The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is gearing up to reopen this month, with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) preparing to extend invitations to potential sponsors.
According to a recent announcement from the department, commencing May 21st, 2024, IRCC will be issuing 35,700 invitations with the aim of approving 20,500 complete applications.
Sponsor Your Parents and Grandparents for Canadian Immigration
Who is Eligible for the Next Round of the PGP?
IRCC has outlined its plan to invite candidates from the 2020 intake of the PGP. This indicates that individuals receiving invitations in the upcoming round would have submitted their profiles in 2020. Remarkably, this marks the fourth consecutive year where the PGP solely considers profiles submitted in 2020.
Under the PGP system, applicants will be selected randomly through a lottery system. Invitations will be dispatched to sponsors via the email provided on their interest to sponsor form. Sponsors are advised to monitor their emails starting May 21st, with all invitations expected to be sent out within approximately two weeks from this date.
What is the Process to Obtain Permanent Residence through the PGP?
To secure permanent residence (PR) through the PGP, applicants must:
Ensure they meet all relevant eligibility criteria (including sponsorship eligibility, residing in Canada, signing an undertaking, meeting minimum necessary income levels, etc.);
Complete an interest to sponsor form on IRCC’s website. For eligibility in the 2024 round, applicants should not have received an invitation to apply (ITA) in 2021, 2022, or 2023;
Once the PGP lottery reopens, monitor the email provided on the interest to sponsor form for an invitation—both on the day of reopening and throughout the subsequent two-week period;
Upon receiving an ITA, sponsors must submit their application via the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Residence Portal (if utilizing an authorized representative) by the deadline stipulated in the invitation email.
About the PGP
The PGP enables Canadian citizens or permanent residents (who meet specified eligibility criteria) to sponsor their parents or grandparents for Canadian PR. This program is a vital component of IRCC’s family reunification efforts, which constitute a core aspect of the department’s mission. Parents and grandparents arriving in Canada through this program are granted PR upon their arrival.
Among other requirements, sponsors must sign an undertaking, committing to provide for their parents and grandparents while in Canada, for a duration of 20 years. Sponsors applying from Quebec will need to sign an undertaking for 10 years.
The PGP operates on a lottery basis for inviting applicants and opens for application intake (and issuance of invitations) once annually.
What if You Are Not Selected?
In parallel to the PGP, IRCC offers the Super Visa pathway. This option allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for an extended visitor visa to visit Canada (as opposed to PR under the PGP). Approved applicants under this program can stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the option to extend their stay for an additional two years. Applicants can reapply for the super visa once their status expires.
Unlike the PGP, IRCC administers the Super Visa program throughout the year, allowing sponsors to apply at any time. The department aims to process all complete Super Visa applications within 112 days from receipt, achieving a 67% processing rate between 2022-2023.
To find out more about the PGP, visit our dedicated webpage here.
To learn more about the Super Visa, visit our dedicated webpage here. www.flyworldindia.com
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