I think switching
is allowed:
(i) is related to a person present and settled in the United Kingdom in one of the following ways:
(a) mother or grandmother who is a widow aged 65 years or over ;...
Yes
...and
(ii) is joining or accompanying a person who is present and settled in the United Kingdom or who is on the same occasion being admitted for settlement; and
Yes, assuming you are settled here
(iii) is financially wholly or mainly dependent on the relative present and settled in the United Kingdom ; and
This bit you need to prove
(iv) can, and will, be accommodated adequately, together with any dependants, without recourse to public funds, in accommodation which the sponsor owns or occupies exclusively; and
And this bit
(iva) can, and will, be maintained adequately, together with any dependants, without recourse to public funds; and
And this bit
(v) has no other close relatives in his own country to whom he could turn for financial support You need to explain why she can't turn to your brother in Canada; and
(vi) if seeking leave to enter, holds a valid United Kingdom entry clearance for entry in this capacity. Not relevant if she applies in-country before her current leave expires
You said you had been supporting your mother since January, when your father died. Has this purely been because she was staying with you in the UK?
Where was your mother living at the time your father died? If she was in India, what was her immigration status there? IF your mother had to go to Canada, can arrangement
I think one of the most difficult things is to show that your mother has no other means of support at all (if that is indeed the case): it's difficult to prove a negative!
I think if your mother literally has nowhere to return to in Canada (i.e. no accommodation arranged etc. and no one who is willing or able to provide it) AND if she has no immigration status in India and no right to live there or expectation of support, then may well be worthwhile making a SET(F) application for her to stay here as your dependant before her current visa expires, and then dealing with evidential issues and a possible appeal etc. if that becomes necessary.
Although I appreciate that no having full receipts or bank evidence now might make you think yuo can't fulfil the criteria, the requirement is that she actually is dependant on you, not that you can produce evidence of that fact. What I mean to say is that even if the only evidence you can provide right now is statements from you and your mother, you may be able to show more formal evidence at some future date that confirms what the position was at the application date.
You will need to sign a declaration of sponsorship, and provide a detailed description of your mother's circumstances. Does she have any money of her own at all? How much and in what form? At what point did she become dependant upon you alone? All things you will need to think about...
Check out Section 6 of Chapter 8 of the relevant guidance:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... schapter8/
That's why I suggested that his mother submit the SET(F) application in time even if he doesn't think he has enough evidence yet.