Canada to delay parents and grandparents 2020 immigration lottery

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is delaying its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2020 immigration lottery until early 2021.

The lottery was planned to take place by the end of this month, but a number of factors including the global coronavirus pandemic will cause a delay.

IRCC opened the PGP 2020 expression of interest window to potential sponsors between October 13 and November 3, 2020.

During this period, Canadian citizens and permanent residents could fill out a form to notify IRCC of their desire to sponsor their parents or grandparents to immigrate to Canada.

Afterwards, IRCC was to hold a randomized lottery inviting up to 10,000 sponsors to submit their PGP applications.

As currently noted on IRCC's website, the department was expecting to hold the lottery by the end of the year: "sponsors will be invited to apply near the end of the year so we expect to get applications in early 2021 (likely January and February)."

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IRCC explains reasons for the delay

In an emailed response to CIC News, IRCC explained a number of factors are cause for the delay in holding the lottery:

We’re currently working through this year’s submissions to remove duplicates and we will further generate a randomized list and will begin to send out invitations to apply. Because the program opened later than usual this year, and due to ongoing circumstances beyond our control such as the global pandemic, potential sponsors will be invited to apply early in 2021. We are updating our website to reflect this.

What to expect from the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2021

Next year is set to be a major one for the PGP. After the PGP 2020 lottery takes place, invited sponsors will have up to 60 days to submit their applications to IRCC.

IRCC has already announced the PGP 2021 window will be triple the size of this year's version.

IRCC will open a new expression of interest window, and then invite up to 30,000 sponsors under next year's program.

Beyond the PGP, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can use the Super Visa Program to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada on renewable visas that are valid for up to 10 years.

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