Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration department has postponed the selection process for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2020 edition until early 2021. Originally scheduled to take place by the end of 2020, the lottery has been pushed back due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical constraints.
Between October 13 and November 3, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) opened a limited-time window for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to express interest in sponsoring their parents or grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. This intake allowed potential sponsors to register by submitting an interest-to-sponsor form.
Following the intake period, IRCC planned to conduct a random draw to select 10,000 eligible sponsors who would then be invited to submit full applications. However, according to an official IRCC statement, additional time is needed to review the submissions, eliminate duplicate entries, and finalize the random selection process. IRCC cited the late opening of the program and the impact of the ongoing global health crisis as reasons for the delay.
“We are currently working through this year’s submissions to remove duplicates. We will further generate a randomized list and begin sending invitations to apply early in 2021,” IRCC told Maple News in a written response. The department has updated its website to reflect the revised timeline, indicating the selection is now expected to happen in January or February 2021.
Looking ahead, 2021 promises to be a pivotal year for family reunification through the PGP. Following the delayed 2020 lottery, successful sponsors will be given up to 60 days to submit their complete applications. Moreover, IRCC has announced a major expansion of the PGP in 2021, increasing spots to 30,000—triple the number allocated for 2020.
This expansion highlights the Canadian government’s commitment to reuniting families, even amidst the challenges imposed by the pandemic. The boost in sponsorship opportunities provides new hope for thousands of families looking to bring their loved ones to Canada.