Here’s a terrific news for Canadian citizens who want to bring their parents or grandparents to the country for good.
The Canadian government has announced that they are reopening applications for the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) beginning January 4, 2016. Through this process, citizens and permanent residents can sponsor foreign parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada.
Those who qualify for the application will become permanent Canadian residents. They may likewise apply for Canadian citizenship should they be able to fulfill the requirements.
Sponsor Requirements
Naturally, sponsors have to meet certain requirements as well.
First and foremost, they should be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and are at least 18 years old or higher. Also, they should exceed the minimum necessary income level and prove it by submitting assessment notices from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). If the sponsor is married or in a common-law relationship, the income of both individuals should be included.
Additionally, the sponsor should assure financial support for the sponsored parent or grandparent for at least 20 years.
PGP in 2014 and 2015
For the past 2 years, PGP has implemented an intake cap of 5,000 applicants which was immediately reached in weeks. Afterwards, the program was closed until the government made this recent announcement. It is expected that interested individuals and families will soon be sending applications in huge numbers.
Preparation Is Crucial
Attorney David Cohen commented “One of the cornerstones of Canadian immigration policy is that family reunification is a fundamental good, not only for sponsors and sponsored persons, but also for the host country of Canada.”
He also added “For individuals who have previously immigrated to Canada and wish to have their parents or grandparents follow in their footsteps, the recent announcement date for the reopening of the Parent and Grandparent Program is a huge opportunity. Nonetheless, moving from opportunity to the reality of submitting an application — and welcoming loved ones to Canadian shores — is difficult unless applicants prepare well in advance of the opening date.”