Canada Announces New Parents and Grandparents Program Invitations

Canada Announces New Parents and Grandparents Program Invitations

In May, Canada will extend an invitation to an additional 35,700 potential sponsors through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). The invitations will be based on the pool of sponsorship applications filed in 2020.

Invitations will be sent out over a two-week period beginning May 21.

What is the Parent-Grandparent Program (PGP)?

The PGP program enables Canadians (Citizens and Permanent Residents) to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence in Canada. This program not only brings families closer together, but it also deepens the cultural and familial relationships that make up the mosaic of Canadian society. Eligible sponsors through the PGP can bring their parents or grandparents to Canada, where they can enjoy all the benefits of permanent residency, including the ability to work, access to healthcare, and the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship after fulfilling residency requirements.

To participate in PGP, sponsors must have filed their interest-to-sponsor applications in 2020. Those chosen through random draws are given the chance to submit a formal PGP sponsorship application. In essence, the PGP is a lottery-based scheme that allows you to apply only if you obtain an Invitation to Apply by random selection.

Quota for the Parent Grandparent Program in 2024?

In 2024, IRCC will invite 35,700 applications for the Parent Grandparent Program.

The federal government’s immigration levels plan now calls for the absorption of 23,500 new permanent residents per year under the PGP.

In the autumn of last year, it was declared that immigration to Canada under the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) will continue to be limited to relatives of sponsors who have already submitted interest to sponsor forms when the program re-opens next month.

“Due to the number of forms remaining in the pool of submissions from 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send invitations to apply to randomly-selected potential sponsors from that pool instead of opening a new interest to sponsor form,” notes Canadian immigration on its website.

This is the same technique used for the 2021 and 2022 intakes. If you submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020 but have not received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in 2021 or 2022, please check the email address you supplied.

It was then stated that IRCC would send out invitations to apply to 24,200 interested potential sponsors over a two-week period beginning October 10, 2023, with the goal of getting up to 15,000 complete applications.

“Those invited to apply as part of the 2023 intake will continue to use the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal, which allow applications to be submitted electronically,” states the IRCC.

“This is part of our commitment to modernize Canada’s immigration system and to speed up and simplify the application process.”

The PGP Process

The PGP runs on a lottery system, with citizens and permanent residents submitting an Interest to Sponsor form before being placed in a pool.

IRCC conducts random draws from the pool and sends out invitations to apply.

The sponsors, along with their parents and grandparents, have 60 days to submit a complete application.

Who is Eligible to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents?

Sponsors must

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Live in Canada.
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
• Have sufficient funds to support those they wish to sponsor by reaching the minimum income standards for the previous three years. Candidates may include a co-signer on their application, allowing the combined income to be evaluated.

Sponsors must also:

• Agree to financially assist the parent or grandparent for 20 years after they are accepted for permanent residence.
• Reimburse the government for any social assistance provided to the parent or grandparent during that period.

Who Can Be Sponsored Under PGP?

• Citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their own parents and grandparents, whether by blood or adoption.
• In the event of divorce or separation, the spouses or common-law partners of parents and grandparents are also eligible.
• Only dependent children, or half-brothers and sisters, of a sponsor are eligible.
• If the financial conditions are met, many individuals or couples can serve as sponsors.

Super Visas are a solution for those who have not been sent an invitation.

“Those who wish to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada, but who are not invited this year, may consider having their parents or grandparents apply for a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa, which is a multiple-entry visa that is valid for up to 10 years,” according to IRCC.

“Super visa holders can now stay in Canada for five years at a time, with the opportunity to extend their visit by up to two years without leaving the country. These reforms make it easier for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to spend more time with their parents and grandparents in Canada.

PGP immigration rose by 3.7% by the end of 2023.

According to the most recent IRCC data, PGP increased by 3.7% at the end of last year, which is less than half the rate of growth in overall immigration to Canada.

By the end of December 2023, 28,280 parents and grandparents had become permanent citizens of Canada via the family sponsorship program, up from 27,270 in 2022.

At the same period, 471,550 foreign nationals became new permanent residents in Canada, up 7.8 percent from 437,595 the previous year.

Final Thought

In order to avoid any delays, applicants should get themselves ready for a comprehensive documentation procedure, making sure that all the information they provide is correct and up to date.

Due to the complexity of the PGP’s qualifying requirements and application procedure, it can be challenging at times to take the necessary steps to ensure that all requirements are satisfied and that papers are presented in the appropriate manner.

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