal requirements.
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IV. Supporting Documents
Supporting documents are the documents required for your immigration
application (e.g. documents that prove your identity, work experience, language
ability, finances, etc.).
All documents must be clear and easy to read photocopies of the original
documents. When documents are not in English, you must submit all of the
following:
Marriage certificate
Death certificate of former spouse (if applicable)
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Custody and child support documents (if applicable)
If you have dependent children, you must include the following documents that
apply to your situation:
Adoption papers
Proof of continuous full-time studies for all dependent children aged 22 or
older (e.g. letter(s) from the school(s) signed by a school official
confirming continued enrollment since before turning 22 years of age)
If you have dependent children, accompanying or not, and the child’s other
parent is not accompanying you to Canada you must include one of the following:
A letter from the other parent stating that they are aware of your intention
to immigrate to Canada (with or without the child/children) and that there
are no outstanding custody or child support issues
Proof of custody for the child/children under the age of majority and proof
that you have legal authority to remove the child/children from your home
country (if applicable).
2. Passports
The expiry date on passports should be two years or more from the date of your
SINP application. You will need to include photocopies of pages in your passport
that show the passport number, date of issue and expiry date, photo, name, date,
and place of birth for:
If you live in a country that is different than your nationality, please include a
photocopy of your visa for the country in which you currently live.
3. Education/Training Credentials
You must submit documents to verify your education. This can be one of the
following:
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4. Work Experience Credentials
You must submit a letter (or letters) of reference from previous employers or
other proof of employment to prove that you have at least one year of work
experience in your field of study and/or training. Letters of reference must be
written on the company’s official letterhead and signed by an authorized
representative of the company who is identified by name and title. Each letter
should indicate the following:
your job position and the start and end dates of employment
your main duties/responsibilities
the number of hours you worked each week if the position was not full-
time
The contact information of your supervisor or manager to assist
Saskatchewan Immigration in verifying your former employment
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All positions must offer wages and working conditions that match
Canadian standards in that occupation.
Proof of settlement funds can come from one or both of the following:
Letters from financial institutions that show the balance and history of your
account for the last three months
Bank account statements that show you have access to transferable,
liquid funds and assets that have been available for three months. Funds
can be yours, your spouse’s, your supporting family members, or a
combination of sources
7. Language Credentials
If your first language is not English, you must prove your English language ability
with one of the following:
If you or any dependent over the age of 18 have committed an offence or have
been convicted of a crime, you must provide a photocopy of a police report from
the country or countries where the offense(s) occurred and your current country
of residence. In addition to the police report, submit any proof of rehabilitation, if
applicable.
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9. Proof of Family Member(s) Living in Saskatchewan as a
Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
The SINP must be able to trace your relationship to your supporting family
member living in Saskatchewan through official documentation. This can be one
or more of the following:
You may require several documents to prove your family relationship to a current
Saskatchewan resident (e.g. if your Supporting Family Member is your first
cousin). In these circumstances, please provide a letter or family tree, in addition
to official documentation (birth certificates, etc.), that clearly outlines the
relationship between you and your supporting family member in Saskatchewan.
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V. Important Terms
The following definitions will help you to understand this application guide:
Adoption – When an adult becomes the legal parent of a child who is not the
adult’s biological child.
Adoption Papers – The documents that prove you are the legal parent of your
adopted child.
Child Support – If the parents of a child (or children) are divorced, this is the
agreement they have made about who pays for the children’s needs.
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Common-law partner – A person of the opposite or same sex with whom you
have lived in a committed relationship for at least one year. This relationship is
considered to be a marriage but is not a legal marriage.
Custody Documents – If the parents of a child (or children) are divorced, these
are the legal documents that describe the agreement the parents have made
about where the children live.
Family Tree – A drawing that shows the family connections among individuals.
It lists individuals' names, dates of birth, marriages, and deaths. Family
members are connected by lines that show marriages and family relationships.
The term “unpaid representative” does not necessarily include anyone with whom
you discuss your plans in an informal way, but it is intended to include anyone,
including a friend, family member or a representative of a charitable organization,
who provides assistance, advice, or information about the SINP, about
Saskatchewan, or about immigration to Canada in a repeated or sustained
manner.
If you have received help with your application from someone and you are not
sure whether you should consider that person to be an unpaid representative,
please ask them to complete the Code of Conduct for Representatives and
Applicant Declaration Form. This provides an opportunity for your representative
to declare that he/she has conscientiously sought to provide accurate information
and advice, and has not participated in obtaining or providing any kind of
fraudulent or counterfeit document with respect to your application.
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In-laws – Relatives by marriage (e.g. your wife’s father is your father-in-law).
Notary Public – (also called a notary) This is a public official who verifies that
documents are real and/or official. They sign on your copies that they are true
and correct, print their name and position, and if possible, affix an official stamp.
Principal Applicant – A family member who is not living in Canada and wishes
to come to Saskatchewan. The principal applicant is the person (you or your
spouse) who has a better chance of meeting the selection criteria for the SINP
Family Members Category.
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SINP Family Members Category – The SINP created the Family Members
Category for immigrant families living in Saskatchewan who want to help their
family members live and work in the province. Supporting family members must
provide settlement assistance to applicants and their dependents, which may
include financial support.
For a detailed list of family member definitions, please see Family Member
Definitions.
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Family Member Definitions
Half-brother: A brother who is the son of only one of your parents (or who has
the same mother or father as you).
Half-sister: A sister who is the daughter of only one of your parents (or who has
the same mother as father as you).
Nephew: The son of your brother or sister, or the son of your spouse’s brother or
sister.
Niece: The daughter of your brother or sister, or the daughter of your spouse’s
brother or sister.
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Parent: The father or mother of a person.
Uncle: The brother of your father or mother, or the husband of your father or
mother’s sister.
2. Step-relative of the Same Level (step means a relation not by birth but
because a parent has remarried)
Step-aunt: The step-sister of your father or mother, or the wife of your father’s or
mother’s stepbrother.
Step-brother: A male who is not your brother, but whose father or mother has
married your father or mother.
Step-father: A male who is married to your mother, but who is not your father.
Step-grandson: The step-son of your son or daughter, or the son of your step-
son or step-daughter.
Step-mother: A female who is married to your father, but who is not your mother.
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Step-niece: The step-daughter of your brother or sister, or the step-daughter of
your spouse’s brother or sister. Also, the daughter of your step-brother or step-
sister, or the daughter of your spouse’s step-brother or step-sister.
Step-sister: A female who is not your sister, but whose father or mother has
married your father or mother.
Sister-in-law: Your spouse’s sister, or your brother’s wife, or the wife of your
spouse’s brother.
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