On December 14, 2016, the Government of Canada announced that it would be changing the application process for the Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship Program (the “PGP”).
For the past several years, the PGP quota has been capped between 5,000 and 10,000 applicants per year. The program has always been highly competitive and would typically open at the beginning of January with the quota filling within 48 hours. Applications were accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Line-ups at the immigration processing centre in Mississauga, Ontario would begin hours after the program opened to new applicants and sponsors were paying couriers to get applications to the front of the line. The Government of Canada has changed the process for 2017. They have adopted a lottery system to award the spots and will randomly draw 10,000 individuals from the pool and invite them to submit full applications.
“We’re listening to what past applicants had to say and making the process fairer for people who want to sponsor their parents or grandparents. We’re ensuring everyone can access the application process by giving them the same chance to have their name chosen,” said Immigration Minister, John McCallum.
Between January 3 and February 2, 2017, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to apply to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents must first complete an online form on the IRCC website indicating their intention to IRCC that they wish to be a sponsor.
The online form is available for 30 days, from noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 3, 2017, to noon EST on February 2, 2017. This form only asks basis questions about the sponsor and a confirmation number will be provided upon submission. At the end of the 30 days, 10,000 sponsors will be randomly chosen and invited to complete full applications to the PGP within 90 days.
Interested sponsors who are not selected will be able to indicate their interest to apply again in 2018.