Ottawa will reduce the maximum age of dependent children of immigrants

The federal government has announced that it will be reducing the maximum age of dependent children of immigrants to Canada to 19 from the current 22. This will make an estimated 7,000 or so dependent children ineligible to come to Canada, as this is the approximate amount of dependents that come to Canada annually over the age of 19.  

The change was found in a seven-page guideline of a Canadian immigration plan, and the change will be effective starting January 1st next year.

“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,” says the new guideline on the immigration change.

Age important factor in economic outcome of immigrants: Guideline

“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, age at immigration becomes the most important factors in determining the economic outcomes of immigrants,” continues the guideline.

Currently, dependent children who are even older than 22 but need their parents financial support and are attending school full-time are exempt from the age restrictions, but this will be removed.

One of the main worries about this change is that people who have waited years to become permanent residents while contributing to Canada and the economy during that time will have missed out because by the time they are eligible to sponsor their children as dependents to come to Canada, the children are over 19.