On September 8, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced its plans to facilitate family reunions by re-opening the renowned Parents and Grandparents Program which allows citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada.
What To Expect
This year, IRCC is set to accept up to 15,000 complete applications for sponsorship under the Parents and Grandparents Program, beginning from October 10, 2023. IRCC will commence the process by sending out invitations to apply to 24,200 potential sponsors who have expressed interest in participating in this program. The aim is to receive up to 15,000 complete applications. These invitations will be dispatched over a span of two weeks, allowing ample time for eligible sponsors to respond.
To streamline operations and effectively manage the backlog of submissions from 2020, IRCC will continue the approach adopted in 2021 and 2022. Instead of opening a new interest to sponsor form, invitations to apply will be sent to randomly selected potential sponsors from the existing 2020 pool.
For those who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020 without receiving an invitation in the past two years, a reminder is issued to check the email account provided in 2020 when the interest to sponsor form was submitted.
Ensure You Don't Miss Your Invitation
Check the same email account you used on your 2020 interest to sponsor form
Check your junk mail or spam folder for an email from IRCC
If your email address has changed or you have lost your confirmation number, you will be able to use the Find Your Lost Confirmation Number page to
get the confirmation number you received when you submitted your 2020 interest to sponsor form
receive a copy of your invitation to apply letter. If you have been invited, you should inform IRCC of your
IRCC will post a link to the Find Your Lost confirmation number page on October 23, 2023 (Mark your calendars )
Who is Eligible?
You can sponsor your own parents and grandparents if they are related by blood or adoption and you are a Canadian Permanent Resident or Citizen.
If you're sponsoring divorced parents or grandparents, you need to submit separate applications. If the divorced parents or grandparents have a current spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, they can also immigrate if approved.
You can include brothers, sisters, half-siblings, or step-siblings in the application if they qualify as dependent children (under 22 years old and don’t have a spouse or partner or if they are 22 or older qualify as dependants and have depended on their parents for financial support since before they were 22 or can’t financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition )
You must meet the income requirements for all the people you want to sponsor and their dependents (spouse, partner, and dependent children).
You must have an income tax for the preceding 3 years and meet income requirements before you can be eligible to sponsor.
( This table is based on 2022 and if updated by IRCC, this will be communicated but this gives you a good guide on what to expect.)
Eligibility requirements for parents, grandparents, and their dependents:
To show they meet the eligibility requirements, your parents and grandparents and their dependants must provide
required forms and documents with their application.
may need to provide additional information during processing such as; medical exams, police certificates, and biometrics.
Not Eligible to Sponsor?
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 super visa
.
Modernizing the Application Process
Applicants invited to apply as part of the 2023 intake will enjoy the benefits of Canada's commitment to modernizing its immigration system.
The Permanent Residence Portal or Representative Permanent Residence Portal will facilitate the electronic submission of applications, simplifying and expediting the process.
I Have Received an Invitation to Sponsor! Now What?
We can help you! The first step is to book a Consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, who can assess your eligibility and help set you on the right path!