PGP Sponsorship 2nd Round of Email Invitations Starts Sept 6
Canada Immigration's Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) announced the names of the selected 10,000 applicants who can apply to sponsor their parents or grandparents as Canada permanent residents in April, 2017. IRCC did not receive 10,000 complete applications by August 4, 2017, and a second round of emails is being sent starting September 6, 2017, to invite additional potential sponsors to submit an application. Potential sponsors will have until December 8, 2017, to submit their complete sponsorship applications to IRCC. This round of invitations is only for potential sponsors who submitted the PGP ‘Interest to Sponsor’ form, but who have not yet been invited to apply.
- PGP application invitations will be emailed to potential sponsors beginning on September 6, 2017.
- This process will continue over several days. Check your email and junk mail carefully throughout the week.
- Only those who are randomly selected to submit an application will receive an email.
Calgary immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah said:
This second round of PGP applications was anticipated, based on the low rate of applications submitted by June of this year. Many people have expressed frustrations by what they see as bureaucratic obstacles to reuniting their family. When programs like the IRCC parent and grandparent visa lottery system fail our clients, we look for innovative, pro-active solutions for various challenges that may arise throughout the immigration process.
In 2017 IRCC changed the PGP application process, doubling the number of parental sponsorship applications from 5,000 to 10,000; sponsor income and eligibility requirements did not change. Individuals who have a child or grandchild in Canada, and who wish to spend an extended period of time with their families in Canada, also have the option to apply for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.
95,000 families applied to the PGP at the beginning of 2017, knowing 10,000 names would be selected and invited to apply. IRCC has not said as of June 2017, only 700 applications had been submitted, with some of them incomplete. Canada Immigration's new parent and grandparent visa lottery has resulted in a backlog of immigration applicants and many frustrated families.
Learn more: PGP 2nd round of application intake
