Canada has announced it will issue invitations to apply to 23,100 potential sponsors for the Parents and Grandparents Program for 2022.
Invitations will go out over the next two weeks, after which Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expect to receive 15,000 invitations.
The invitations will be sent to randomly selected candidates who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020. This will be the third batch of invitations sent to these candidates, after January and September 2021.
“Family reunification is an essential part of Canada’s immigration system,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“Building on recently announced enhancements to the parents and grandparents super visa, opening a Parents and Grandparents Program sponsorship intake and accepting up to 15,000 applications in 2022 demonstrates the government’s commitment to reuniting families while strengthening Canada’s immigration system.”
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Candidates are advised to check the email address they used on their interest to sponsor form over the next two weeks.
The sponsors and their parents and grandparents then have 60 days to submit a full application, to be done electronically.
IRCC says it will continue to use a lower income threshold for the PGP, first introduced during the pandemic for those experiencing financial difficulties.
For the 2020 and 2021 tax years, the income requirement for sponsors will be the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30 per cent.
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Employment Insurance benefits and temporary COVID-19 benefits (such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit) will be allowed to be included towards the sponsor’s income.
Under the current Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is hoping to bring in 25,000 parents and grandparents this year and then raise the target to 28,500 new permanent residents next year.
But IRCC data for the first seven months of this year reveals Canada is likely going to welcome 29,091 new permanent residents – or more than targeted for either this year or 2023.
That projection is based on the current trend which has seen 16,970 new permanent residents to Canada under that program in the first seven months of this year and continuing throughout the rest of 2022.
Parents and Grandparents Super Visa
Candidates who are not lucky enough to be invited this year should consider the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa.
The multiple-entry visa is valid for up to 10 years and, as of July 2022, the length of stay for Super Visa holders increased to five years, with the option to request an additional two years while in Canada.
Under a regular multiple-entry visit visa, that period is usually six months or less.
The child or grandchild of the candidate in Canada must meet minimum income requirements to support the visa holder.
IRCC say it issues about 17,000 Super Visas per year.