IRCC has not finalized any date to reopen applications for Parents and Grandparents programs for 2022.
As per the new Immigration plan 2022-2024, IRCC targets 25,000 immigrants this year via the PGP program and seeks a hike for the next two years up to 28,500 in 2023 and 32,000 in 2024.
If we look into the past before covid scenario, IRCC generally reveals the date for Parents and Grandparents programs application around the month of January each year. However, after the pandemic, the IRCC department releases the details for PGP 2020 and 2021 during the autumn season.
The figures of past PGP program suggests that Parents and Grandparents programs have been the most popular immigration program for Canada.
For instance, IRCC received nearly 200,000 applications for the PGP program from Canadian citizens during the autumn season of the year 2020, and the desire to sponsor parents and Grandparents under the PGP program was seen in the forms of expression of interest by the Canadian PRs.
In recent years, the individuals showing interest in the PGP were much more than the seats available for immigration under this program. Thus the candidates for PGP were selected by the IRCC by lottery.
After selecting the sponsors via lottery, IRCC sends invitations to them to submit their applications.
Eligibility criteria for sponsors to apply under the PGP program:
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or PR or an Indian registered under Canadian Indian Act.
- The sponsor must be an adult of at least 18 years.
- He/ she must be living in Canada.
- He must qualify for MNI level ( minimum necessary income ) for the PGP program.
Co-signing the applications is possible for married and common-law partners as they can utilize the advantage that they can combine their incomes together during the application process. Combining incomes can help to overcome the MNI level. The sponsors have to submit the earnings proof to the IRCC department.
- The sponsor has to sign a legal document stating that he will financially support the one he is sponsoring for up to 20 years.
Apart from the PGP program, sponsors can apply for a super visa- says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC ).
Parents and grandparents can initially use the super visa to visit Canada as visitors for two years. After that, they can renew the super visa several times within the tenure of 10 years.
Applying for a super visa is easy as applications for a super visa are accepted by IRCC the whole year. Also, there is no quota for any country for a super visa.
Those citizens who are planning to bring their parents and Grandparents to the country shortly can utilize the super visa option.
Once receiving super visas for Parents and Grandparents, sponsors can still be eligible for the PGP program to get Canadian PR
