Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have recently announced in a program that the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) candidates will be selected using a randomized process that is similar to winning a lottery draw.
PGP is a boon for citizens and permanent residents of Canada who are provided this opportunity to reunite with their loved ones and support them in their old age. Parents and grandparents who are sponsored can attain all the PR benefits and have full access to healthcare services and have the ability to work.
PGP also has various benefits for Canadian society. Research suggests that most sponsored parents and grandparents work and earn after immigrating to Canada and add it to their family income. This indirectly boosts Canada’s economy. Parents and grandparents also provide attention and care to children in the family, which allows other young members in the family to put in more work hours and pursue economic opportunities without worrying about their children’s safety and wellbeing.
In the 2020 PGP intake, Canada has decided there will only be one round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The last date to submit the interest to sponsor forms was on 3rd November. Sponsorship applications submitted in the fall will be randomized and reviewed by IRCC, and the ITAs will be sent in early 2021.
For the 2020 intake of PGP, 10,000 invitations to apply will be issued, and in 2021, 30,000 invitations to apply will be issued. Candidates who applied for 2020 PGP intake but did not receive the ITA will be considered as the candidate in the subsequent 2021 PGP draw.
No specific date has been provided by the IRCC about the PGP intake scheduled in 2021.
To sponsor their parents or grandparents, Future sponsors will need to upload a copy of their status in Canada along with their form. The immigration department will invite people to apply for the PGP if they fulfill the required criteria to be eligible and have submitted the interest to sponsor form during the allotted intake period.
Eligibility criteria for Sponsors in the Parents and Grandparents Program 2020:
Candidates must be:
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians under the Canadian Indian Act.
- At least 18 years old.
- Living in Canada.
- Exceeding the minimum income.
- Committed to offering Sponsored Family Members Financial Assistance for 20 years, to repay any social assistance paid to the sponsored family members for 20 years and if the sponsor lives in Quebec, they must sign an additional commitment with Quebec.
Future sponsors will have up to 60 days from the date when they receive the invitation to apply a letter to submit their sponsorship application and permanent residence application.
The invitation to apply cannot be transferrable to other potential sponsors or applicants.
IRCC will print the email and mail it to the sponsor’s mailing address if they are unable to send it via email to the sponsor or the applicant.
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