The following is an excerpt from Canada Countdown, How to Immigrate to Canada - A Guide Book.

While some people make the immigration journey alone, most immigrants want to bring their loved ones with them, whether immediately or later on after they’ve settled in.

As a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, you can sponsor certain family members to join you in Canada, whether they are spouses or children, parents, grandparents or adopted children, and whether they are outside or inside of Canada.

If you are presently considering immigrating to Canada, but have not started the application process yet, you should know that it may be easier to bring your family with you as dependants under your own application, rather than have them reunite with you later.

When you apply for permanent residence under other classes like Federal Skilled Worker or the Self-employed classes, you can bring your spouse or partner and children with you when you immigrate. 

However, if you decide to immigrate alone, but plan to bring your immediate family over later under the Family Class category, make sure to mention them on your application.

This is very important, as failure to do so may result in their being ineligible for a Family Class visa later, and you could find yourself permanently separated from your loved ones if you choose to stay in Canada.

If you are already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and are planning to sponsor, for example, a new spouse that you met and married overseas, you need to brace yourself, because you are looking at a wait period of between six and 18 months, and sometimes longer, depending on several factors.

If you are more than 18 years of age, you can apply to sponsor your spouse or partner and dependent children to join you in Canada. Sponsorship is a major, long-term commitment that cannot be taken back after the permanent residence visa is issued to your sponsored family member.

Before you start the application process, you need to be aware of the responsibilities that await you as a future sponsor.

Canada Countdown is written by Nick Noorani and Catherine Sas QC. It is available for download online from www.canadacountdown.ca.