Reduction of Dependent Child Age Limit and Age Lock-In Framework

Policy effect

Amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to reduce the maximum age of a dependent child from under 22 to under 19 years old, removed the general full-time student exception for older dependents (limiting older dependent coverage strictly to individuals unable to be financially self-supporting due to physical or mental conditions), and instituted formal regulatory lock-in dates for age determination across multi-step immigration categories. Phase scope: Nationwide for new applications submitted on or after August 1, 2014

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to reduce the maximum age of a dependent child from under 22 to under 19 years old, removed the general full-time student exception for older dependents (limiting older dependent coverage strictly to individuals unable to be financially self-supporting due to physical or mental conditions), and instituted formal regulatory lock-in dates for age determination across multi-step immigration categories.; Phase scope: Nationwide for new applications submitted on or after August 1, 2014

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… to be laid before each House of Parliament; Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, pursuant to subsection 14(2) (see footnote c), section 32 (see footnote d) and subsection 89(1) (see footnote e) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (see footnote f), makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. REGULATIONS AMENDING THE IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION REGULATIONS AMENDMENTS 1. Paragraph (b) of the definition “dependent child” in section 2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (see footnote 1) is replaced by the following: (b) is in one of the following situations of dependency, namely, (i) is less than 19 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner, or (ii) is 19 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 19 and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition. 2. The Regulations are amended by adding the following after section 25: General rule — one-step process 25.1 (1) For the purposes of determining whether … on August 1, 2014. REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT (This statement is not part of the Regulations.) Issues Dependent children of selected immigrants are admitted on the basis of their relationship to the principal applicant in all immigration classes (economic, family, and refugee/humanitarian). As well, dependent children may be sponsored in the family class. Dependent children represent 30% of the overall immigrants admitted annually to Canada. Statistics demonstrate that older dependent children (those who arrive between the ages of 19 and 21) have lower economic outcomes over the long …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Canada changes operative in 2014

• 2014-01-02Parents and grandparents sponsorship intake resumed with a 5,000-application cap
• 2014-02-06Order Fixing February 6, 2014 as the Day on which Sections 170 and 171 of the Act Come into Force
• 2014-02-06Restructuring and Fee Revision of Temporary Resident Visa and Temporary Permit Applications
• 2014-05-01Federal Skilled Worker Class application intake cap and stream criteria established (MI11)
• 2014-06-01Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
• 2014-06-19Automatic removal stay restored for a bounded group of refugee claimants denied an appeal
• 2014-06-19Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 1
• 2014-06-20Performing-artist work-permit exemption extended to bars and restaurants
• 2014-08-01Order Fixing August 1, 2014 as the Day on which Certain Provisions of the Act Come into Force
• 2014-08-01Regulations Amending the Citizenship Regulations
• 2014-10-24Streamlined Departure Orders for Cessation of Refugee Protection
• 2014-11-22Start-up Business Class education requirement removed
• 2014-11-30Caregiver Program Reform and Establishment of Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs Classes