Canadian Immigration Options for Parents & Grandparents
The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) is an initiative of the Canadian government that provides a chance for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residency. It generally operates on a lottery basis through an annual draw.
The eligibility requirements for the PGP includes:
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada.
- The sponsor must meet certain income requirements to demonstrate they can support their parent or grandparent financially.
- The sponsored parent or grandparent must undergo medical examinations and meet certain health requirements.
- The sponsor must sign an undertaking agreeing to support their parent or grandparent for a period of 20 years after they arrive in Canada.
As of March 2023, the application process for the PGP sponsorship program is still closed. The last time the program was open was in 2020, when the government accepted a limited number of applications. The cap for the program changes from year to year, and it is determined by the government based on the available resources and priorities. For example, in the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the cap on applications were set at 17,000, 20,000 and 10,000, respectively.
In terms of the latest immigration news and next draw, the Canadian government has not yet announced when the program will open for new applications or what the cap will be. It is expected that the program will open at some point in 2023, but the timing and details have not been confirmed.
Some people have expressed concern about the fairness of the program, particularly in comparison to the government’s efforts to help refugees. However, it’s important to note that the Canadian government has committed to supporting both family reunification and refugee resettlement as important aspects of its immigration policy. The two programs are separate and have different objectives, but both are important in their own right.
It is worth noting that the Canadian government periodically reviews and updates its immigration policies and programs, including the PGP sponsorship program. While the program is currently closed to new applications, it’s possible that the government may make changes to the program in the future or open it up for new applications.
As the sponsorship program is currently on hold, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are not currently in Canada can still apply for a visitor visa to come to Canada for a temporary visit. However, it’s important to note that a visitor visa does not allow a person to live and work in Canada permanently, and does not lead to permanent residency.
In addition to applying for a visitor visa, parents and grandparents may also consider applying for temporary immigration to Canada under the Super Visa program. The Super Visa authorizes PGPs to stay for up to five years in Canada and enables them up to ten years of multiple entries. To be eligible for the Super Visa, the applicant must meet the minimum necessary income threshold set by IRCC for the number of people living in their household, including themselves. The applicant shall apply for medical insurance coverage of $100,000 for at least one year from the date of entry to cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation expenses. The PGP must be admissible to Canada and pass a medical examination too. Finally, the individual sponsoring, whether is a Canadian or permanent resident child or grandchild, must provide a letter of invitation and demonstrate that they can financially support their parent or grandparent for their period of stay in Canada.
It’s important to note that the Super Visa is NOT a pathway to permanent residency in Canada. It is a temporary resident visa that allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit, with the option to apply for extensions. The visa allows parents and grandparents to visit their family in Canada multiple times over a 10-year period. Processing times for the Super Visa vary depending on the applicant’s country of residence and other factors, but it can take several months. Applicants for the Super Visa must submit a complete application package, including all required documentation, and pay the application fee of $100 per applicant.
In certain circumstances, elderly parents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are in good health but who lack the ability to care for themselves and have no one to look after them in their native country, they can apply for a Humanitarian and Compassionate consideration to move to Canada. Immigration Canada may allow this exception to overcome the effects of family separation and challenges in the country where the parents reside. It may be the only way to bring a parent to Canada permanently.
PGPs of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may want to stay informed about any updates or changes to the program by checking the IRCC website or consulting with Al Dar Immigration Services. We invite you to schedule a consultation with us to learn more about these immigration streams.
Website: https://www.aldar.ca
Email: info@aldar.ca
Phone #: +1 807-356-1731
