The popular Parent and Grandparent program for Canadian immigration is slated to open up once again in January 2016. Filling up its 5000 person application cap in 2014 in just three weeks, and in 2015 in a mere few days, many immigrant hopefuls anticipate its opening in the coming 2016 year.
The popular Parent and Grandparent program for Canadian immigration is slated to open up once again in January 2016. Filling up its 5000 person application cap in 2014 in just three weeks, and in 2015 in a mere few days, many immigrant hopefuls anticipate its opening in the coming 2016 year. As competition for spots was tight last year, only those who prepared all the required documents in advance got their applications in on time. Many of those who took a couple days to prepare after the program opened, missed their window of opportunity and ended up having their applications sent back to them.
The Parent and Grandparent program allows for parents and grandparents sponsored by Canadian citizens to gain permanent residency here in Canada, and later apply for Canadian citizenship. While there aren`t many criteria restrictions on the parents or grandparents coming in, the Canadian sponsors must meet the following requirements: be at least 18 years of age or older, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, exceed the minimum necessary income requirement for the program by submitting notices of assessment given by the Canadian Revenue Agency in support of their sponsorship, and promise to provide financial support for the sponsored relative for a time frame of three to ten years. The sponsored party must also sign a sponsorship agreement that commits them to make every effort to support themselves. Besides the Parent and Grandparent Program, another popular method Canadians use to bring their parents and grandparents over to Canada is the Super Visa program. Introduced by the Conservative government the Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to come to Canada as “long term visitors,” allowing them a multi-entry stay for up to 10 years.
Though the Super Visa program introduced by the Conservatives was a big hit amongst immigrant families, with the upcoming elections the NDP and Liberals are looking to make changes to the Parent and Grandparent program itself. If the Liberals or New Democrats end up taking parliament after October 19th Canadians could see a cap increase on the Parent and Grandparent program to almost double its original limit.
While the circumstances may not be the same come January 2016, it is still important to prepare ahead of time if you’re looking to apply to, or sponsor someone through the Parent and Grandparent program. Changes to cap space can be seen as an additional bonus once your application is in, and it’s important to try and apply as soon as the program opens to have the best chances at making the cap.
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FWCanada is a Montreal-based immigration law firm that provides professional legal services on Canadian immigration. For more tips and updates on Canadian immigration follow FWCanada on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
