In September 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released an update to the Parents And Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2023.

Details Of The Program Update

As per the new mandate, IRCC will only accept up to 15,000 complete applications for sponsorship under the PGP in 2023.

Commencing October 10, IRCC plans to send ITAs to 24,200 potentially interested sponsors. IRCC is looking forward to receiving up to 15,000 complete applications.

Due to the overwhelming quantum of submissions received in 2020, IRCC will steer clear of opening a new interest-to-sponsor form. Instead, IRCC will be sending ITAs to potential sponsors, chosen randomly from the 2020 application pool.

In case you’ve filed an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 but have not yet received an ITA in 2021 or 2022, ACME Visa Solutions strongly advises you to regularly check the inbox/spam folder of the e-mail address provided in 2020.

Furthermore, IRCC plans to continue using the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal for individuals applying for the 2023 intake.

This happens to make the electronic submissions hassle-free.

Getting The Super Visa

The Super Visa is an excellent offering from IRCC that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit their family in Canada and stay for up to two years at a stretch without having to renew their status. For those parents and grandparents who do not meet the eligibility requirements for the PGP or who do not want to go through the sponsorship process, the super visa presents a viable choice.

Eligibility For The Super Visa

Parents/grandparents must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Super Visa:

• You must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Criminality or health issues are not making you inadmissible to Canada.
• You strictly meet the income requirements laid down by the Low-Income Cutoff (LICO).
• Furnish a duly signed letter from their child or grandchild sponsoring them to Canada, including a commitment to support them financially during the entire length of the stay and also the list and number of people residing in the household of this person.
• Furnish proof of health insurance coverage for at least one year with a Canadian insurance firm.

Immigration Levels Plan

IRCC releases its Immigration Levels Plan every year and uses it as a guardrail to monitor its operations and welcome expats to Canada.

In the year 2022, IRCC invited about 23,100 prospective sponsors to apply for PGP, while eyeing receiving 15,000 applications. Canada aims to welcome around 4,65,000 new PRs in the year 2023, including 28,500 parents and grandparents. By the year 2025, Canada is expecting an infusion of 5,00,000 new immigrants, including 36,000 parents/grandparents.

Conclusion

The PGP program is in fact a very popular option among Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their families, and over the years, this program has helped thousands of parents/grandparents visit Canada.

As a child/grandchild, if you are keen to sponsor your parents or grandparent under this program or may be applying for a Super Visa, then don’t forget to submit an interest-to-sponsor form when it’s available.