New Process for Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents

New Process for Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents

Previously, applicants rushed to submit their Parent and Grandparent Program applications by courier, in hopes of being one of the first 10,000 applications to be accepted for processing; however, this method favoured applicants who were able to courier their application immediately. Under recent changes, applicants will now submit an online form to express their interest in the program, and they will have from January 3, 2017 to February 2, 2017 to complete and submit the online form. After this step, applicants will be entered into a lottery system, where IRCC will randomly select 10,000 applicants to submit their complete application package.

This development is part of the effort to ensure that all applicants will have equal opportunity to receive an invitation to apply. On the other hand, these changes will also create greater uncertainty, because applicants no longer have any way to secure their place amongst the first 10,000 applicants to be selected. Under the new program, those who receive an application to apply will have 90 days to submit their complete application package. Those who are not selected will be able to indicate their interest again in 2018.

– Written by Kate Paik, legal assistant and guest author on this site.