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

Question: What is an immigration debt in Canada, and how can it affect my ability to sponsor a family member?

Answer: In Canada, an immigration debt is money owed to the federal government for immigration-related costs advanced on your behalf, such as transportation loans, certain medical expenses, or other repayable assistance, and unpaid debt can prevent you from sponsoring a family member until it’s repaid.  For help understanding how this may impact your situation and options, Paladin LLP provides Ontario paralegal services to review your documents, explain practical next steps, and help you respond appropriately to government requests.

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.