The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently announced a significant update to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for the year 2023. This update brings changes to the sponsorship process for family reunification in Canada.
Starting on October 10th, IRCC will initiate the process by sending invitations to apply to a total of 24,200 potential sponsors who have expressed their interest in the program. However, the primary goal is to receive a maximum of 15,000 complete applications from this group.
In an effort to streamline the process and address the existing pool of submissions from 2020, the invitations will be extended to randomly selected potential sponsors from this pool, rather than opening a new interest-to-sponsor form.
For those who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 but did not receive an invitation to apply in 2021 or 2022, it is recommended to check the email account provided during the initial submission in 2020. This could be an opportunity to finally progress in the sponsorship process.
If you are one of the fortunate individuals invited to apply as part of the 2023 intake, IRCC will continue to use the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal, allowing for the convenient electronic submission of applications.
Immigration Levels Plan
The IRCC follows a structured Immigration Levels Plan each year to guide its operations and set targets for welcoming newcomers to Canada. In 2023, Canada aims to welcome a total of 465,000 new permanent residents, with a specific goal of reuniting 28,500 parents and grandparents with their families.
Looking ahead to 2025, Canada has an even more ambitious target of 500,000 newcomers, including 36,000 parents and grandparents.
The Super Visa
The Super Visa remains a highly popular option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to bring their foreign-born parents and grandparents to Canada. This temporary visa category offers several advantages, making it an attractive choice for family reunification.
Super Visa holders are granted the privilege of visiting their families in Canada for an extended period, up to five consecutive years, without the need for renewing their visitor status. Moreover, they have the flexibility to enter Canada multiple times within a ten-year period. Those who are already Super Visa holders may also be eligible to apply for an extension, allowing them to stay in Canada for up to seven years as visitors.
One notable benefit of the Super Visa is that it operates year-round and does not involve a lottery system. This makes it a reliable and predictable option for individuals seeking to sponsor their parents or grandparents.
To be eligible for the Super Visa, applicants must meet specific criteria, including being a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, demonstrating admissibility to Canada based on criminal and health grounds, meeting the income requirements set by the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), providing a letter of invitation from their child or grandchild with a promise of financial support and household details, and having adequate medical insurance coverage for at least one year with a Canadian insurance provider.