{"id":2605,"date":"2026-11-13T23:45:50","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T23:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/one-year-window-refugee-family\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T23:45:50","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T23:45:50","slug":"one-year-window-refugee-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/one-year-window-refugee-family\/","title":{"rendered":"One-year window: bringing your family after you become a protected person"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 13, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 13, 2026: IRPR ss. 141 and 176 and IRCC’s protected persons instructions checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

The rule:<\/strong> family members you listed can come to Canada without a separate sponsorship, if they apply within one year.<\/p>\n

When the year runs:<\/strong> protected persons in Canada: from the day you become a PR (IRPR s. 176(2)). Resettled refugees: from the day protection was conferred (s. 141).<\/p>\n

The catch:<\/strong> family must have been declared on your application. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Our immigration lawyers<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
\n

Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

The “one-year window” lets the spouse, partner and dependent children of a refugee or protected person join them in Canada without a separate family sponsorship, as long as they were declared and they apply within one year. For protected persons who claimed refugee status inside Canada, the year starts on the day you become a permanent resident (IRPR s. 176(2)). For refugees resettled from abroad, it starts on the day refugee protection was conferred (IRPR s. 141).<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, brings families of protected persons and refugees to Canada, from the first PR application to the one-year window and sponsorship; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

Two one-year rules<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The one-year window<\/caption>\n
Who you are<\/th>\nThe year starts<\/th>\nRule<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Protected person who claimed inside Canada<\/td>\nThe day you become a permanent resident<\/td>\nIRPR s. 176(2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Refugee resettled from abroad<\/td>\nThe day refugee protection was conferred<\/td>\nIRPR s. 141<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Who counts as family<\/h2>\n