Canada's Parent and Grandparent Program Reopens for 2018

Updated: Jan 03, 2018 | Tags: Canada Immigration, Canada Visa, Canada Entry Requirements

Introduction

In Canada, the Family Class immigration program allows the country's citizens, and those who are permanently living in Canada, to sponsor their parents or grandparents to enter the country. This is part of the Parent and Grandparent Program, which will open again on January 2, 2018. This Canada immigration program is accepting submissions up to February 1, 2018.

Aiming to make parents and grandparents official and permanent Canadian residents, the Program brings many benefits, including the right to work in the country without any restrictions. Successful applicants will receive access to public health care and will benefit from other services. In the long run, parents and grandparents who are accepted onto the scheme could become official citizens of the country.

Eligibility to join the program

In 2018, an estimated 20,000 permanent residents will be accepted into the country as part of the Canadian government's immigration plan under the Parent and Grandparent Program. These numbers could include those who applied before 2018.

As with any Canada immigration program, there are certain eligibility requirements. A sponsor under the Program must be a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. They must also comply with income standards in order to support those they will be sponsoring. Both the sponsor and sponsored parties will have to sign a sponsorship agreement. This will show the sponsor's commitment to financially support those they are sponsoring, as well as any eligible relatives who come with them. The timeframe for an agreement to run is 3 to 20 years. The sponsor's age is a factor in determining the duration, as well as the relationship between the sponsor and those being sponsored. Furthermore, those who become permanent residents must endeavor to support themselves once in the country.

Quebec residents will have to sign an ‘undertaking’, which is a binding contract for sponsorship. Also, Quebec sponsors will have to meet the province's sponsorship requirements and be endorsed as sponsors by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Strict acceptance criteria

There are fairly strict requirements to be accepted onto the program, including minimum income levels. This rule stipulates that sponsors must have a minimum level of income for the three years leading up to their sponsorship application. Therefore, sponsors applying during 2018 must have proof of their income for the 2015-2017 period and this must be certified by the Canada Revenue Agency.

The 2018 application process is very similar to that of previous years and will be based on expression of interest and invitations to apply. The system requires sponsors who are eligible to apply only if they have received a prior invitation. This is a change compared to previous years when the program operated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Much interest in the program is expected

It's expected that interest to sponsor will exceed the maximum intake level for the program and that web form submissions will mushroom, leading to potential sponsors having their applications declined. Compounding the problem is the fact that, in 2017, the IRCC invited a batch of potential sponsors to apply for 2018. These people had expressed an interest but hadn't completed the application process.

Typically, sponsors must provide standard information, including their full name, date of birth, place of birth, and home address. Those running the scheme admit that applying to sponsor a parent or grandparent can be complicated and that consequently consultations with experienced, regulated Canada immigration consultants are strongly advised.

Other options are available

There is another option for those wishing to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada if they're unable to submit an official application to be a sponsor - they can apply under the Super Visa program. Under this scheme, individuals may be granted the right to stay in Canada for up to two years when initially coming into the country. Super Visas are valid for as long as ten years, which means that anyone who has one could come back to Canada as long as their Canada visa is still valid.

It's important to remember that the Super Visa isn't a permanent residence program. Like the Canada ETA program, it's a temporary solution, granting access to the country under specific conditions. Those applying for the Super Visa must obtain private health insurance and, like the Canada ETA and standard visa programs, there are restrictions to working in Canada without the right authorization to do so.

However, processing times for Canada visa applications are relatively fast, enabling families to be reunited in the country more quickly than if applying under the Parent and Grandparent Program. Another benefit is that applicants don't have to wait for an invitation to apply for an ETA or a visa and can submit an application when they're ready to do so.