If you are planning on sponsoring a parent or grandparent to join the family in Canada you should meet with your migration agent as soon as possible to get the process started. Canada’s grandparent visa program has really taken off and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have seen a significant interest in this visa.
The Canadian immigration department began sending out invitations in the first round of the visa application process earlier this week. The program, which opened in January, allows Canadian citizens to reunite their family by indicating their willingness to sponsor a parent or grandparent to live in Canada, on a temporary long-term basis.
As recently as 19 March Canada’s immigration department announced this year’s first round that potential sponsors have been selected at random and have 60 days (from the date of invitation) to submit a complete application.
Last year, IRCC introduced new procedures for the Parents and Grandparents Program, or PGP, including a first step that requires Canadian citizens and permanent residents to submit an Interest to Sponsor form.
Family reunification a top immigration priority says Canada
IRCC said it introduced the randomized selection process and Interest to Sponsor form to the PGP sponsorship program to fast-track the application process and reduce costs incurred by applicants with the previous first-come, first-served paper-based application process.
Last year, IRCC also doubled the intake cap for the PGP from 5,000 to 10,000 in order to help more Canadian citizens and permanent residents bring their loved ones to Canada.
Canada is notoriously sticky about paperwork and as the new process favours complete applications it would definitely be in your best interest. It also means that applicants who have submitted an Interest to Sponsor form in the latest round could still be invited to apply if those currently invited don’t apply or submit complete applications.
“The annual 10,000 application intake limit ensures that new applicants have the chance to apply, while the levels plan for parents and grandparents ensures enough are processed each year so that processing times are reasonable and the backlog is further reduced,” IRCC stated.