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CIC News / 2016 / October / Parent and Grandparent Program for Immigration to Canada to Reopen in January with new Income Requirements

Parent and Grandparent Program for Immigration to Canada to Reopen in January with new Income Requirements

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family-pgpProgram intake expected to fill within days, benefiting applicants who prepare in advance

Government aims to reduce processing times significantly

Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) is scheduled to reopen on January 3, 2017, when up to 10,000 new applications will be received. This extraordinarily popular immigration program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada as Canadian permanent residents.

The government of Canada has stated that the Family Class category of immigration, of which the PGP is a part, will become a more prominent category over the coming years. As such, the PGP intake cap for 2017 is double what was initially announced for the 2016 intake, and double the total number of applications that were accepted for both the 2015 and 2014 intakes.

Demand expected to outweigh supply

In spite of this new commitment to accept more parents and grandparents, it is nonetheless expected that the number sponsors who wish to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents will be greater than the number of spaces available. Consequently, the intake cap may be reached rapidly, perhaps within days, as it was in January, 2016.

That January, 2016 PGP intake demonstrates the ongoing popularity of the program. That particular intake opened on January 4, 2016, before the cap of 5,000 new applications was reached by January 7. More than 14,000 applications were submitted between January 4 and January 7, of which the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) retained the first 10,000 complete applications for processing. Just a few weeks later, IRCC announced that the 2017 intake would receive up to 10,000 new applications.

It should be noted that the PGP operates on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, applicants who have prepared and perfected their application in advance of the opening date and have their application submitted as quickly as possible are in the best position to have their parents and/or grandparents accepted as new permanent residents of Canada.

New income requirements

Canadian citizens and permanent residents looking to sponsor a parent or grandparent are required to prove certain minimum income thresholds in order to be able to become an eligible sponsor. These minimum income requirements have been revised, and potential sponsors are encouraged to review the latest minimum income requirements.

PGP eligibility criteria

Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents applying under this program will receive Canadian permanent resident status, and may eventually apply for Canadian citizenship after fulfilling residency obligations. The sponsor in Canada must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • Be 18 years of age or older;
  • Exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program by submitting notices of assessment issued by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) in support of their sponsorship. Sponsors must also demonstrate they have met the minimum necessary income level for three consecutive years. If married or in a common-law relationship, the income of both persons can be included;
  • The sponsor and the sponsored relative must sign a sponsorship agreement that commits the sponsor to provide financial support for the sponsored person if necessary. This agreement also states that the person becoming a permanent resident will make every effort to support themselves. Dependent children under age 19 do not have to sign this agreement. Quebec residents must sign an “undertaking” with the province of Quebec—a contract binding the sponsorship; and
  • The sponsor must provide financial support for the relative and any other eligible relatives accompanying them for a period of three to ten years, depending on their age and relationship to the sponsor. This time period begins on the date they become a permanent resident.

Sponsors in Quebec

The government of Quebec is responsible for determining whether or not sponsors living in the province have the financial ability to sponsor family members and also the length of their undertaking. If you are a potential sponsor residing in Quebec, please contact a legal expert about the exact requirements and processes required of sponsors residing in Quebec.

Super Visa

Apart from the PGP, another option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents hoping to bring their parents and/or grandparents to Canada is the Super Visa. This visa is not a program for permanent residence, but allows parents and grandparents to come to Canada as long-term visitors. Successful applicants receive multiple-entry visitor visas that are valid for up to 10 years, where visa holders may stay in Canada for up to two years on initial entry to Canada.

To find out if you or your family members are eligible for the Parent and Grandparent Program based on the eligibility criteria for the most recent application cycle, please fill out a free online assessment today.

© 2016 CICnews All Rights Reserved

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Comments

  1. Hi,
    I hope those of us who applied via the old entry process for FSWP,before express entry, will be attended to. It’s been over a year since we applied and it’s still being processed. I thought it would have been faster since the process has been changed.

  2. Thanks for keeping us upto date, but till today there is no mention as to to when the old rule of three years out of four year will come into affect ? We are anxiously waiting for the promise made by our elected government to be implemented ASAP. Long live Liberals. Keep it up

  3. My grand mother( my fathers aunt)is Canadian Citizen for many years.Whether She can sponsor me to get PR in Canada. I am doing course in Humber College . I am on student permit studying in Canada from Sept.2015. having student permit till31 July 2017.
    My aunt is retired employee of Bank of Nova Scotia. she is leaving alone. Having high five digit income.She is 78 yrs of age.widow.

  4. Thank you for updating. How about promised changing of the rule from 4 in 6 years to 3 in 4 years stay for qualifying for Canadian citizenship/ Passport. Early decision will facilitate the sponsored to timely wind up their financial interests in home countries and plan the investments here; which is also very much in the interest of Liberal’s Government .Sooner the better for all.

  5. Thank you for updating. How about promised changing of the rule from 4 in 6 years to 3 in 4 years stay for qualifying for Canadian citizenship/ Passport. Early decision will facilitate the sponsored to timely wind up their financial interests in home countries and plan the investments here; which is also very much in the interest of Liberal’s Government .Sooner the better for all.

  6. What is minimum Income requirement to sponsor Single person (Parents ) in Saskatchewan

  7. I would like to know if a family member in Calgary, Canada with permanent residency can apply for siblings living outside Canada.

  8. i want to come Canada,please help me

  9. I wish they would consider more young European immigrant let to come to Canada! A lot of well trained, smart, intelligent young people try to enter the country , but they got denied ! They would be great for the future of Canada!

  10. Hello, its very nice to get information upto date, my daughter is on study base i applied visitor visa in this september month but its rejected. i m single parent n want to see my daughter. now when i can apply again

  11. Its good news indeed particularly for people like me,who have children and grand children in Canada all with citizenship status.Each time I apply for visa I am granted V1 multiple entry with maximum stay for Six months.The validity of visa is 10 year but still we have to exit after 6 months.,the new programme provide me an opportunity to have my visa status changed to immigrant.

  12. Hi, thanks for the updates..
    I am married with a son. We wish to relocate to Canada especially Quebec. Since they speak French language and I wish my son and wife can pick of from there. What are the steps and procedures to follow. Thanks

  13. Income category is only differs if you live in Quebec, otherwise it’s standard throughout other provinces.

  14. It s that i need to join my family : visiteur but the responsible said that i must have a work with a high salary, or a own house : i have’nt, i haven’t cnss : assurance.
    So, i ‘m a bachelor, no childten, but i like to visit my family i need my family in age of 58 and my family need my visit.
    Please, give your advice to succeding my visa to canada.
    Thanks,

  15. Can a brother sponsor his real sister for permanent residency?

  16. great so a bunch of old people will immagrate being a burden on the social system using their old age secuirty checks and clamin cpp to pay for their kids mortagage great!!! so now the canadian born have to take care of burdensome old people and the people who bring them will gain a huge advantage. so how is this fair to the guy like in vancouver making 20/hr?

  17. Grandmother cannot sponsor her grandchild

    Finish your program, get post graduate work permit, depending in which province you study, check the pnp program and get pr:-)

  18. Dear sir/madam,

    My brother an indian , now he is a citizen of canada and well settled with his family, can he sponsore his siblings & families??

    Thanks & regards,
    Regina.

  19. I want to come Canada with my family please help me.

  20. Hi, my name is Sripaul Dass, I’m worKing in canadian high commission so i would like to be work in Canada and live in Canada, Canada is my one of favorite country. Thank you

  21. I want to to live in Canada to work I want to help my family, it’s poor I ask you to help I speak from my heart Please answer me Yes or no

  22. Dear Sir,

    I would love to be an immigrant in canada. please kindly co operate for futher proccedure.

    I look forward hearing from you soon.

    thanks with regards

    md faisal chowdhury

  23. Please how about getting visa that is free to study and work in Canada

  24. Sponsor parents or grandparents, the sponsor must demonstrate a minimum income.
    Sponsor spouse and dependent children of the spouse, do sponsor need to prove income?
    Thank you.

  25. Can newly landed immigrants provide proof of income for last 3 years based upon foreign tax returns? Or do they have to wait for 3 years before sponsoring parents?

  26. Hi

    My name is fatma from kenya looking for a job in Canada and I will appreciate if you give me that opportunity to work to Canada. Canada is my favorite country that I love. Thank you
    Regard
    Fatma

  27. Dear madam/ ser

    Hello
    I am laleh.and my husband is hossein.ourboy is 23 years.and he is a student at suskachvan university.and we are retired.how we can come to Canada.
    please answer me
    sincerely you:Laleh
    Thank you.
    So he in Agust 2016 com here.

  28. Canada is a great country i wish i could be given a job to look after my family

  29. Hi,
    My parents are both 70 years above. Can I sponsor them for immigration to Canada?

    Cheers
    S

  30. can parents (of a Canadian PR) who came on supervisa program eligible to apply for a permanent residence status while in Canada?

  31. I am 75 years old, wearing a pacemaker and take medications to regular my heartbeat
    Am I eligible for a grandparents PR? I like to be united with my family three Canadian citizensMarion

  32. I am 75 years old wearing a pacemaker and take medications to regulate my heart beat
    Am I eligable for a PR visa under Grandparents Visa. Daughter in law, two native Canadian grandchildren and USA citize son in Canada
    Thank you I was not able to find the answer of this medical condition otherwise Ivam healthy and regular have my pacemaker checked every 6 month.
    Thank you kindly
    Marion Mehrtash

  33. hi,can i apply for my grandmother

  34. I have applied for PR under PGP Category in Jan 16. My file was accepted and in July 16 I have got email to submit medical results and PCC. I have submitted it in same month. ie July 16.
    Thereafter I have no news about my file.
    On line status shows Application in Process , Medical Results Received.
    Is there anybody in same boat from India ? Please comment..

    Ramesh Patel

  35. I have a question regarding my mother’s situation here in canada.. I already applied her extension of stay as visitor status. My relative and i invited her. How could i help my mother to stay here with us, all her family are here in canada and she cannot live alone to go back home in philippines. How could i help my mother? I am still not required to sponsor because of my salary. . My mother is 72 yrs old.