Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on March 27 that they will delay the 2020 opening of the popular Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) "due to the current focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic."
IRCC's press release affirmed it's commitment to the 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program, "The Government of Canada remains strongly committed to family reunification, and IRCC is committed to opening the program as soon as possible."
Parent Grandparent Program PGP
The Parent Grandparent Program is for Canadian citizens and permanent residents meeting the eligibility requirements who wish to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents to move to Canada. 2020 PGP admission levels were increased to 21,000, up from 20,500 in 2019 and 17,000 in 2018.
Earlier this year, Canada announced that the 2020 PGP program, which typically launches in January, would be delayed this year to improve the process after receiving many complaints and public criticism after the 2019 program's launch, but had promised the program would launch by April 1, 2020.
IRCC went on to say,
It is important to note that the temporary deferral of the launch of the 2020 call for applications is not expected to impact when parents and grandparents will arrive in our country, and that processing of these applications continues.
The PGP program typically opens once a year for applications and is extremely popular: about 20,000 people are admitted annually under the Parent and Grandparent Program, but it currently takes about two years to process an application.
Who Is Eligible for Canada's Parent and Grandparent Program
You can sponsor your parents and grandparents to move to Canada if:
- you meet the income requirements. You will have to provide proof of income.
- you’re at least 18 years old
- you live in Canada
- you’re a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
PGP Alternative: Super Visa
If you are unable to apply in 2020 for the PGP Program you can apply for a Super Visa, says Canada immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah. While they will not have access to health insurance or be eligible for employment, a Super Visa will permit them to stay in Canada for up to two years. A Super Visa is only available to someone who is either the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
