On May 21, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada started sending out invitations for the Parents and Grandparents Program. IRCC will send out 35,700 invitations in two weeks. The Canadian Government hopes to approve at least 20,500 complete applications for permanent residents.
Moreover, an Invitation to Apply will be sent to sponsors who have already submitted Interest to Sponsor forms. The visa application is only accepted when the IRCC mails eligible persons to invite them to submit applications. After the IRCC sends invitations, the applicant must submit the completed application before the deadline given in the invitation letter.
IRCC has set some eligibility criteria for the Parents and Grandparents Program. To be eligible to receive the Invitation for Parents and Grandparents Program, the sponsor needs to submit an Interest to Sponsor form on IRCC's official website.
Eligibility requires that the inviter be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The person must also be a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act and could apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program.
The person applying for an invitation to PGP must have crossed 18 years or older than this. The potential applicants must prove that the interested sponsor is staying in Canada.
The inviter must meet the minimum income threshold for this Parents and Grandparents Program. In the case of a married couple or a typical law relationship, the income of both partners must be submitted with proof to IRCC.
The financially sponsored applicants in Quebec need to sign undertakings for at least 10 years. In case of permanent residence, it will extend to 20 years. The applicants have 20 years to repay the social benefits to the sponsored family member. If the sponsor is also staying in Quebec, the undertaking needs to be signed by the Quebec province.
The entire process started with receiving an invitation from IRCC. Then, the sponsor will reply within the deadline and will need to pay $1205 CAD as an application fee.
Regarding the sponsor not receiving any invitation mail, IRCC will offer alternative ways to get their parents and grandparents to join them. Canadians citizens and permanent residents can apply for a Super Visa. A temporary resident visa, a Canadian Super Visa is a pathway specifically for parents and grandparents.
People with super visas can also apply for two-year visa extensions and stay for seven years at a time. Super visas are a great pathway that can be applied for throughout the year and invite family members to Canada. IRCC has no limitations on this visa application process.
For more details, contact Kansas Overseas.