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April 26, 2017 – Just one in 10 sponsors who expressed an interest in Canada immigration’s Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program will get the chance to submit a full application.
More than 95,000 sponsors entered the draw, from which 10,000 were chosen at random to apply to bring their relations into the country.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has emailed the 10,000 successful candidates, who now have 90 days to submit a full Canada immigration application. The 85,000 who were unsuccessful have also been notified.
The lottery system for parents sponsorship and grandparents sponsorship was introduced for the first time in 2017. Previously it was operated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested sponsors had to fill out an online form between January 3, 2017 and February 2, 2017 to enter the draw.
Specific Sponsor Requirements for Parent and Grandparent Program
- Demonstrate, for a period of 3 consecutive years prior to sponsorship, income greater than the minimum published by IRCC.
- Sign an undertaking to financially support the parent or grandparent, and reimburse the government for any social assistance paid out to the relative, for a period of 20 years from the date of permanent residence.
Note: Further general requirements also apply
“This year we introduced a new application intake process for the Parent and Grandparent Program,” an IRCC statement said.
“We did this to improve people’s access to the application process by making it more fair and transparent.”
Under the old system, applicants ended up paying large sums to courier companies to ensure their documents were received in the first 10,000.
Critics of the new system say it means they could never get the chance to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada.
Sponsors also felt IRCC was too late in announcing the new system. It was announced in December 2016, when many had already spent money on preparing applications and booking courier services.
The size of the application backlog and the annual immigration plan are two key factors the IRCC takes into account when deciding how many PGP applications it will accept.
The application number was double from 5,000 to 10,000 in 2016, when the backlog had shrunk to 41,500, from 167,007 in 2011.
Source: IRCC
IRCC estimates that 10,000 applicants will represent 17,000 people, given more than one parent or grandparent can be included by a sponsor.
Under the 2017 Canada immigration levels plan, 20,000 of the 84,000 family sponsorship places are allocated to parents and grandparents. The overall target is 300,000 new permanent residents.
This plan is designed to contribute to Canada’s economic growth and to support diverse, vibrant and dynamic communities,” the IRCC said.
“To develop the immigration levels plan, we consult with provinces and territories and talk with stakeholders and the general public.
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“In addition, we consider things like our ability to process applications, program demand, and Canada’s ability to help support newcomers once they arrive.
“A key objective of the 2017 immigration levels plan is to reunite families more quickly.”
By placing limits on application numbers, IRCC hopes to avoid allowing the backlog to grow and keep processing times as low as possible.
Those who were unsuccessful can apply again in 2018, with the lottery system expected to continue.
“We will continue to uphold the government’s commitment to family reunification in the fairest way possible,” the IRCC said.
Parents and grandparents also have the option of applying for a super visa to enter Canada, valid for 10 years and allowing them to stay for up to two years at a time.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
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