Immigration Debt Definition: Involves Travel Expense, Medical Costs, or Other Immigration Related Expenses

Question: What is an immigration debt in Canada, and can it stop me from sponsoring a family member?

Answer: An immigration debt is money you owe the Government of Canada for immigration-related costs advanced on your behalf, such as transportation loans, medical expenses, or other government assistance that must be repaid, and an outstanding balance can make you ineligible to sponsor certain family members until it’s paid.   Lippa Legal Services is an Ontario paralegal service that can help you understand how an immigration debt may affect your sponsorship plans and what practical steps you can take to resolve it.

Immigration Debt Definition

The term immigration debt typically refers to money that is owed to the Canadian government due to various immigration-related expenses that were previously incurred by an immigrant to Canada.  An immigration debt can include costs such as transportation loans for travel to Canada, medical costs that were paid on behalf of the immigrant, or any other financial assistance provided by the government that must be repaid.  A person with an outstanding immigration debt may be unable to act as an immigration sponsor for a family member.  A person with an immigration debt may also be directly impacted.