Maple News reports that Canadian citizens and permanent residents looking to reunite with their parents and grandparents through immigration must meet a specific set of eligibility criteria under the 2020 Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP). The program’s application intake period runs from October 13 to November 3, 2020, and involves a two-step process: submitting an interest to sponsor form, followed by an official application for those invited to apply.
To qualify, individuals must be either Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered First Nations, and must be at least 18 years old. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate their ability to financially support the parents or grandparents they wish to sponsor. This includes all other individuals they are or will be responsible for, such as spouses, children, and other past sponsored persons.
The cornerstone of eligibility is the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement. This refers to a specific income threshold that sponsors must meet, and provide proof of, for the three consecutive tax years prior to their application. For the 2020 PGP cycle, Income for the tax years 2020, 2019, and 2018 must meet or exceed this threshold. Sponsors outside Quebec must submit Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for each of these years. If the 2020 Notice isn’t available by the time of submission, it can be submitted afterward.
Applicants must carefully calculate their total family size, as the income threshold depends on the number of people who fall under the sponsor’s financial responsibility. This includes not only current immediate family members but also the parents and grandparents the applicant intends to sponsor, their dependents, and even dependent children who aren’t immigrating.
For sponsors residing in Quebec, the income requirement differs slightly. Instead of showing income for the past three years, Quebec-based applicants must demonstrate that they had enough income in the 12 months preceding their application, based on provincial requirements. Sponsors in Quebec will be assessed by the provincial immigration ministry after being approved by the federal government.
Maple News emphasizes the importance of accurately calculating income and family size before submitting the interest to sponsor form. Mistakes or failure to meet MNI can lead to application refusal, even after being invited to apply.
The PGP has historically been a competitive program due to high demand and limited intake slots. Therefore, applicants are advised to prepare all documentation in advance and to seek professional advice if uncertain about any aspect of the process.
This program plays a crucial role in family reunification efforts and stands out as one of the few programs that allow parents and grandparents to immigrate permanently rather than temporarily.