October 17, 2023
Parents and Grandparents Program to Re-Open This Year
On 8 September 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) which allows eligible permanent residents and citizens of Canada to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence, would be re-opening this fall.[1] The plan is for IRCC to accept up to 15,000 complete applications in 2023, and will issue 24,200 invitations to sponsors beginning 10 October 2023.[2] Unfortunately, IRCC has informed they will not be opening a new interest to sponsor form and will be sending invitations to the sponsors remaining in the pool from the last time the form was open in 2020.[3] IRCC has also updated the instructions for the 2023 intake, found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents/apply.html
While disappointing, IRCC reminds that the Super Visa for parents and grandparents continues to remain an option for those hoping to reunite with their parents and grandparents but are either not invited to apply or have not had the opportunity to submit an interest to sponsor form.[4] As discussed in an earlier blog post, changes have been made to the Super Visa program, which now allow holders to stay for up to five years at a time, and renew their stay for up to two years at a time.[5]
Though a good sign that more individuals will be invited to submit applications under the PGP program, it is bittersweet as new sponsors hoping to enter the pool remain left out. One can only hope that perhaps IRCC will take the opportunity to revamp the PGP program in excluding any new interest to sponsor forms, though this will remain to be seen.
If you are interested in discussing options for reuniting with your parents or grandparents in Canada, feel free to book a consultation with our office.