Canada has announced it will accept an additional 30,000 applications under the 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program.
The additional allocation, announced by Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino on Tuesday, July 17, means a record of up to 40,000 applications will be accepted this year when added to the 10,000 already received.
New invitations to apply will be issued over two weeks from September 20, 2021, to those who have previously submitted interest to sponsor forms.
“The importance of family has never been clearer than during the pandemic,” Mendicino said.
“That is why we are delivering on our commitment to help more families reunite in Canada.
“By strengthening the Parents and Grandparents Program, inviting a record number of sponsors to apply, and by adjusting our requirements to adapt to the current times, we are once again proving our commitment to helping Canadian families stay together, and thrive together.”
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In a further move to ease the process under the 2021 program, the income requirement will continue to be the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30 percent. Employment Insurance benefits and COVID-19 benefits can count towards the sponsor’s income.
“This measure will ensure that applicants are not penalized for losing income during the pandemic,” an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) statement said.
Those invited to apply have 60 days to complete a full application, through the IRCC’s new Permanent Resident Digital Intake tool.
Potential sponsors should check their email from September 20 to see if they have received an invitation. They will also be able to check online.
Selected potential sponsors will have their income assessed for tax years 2020, 2019 and 2018. This is the same as those who applied as part of the 2020 intake.
Anyone wishing to sponsor a parent or grandparent under the PGP must meet the following criteria:
- be at least 18 years old;
- live in Canada;
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or be a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, and;
- have enough money to support the people you want to sponsor.
Parents and Grandparents Super Visa
Those not lucky enough to receive an invitation should consider the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa, which allows a parent or grandparent to visit Canada for up to two years at a time. A super visa allows multiple entries for up to 10 years.
The application for Parents and Grandparents Super Visa is made to a visa office outside of Canada and must meet certain criteria.
Firstly, the applicant must be eligible for a regular visitor visa. This means that besides being in good health and having a valid travel document, the applicant must satisfy a Canadian immigration official that they will willingly leave the country at the end of their authorized stay, that they have sufficient ties to their home country such as a job, family or property, and that they have sufficient funds available to support themselves for the length of their stay.
Additionally, the individual applicant must:
- show that they are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- obtain medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is valid for at least one year, providing a minimum coverage of $100,000 for health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and;
- undergo a medical examination.
The applicant’s family member in Canada must:
- demonstrate that they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- provide the applicant with a letter of invitation. This is a letter that provides information about the applicant’s planned visit, about the child or grandchild’s occupation and the economic situation in Canada. Most importantly, this letter must include a written and signed promise of financial support for the applicant for the duration of their visit, and;
- demonstrate their income is above a predetermined minimum level.
