Age criterion for dependent kids to increase on Canada immigration applications

From October 24, Canada immigration applications will increase the age criterion for dependent kids to include children below 22 years of age. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada had announced in May that eligible Canada immigration applications received on and after this date will be processed as per the new definition. Thus the applications may include kids of the principal applicants below 22 years. They must, however, be single or not be in a common-law-relationship, as quoted by the CIC News.

The change to the definition of dependent kid increases the maximum age to 22 from 19 as was the case earlier to 2014. The increase in age for dependent kids will not be applicable with retroactive effect. This means it is not applicable to Canada immigration applications filed before October 24, 2017, and after 1 August 2014.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said that the reason for not applying the change for earlier filed applications is to avoid the impact on ongoing processing. Applying the change to in-process applications will need to halt the finalizing of many PR applications. It will also impact the processing times of several other programs, added IRCC.

The decision to enhance the age limit for dependent kids demonstrates the reunification initiatives of the Government of Canada. It is also an impact of the current social and economic trends. These show that in the recent year's young adults are choosing to increasingly live with their parents.

Owing to the increase in the age of dependent kids, more immigrant children can live with their parents. This will be beneficial during the adjustment period of applying for immigration to Canada. They can complete their education and enter the labor market in Canada.

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