After the closing of the online Interest to Sponsor form on February 1, action was returned on March 19, 2018, as selected potential sponsor submissions were notified of their confirmation numbers, posted on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
On March 19, 2018 sponsors were randomly selected to bring their parents/ grandparents to Canada. More draws are expected shortly.
Reuniting Canadian citizens with their parents and grandparents has become more possible and achievable with the improved Parents and Grandparents Program. The new selection process will be used for the year of 2018, where all potential sponsors have equal access to the application process—no more submitting applications by courier and mail on a first come, first served basis. Potential sponsors will be better informed about their applications to ensure they, only, are included in the annual allotment of PGP applications.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is striving to receive up to 10, 000 complete parent and grandparent sponsorship applications this year. To achieve this, the department has implemented improvements, such as including the shortening of the 90-day period, needed to submit sponsorship applications, to just 60 days. Actions as this, has positively impacted results, reducing more than 80% of the inventory of parents and grandparents’ applications.
Parents and grandparents can also keep in mind the application for Super Visa, allowing for up to a two-year stay in Canada, compared to the six-month stay allowed in a regular visa.
Citation: The Honourable Ahmed Hussen Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. (2018). Parents and Grandparents Program. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada/ Immigration Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada.
