IRCC Begins Issuing Parents & Grandparents Program Invitations | Canada immigration Updates

IRCC plans to send out 35,700 invitations over the next two weeks, aiming to approve 20,500 complete applications for permanent residence (PR). Invitations will be sent to the email addresses provided by sponsors when they initially submitted their “Interest to Sponsor” forms.

Eligibility for 2024 PGP Invitations

To be eligible to receive an invitation under the PGP this year, sponsors must:

• Have completed an Interest to Sponsor form on IRCC's website in 2020 (without receiving an ITA in 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023);
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;
• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Be residing in Canada (proof of status will be required during the Interest to Sponsor phase);
• Exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program (if married or in a common-law relationship, the income of both the sponsor and spouse can be included) and provide proof of income to IRCC; and
• Sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored individual(s) for 20 years (10 years if in Quebec), starting when they become permanent residents. This includes repaying any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members during this period.

Steps to Take After Receiving an ITA from the PGP

Once an ITA is received, sponsors must respond with a complete application by the deadline outlined in the invitation email. Application fees, starting at $1,205 CAD, must also be paid at this stage.

IRCC advises sponsors to read the complete instruction guide and thoroughly complete the application package. A complete application must be submitted to IRCC before the deadline stated in the invitation email. Incomplete or incorrect applications, or those submitted late, can lead to complications and possible refusal.

Applications will be returned if they are:

• Incomplete;
• Missing fees;
• Submitted after the deadline stated in the ITA email;
• From applicants who did not receive an ITA; or
• Contain information that does not match the “Interest to Sponsor” form.

Applications must be submitted through the Permanent Residence portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal (if the sponsor is using the help of a representative).

Alternatives for Sponsors Not Receiving an ITA This Year

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that the immigration department will only consider PGP candidates from the 2020 intake.

However, Canada’s immigration system offers an alternative route for reuniting Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their parents and grandparents: the Super Visa.

The Super Visa is a temporary resident stream that allows the parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit and live in Canada temporarily. As of June 2022, the Super Visa allows family members to visit Canada for up to five years at a time without needing to renew their status. Super Visa holders can also apply for an extension of up to two years, allowing a single stay of up to seven years at a time.

While the Super Visa only confers temporary resident status, it is an accessible pathway to bring family members to Canada year-round, with no limit on the number of applications processed by IRCC.