Immigrating to Canada is a dream of many individuals who are seeking better opportunities, quality of life, and a safe and stable environment. Canada’s immigration system offers various pathways for individuals to migrate, including family sponsorship programs, skilled worker programs, and business immigration programs. One of the popular ways for immigrants to move to Canada is through the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program. This program is designed to reunite families and allow Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada. In this blog post, we will discuss the Parent Sponsorship Program to Canada and its alternatives for immigration.
What is the Parent Sponsorship Program
The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program is a part of Canada’s Family Class Immigration program, which allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents to come and live in Canada permanently. The program enables parents and grandparents to live, work, and study in Canada, as well as access Canadian healthcare and social services. The program has been on pause since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has been recently reopened for a limited time.
Eligibility Criteria for the Parent Sponsorship Program:
To be eligible for the Parent Sponsorship Program, the sponsor must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Meet the minimum income requirements.
- Sign a sponsorship agreement with the sponsored person.
- Agree to support the sponsored person financially for a period of time.
- The sponsored person must also meet the eligibility criteria.
Parent Sponsorship Program Process:
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you want to sponsor your parents to come and live with you in Canada, here are the steps you can follow:
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before you apply to sponsor your parents, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and meet the minimum income requirements. You must also be willing to sign a sponsorship agreement and support your parents financially for a period of time.
Step 2: Complete the Application Package
The application package for the Parent Sponsorship Program is available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. The application package includes the forms that you need to complete, as well as the document checklist.
Step 3: Pay the Fees
There are various fees associated with the Parent Sponsorship Program, including the processing fee and the biometrics fee. You must pay these fees when you submit your application.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
Once you have completed the application package and paid the fees, you can submit your application to the IRCC. You can submit your application online or by mail.
Step 5: Wait for the Decision
After you submit your application, the IRCC will review it and determine if you are eligible to sponsor your parents. If your application is approved, your parents will be required to undergo medical exams and background checks. If everything is in order, your parents will be issued permanent resident visas.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parent Sponsorship Program has been on pause since 2020. However, it was recently reopened for a limited time, and the IRCC has announced that it will be accepting up to 10,000 sponsorship applications in 2023. It is important to stay updated on the program’s status and eligibility requirements, as they may change in the future.
Alternatives for Immigration to Canada:
While the Parent Sponsorship Program is a popular way for parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada, it is not the only way. Here are some of the alternatives for immigration to Canada:
Express Entry Program: The Express Entry Program is a federal immigration program that is designed for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada. The program uses a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. Candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency.
Provincial Nominee Program: The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a program that allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who have the skills and experience needed to fill the labor market gaps in their region. The PNP is designed to meet the specific economic and labor market needs of each province or territory. The PNP has various streams, including skilled worker, international graduate, and entrepreneur streams.
Business Immigration Program: The Business Immigration Program is designed for individuals who are willing to invest in or start a business in Canada. The program has various streams, including the Start-up Visa Program, the Entrepreneur Program, and the Self-Employed Program. The program is designed to encourage economic growth and development by attracting foreign entrepreneurs and investors to Canada.
Study in Canada: International students who study in Canada have the opportunity to gain valuable Canadian work experience and can apply for permanent residency through the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). The PGWPP allows students to work in Canada for up to three years after completing their studies. After gaining Canadian work experience, international students can apply for permanent residency through various programs, including the Express Entry Program.
Conclusion
Sponsors must demonstrate that they meet the minimum necessary income threshold for the three taxation years preceding the date of their application.
The processing time for parent sponsorship applications can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case, but it typically takes around 20-24 months.
Yes, a sponsor can withdraw their sponsorship application at any time before their parent(s) or grandparent(s) receive permanent residence.
Yes, the parent sponsorship program is only available for Canadian citizens or permanent residents who wish to sponsor their biological or adopted parents or grandparents.
If the sponsor cannot meet the financial requirements, the application will be refused.
