July 30, 2018 – Canada will conduct a new lottery draw for the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program, starting Tuesday, July 31.
The second draw of 2018 will be from the same sponsors who entered the lottery in January, when a 30-day window was opened.
Those who are drawn at random from the list will have 60 days to submit a full application to the program.
Sponsors drawn in the first round, which took place the week of March 19, 2018, had until May 25, 2018 to submit a completed application.
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An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announcement said invitations would be sent by email over a few days, starting July 31.
Sponsors can also check if they have been chosen on the IRCC website.
There was no announcement of how many sponsors would be drawn.
The federal government has faced stinging criticism since it changed the system to a lottery from first-come, first-served at the start of 2017.
Officials, backed by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, say the new system is fairer as everyone is considered equally.
Under the old system, candidates would pay extortionate fees to couriers to wait in line at the application centre to ensure they were part of the annual quota.
But the new system has resulted in some major unforeseen problems.
What are the Problems with the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship System?
1) Impossible to know if you will ever get selected
There were nearly 100,000 entries in the first intake period in 2017, of which 10,000 were selected.
2) Anyone can enter the lottery pool
Although IRCC added pre-lottery questions in 2018, the information is still self-declared. It is impossible to know whether those entering the pool are serious potential candidates.
3) Huge drop-off from lottery selection to complete application
Of the 10,000 candidates picked to apply in the first draw of 2017, just a few thousand submitted applications. Under the old system, the application quota would be met every year.
4) Outdated system for selecting candidates
Statisticians say the method for selecting candidates is open to manipulation.
How do you Sponsor Parents and Grandparents to Canada?
- Families fill in an initial online form expressing interest in the program to enter the lottery. This usually happens in January of each year.
- The allotted quota (10,000 for 2017 and 2018) is drawn from all those expressing an interest.
- The 10,000 drawn must submit a completed application within 90 days.
What Are the Requirements To be a Sponsor?
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You and the sponsored relative must sign a sponsorship agreement that commits you to provide financial support for your relative, if necessary. This agreement also says the person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support her or himself.
- Demonstrate, for a period of 3 consecutive years prior to sponsorship, income greater than the annual Minimum Necessary Income published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- 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.
How Many Parents and Grandparents Does Canada Plan to Accept?
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2020 |
| 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,500 | 21,000 |
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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