When a family sponsorship application is refused, the sponsor in Canada is the appellant at the Immigration Appeal Division, not the applicant abroad. Sponsorship appeals rose from 2,495 filings in 2024 to 3,360 in 2025. Of all immigration appeals finalised in 2025, 1,426 of 3,935 were allowed. The IAD wait time was about six months as of December 2025.
Who actually appeals?
You do, as the sponsor. This surprises people. The applicant is abroad, the refusal letter went to them, but the right of appeal sits with the sponsor in Canada. That also means the person who instructs us and pays is usually the person reading this page.
What are sponsorship appeals usually about?
Most commonly the genuineness of the relationship, or an admissibility finding. Refusals frequently turn on inconsistencies in the evidence, gaps in the communication record, or an interview that went badly. Each calls for a different response.
Sponsorship appeals grew about 35% in a single year, which means the Division is seeing more of these than ever.
What does the Division allow?
Of all immigration appeals finalised in 2025, 1,426 of 3,935 were allowed. The wait was about six months as of December 2025, which is long enough to prepare properly and short enough that starting late hurts.
Common questions
Who appeals a refused family sponsorship, the sponsor or the applicant?
The sponsor in Canada is the appellant at the Immigration Appeal Division. The applicant abroad receives the refusal, but the right of appeal belongs to the sponsor.
How long does a sponsorship appeal take in Canada?
The Immigration Appeal Division wait time was about six months as of December 2025, though individual files vary.