The Parents & Grandparents program will reopen this month as IRCC prepares to send out invitations to potential sponsors.
The department confirmed via a declaration that beginning May 1, 2024, it will send out over 35,700 invitations with the hope of approving 20,500 complete applications.
Who Is Eligible For The Next Round Of PGP?
The Parents & Grandparents program will reopen this month. IRCC has declared its intention to invite applicants from the 2020 intake of the PGP. This implies that the individuals obtaining invitations in the upcoming round will have submitted their applications in 2020. This will be the fourth year in a row that the PGP will consider applications submitted in 2020.
In addition, under the PGP system, applicants will be invited at random. These invitations will be delivered to sponsors through the email provided on their interest to sponsor form. Sponsors are advised to check their emails beginning May 21, with all invitations being delivered within roughly two weeks of this date.
What Is The Process To Obtain Permanent Residence Through The PGP?
In order to obtain permanent residence via the PGP, candidates should:
- Ensure they meet all relevant eligibility criteria.
- Complete an interest to sponsor form on IRCC’s website. In order to be eligible for the 2024 round, applicants shouldn’t have obtained an ITA in 2021, 2022, or 2023.
- Check the email provided on the interest to sponsor form for an invitation – on the day of reopening & for the subsequent two-week period after the lottery restarts.
- Once an ITA has been received, sponsors must submit their application through the permanent residence portal or representative residence portal by the deadline stated within the invitation mail.
Once an application is submitted, IRCC will aim to process it within 112 days. Between 2022 and 23, the department processed 67% of applications to this standard.
About The PGP
The PGP enables Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for Canadian PR. The program is a part of IRCC’s family reunification initiatives, which form a key pillar of the department’s mission. Parents or grandparents who arrive in Canada through the program obtain PR upon landing in Canada.
Among other steps, sponsors must sign an undertaking saying that they will provide for their parents & grandparents while in Canada for 20 years. Sponsors applying from Quebec will need to sign an undertaking for ten years.
What If You Are Not Selected?
The Parents & Grandparents program will reopen this month. Similar to the PGP, IRCC also runs the Super-Visa pathway. Moreover, this pathway allows Canadian citizens & permanent residents to sponsor their parents & grandparents to come & visit Canada on an extended visitor visa. Approved applicants under the program can stay for two years. Applicants are also able to apply for their super-visa again after their status expires.
Unlike the PGP, IRCC runs the Super Visa program throughout the year, with sponsors able to apply year-round. In addition, Super Visa applications have the same service standard as PGP, with IRCC aiming to process all complete applications within 112 days from receipt.