Canada Will Re-Open Parents and Grandparents Program This Fall

Canada plans to reopen the Parents and Grandparents Program, aiming to accept 15,000 applications, with an 'Interest to Sponsor' form and random invitations.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced its intent to reunite families by accepting up to 15,000 complete applications for parents and grandparents sponsorship 2022 under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in this year and the coming year.

How does the Parents and Grandparents Program work?

Step 1: Submission of sponsoring parents and grandparents

To commence the parents and grandparents sponsorship 2022 process, eligible individuals must submit an "Interest to Sponsor" form.
This form is typically made available once a year. For instance, the last submission window was open from October 13 to November 3, 2020.

Step 2: Review and Invitation

Once the online form submission period concludes, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) thoroughly reviews all submissions, ensuring the elimination of any duplicate entries.
The selection process for potential sponsors is entirely random. Those selected receive invitations to proceed with the sponsorship application.
These invitations are dispatched via email, and the status of invitations is also posted on the official IRCC website.
Notably, in the PGP 2022 Canada, the selection of potential sponsors will be conducted from the remaining pool of interest-to-sponsor forms submitted in 2020.

Step 3: Application Submission

Upon receiving an invitation to apply, potential sponsors must submit their application package within the stipulated deadline as indicated in their invitation.
It is crucial to refrain from preparing the application package until an official invitation to apply has been received. This ensures that the most current forms and requirements are utilized.

How to be eligible for the PGP Canada?

You are eligible to do a parents and grandparents sponsorship 2022 if:

You receive an invitation to apply.
You are a minimum of 18 years old.
You currently reside in Canada.
You hold the status of a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or you are registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
You possess the financial means to support the individuals you intend to sponsor. (Demonstrating your financial capability requires providing proof of your income. Optionally, you may choose to have a spouse or common-law partner co-sign the application to combine your incomes.)
You and your parents and grandparents meet all additional requirements stipulated under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

What will happen for PGP Canada 2023 this fall?

Starting October 10, 2023, IRCC will send out PGP Canada invitations to apply to a total of 24,200 interested potential sponsors, with the goal of receiving up to 15,000 complete PGP Canada applications.

These invitations will be disseminated over a span of two weeks, ensuring ample opportunity for potential sponsors to engage with the program.

IRCC will be sending invitations to apply to randomly selected potential sponsors from that PGP Canada pool instead of initiating a new interest-to-sponsor form.

This approach mirrors the methodology employed for the 2021 and 2022 intakes. For individuals who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 but have yet to receive an invitation to apply in the subsequent years, IRCC encourages them to check their provided email accounts from 2020 for updates and further instructions.

The process will remain streamlined and user-friendly for applicants who receive an invitation to apply as part of the PGP 2023 Canada intake. They will continue to utilize the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal to electronically submit their applications.

In 2022, there were approximately 155,313 applicants in the pool. Excluding 23,100 from the previous year’s invitations, this time, 24,200 applicants will be selected from the pool of 132,213.

The invitation rate will be ~18%, an improvement but still low.

At this rate, it will take the Canadian government four years or more to invite everyone into the pool while hundreds of thousands more newcomers cannot get into the pool.

For people who are not invited this year:

There is an alternative option for those who wish to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada.

They may consider having their parents or grandparents apply for a super visa, parent grandparent super visa is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years.

The recent enhancements to the super visa now allow holders to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time, with the option to extend their visit by up to 2 years at a time without leaving the country.

These changes are aimed at facilitating easier and more extended reunions between Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their parents and grandparents in Canada.

For people seeking a comprehensive overview of previous application intakes:

The recently published intake report on the IRCC website, titled "The Parents and Grandparents Program: Intake Report 2014 to 2019," provides valuable insights. Additionally, a more recent intake report covering the 2020 to 2022 application intakes is slated for publication by the end of the year.

The Parents and Grandparents Program reopening this fall signals Canada's commitment to reuniting families and facilitating the immigration process for loved ones.

We encourage all interested individuals to stay updated with the IRCC and take advantage of the available opportunities to bring their families closer together.

Start your Parent Grandparent Super Visa application today

TeamSuperVisas Scribe