Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began issuing invitations for the 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) starting on September 23, with the process set to conclude by October 7. A total of 30,000 invitations are being sent to eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents who previously submitted interest to sponsor forms in late 2020.
To be eligible, individuals must have completed an interest to sponsor form during the designated window in 2020. New applicants who did not submit their interest during that period will not be considered for the 2021 intake. Invitations are distributed via email from CIC.CPCMississaugaDoNotReply-CTDMississaugaNePasRepondre.CIC@cic.gc.ca, with the subject line referencing the Parents and Grandparents Program.
Sponsors who receive an invitation have 60 days from the date the email was sent to submit their full application to IRCC. Before applying, sponsors must verify that they meet all program requirements. These include being at least 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a Status First Nations individual. Additionally, sponsors must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) thresholds, demonstrated through Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notices of assessment for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Applicants residing in Quebec must also meet the province’s income criteria for sponsorship over the past 12 months.
While legal representation is not mandatory, IRCC permits the use of immigration lawyers or consultants to help applicants ensure completeness and compliance. This can be particularly useful for avoiding mistakes that could result in delays or refusals.
IRCC provides a detailed guide to the application process, broken into five key steps: gathering the correct documents using the official checklist, completing all forms, paying fees, double-checking the full application to avoid errors, and then submitting the package. Ensuring all forms are current and correctly filled is essential to avoid processing delays.
This round of invitations underlines Canada’s continued commitment to family reunification. By reopening the PGP on a lottery basis, IRCC gives thousands of Canadians a chance to bring their parents or grandparents to live permanently in the country.
Maple News will continue to provide updates on PGP and other family sponsorship initiatives as they develop.