Canada is known for valuing family reunification in its immigration system, and this fall, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is set to resume, aiming to bring families closer together. Here’s what you need to know about this heartwarming program.
What’s the Parents and Grandparents Program?
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a vital part of Canada’s immigration system. It allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents, enabling them to live and work in Canada with their loved ones. It’s all about reuniting families and creating lasting memories together.
A Promise of Reunion
Canada’s commitment to this program is evident in its record-breaking admissions under the Multi-Year Levels Plan. This year, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is all set to continue its efforts to reunite families.
15,000 Applications and More Opportunities
IRCC plans to accept up to 15,000 complete sponsorship applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program this year. Starting on October 10, 2023, they will send invitations to approximately 24,200 potential sponsors interested in applying. Their goal is to receive up to 15,000 complete applications over two weeks.
A Second Chance
For those who applied in 2020 but didn’t get an invitation to apply in 2021 or 2022, there’s hope. IRCC will randomly select potential sponsors from the 2020 submissions instead of opening a new interest-to-sponsor form. If you submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, check the email you provided then for possible invitations.
A Modern Approach
The 2023 intake will continue to use electronic applications through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal. This makes the process more efficient and aligns with Canada’s ongoing efforts to modernize its immigration system.
Super Visa: An Alternative Path
If you’re not invited this year but still want to reunite with your parents or grandparents in Canada, consider the super visa. It’s a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years. Recent enhancements allow super visa holders to stay in Canada for 5 years at a time, with the option to extend their visit by up to 2 years without leaving the country.
Stay Informed
For a detailed history of the Parents and Grandparents Program and insights into previous application intakes, you can check out the recently published intake report on the IRCC website: “The Parents and Grandparents Program: Intake Report 2014 to 2019.” Keep an eye out for the upcoming report covering the 2020 to 2022 application intakes by the end of the year. Stay connected and look forward to reuniting with your loved ones in Canada!
If you have questions or need more detailed information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our experts at JurisCorp Law.