December 14, 2016—Ottawa, ON – Family reunification is a key immigration commitment of the Government of Canada. The Parent and Grandparent Program brings together thousands of families each year. For 2017, the Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced changes to how sponsorship applications will be submitted under the program.

In recent years, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada limited the number of parent and grandparent applications it would accept, in order to manage intake and interest in the program, and keep the number of applications from growing. Rather than the January rush to submit applications by courier or mail, those wanting to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada will now have 30 days to fill out an online form to indicate their interest. IRCC will then randomly choose 10,000 individuals from those who filled out the form, and those people will be invited to send in their complete application package.

The online form will be available starting January 3, 2017. Sponsors will have 30 days to submit the form.

Quote

“We’re listening to what past applicants had to say and making the process fairer for people who want to sponsor their parents or grandparents. We’re ensuring everyone can access the application process by giving them the same chance to have their name chosen.”

– The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

for more info

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1168889

Changes to application intake process for 2017 Parent and Grandparent Program

The Government is committed to a fair and transparent immigration system. Changes made to the Parent and Grandparent Program will improve access to the application process, given that the number of applications accepted for intake is limited. In order to give the same chance to all Canadians who are interested in applying to sponsor their parents or grandparents, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) heard former applicants and is making changes to improve how people can apply to this program.

Between January 3 and February 2, 2017, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to apply as sponsors must first complete an online form on the IRCC website to let the Department know they are interested in applying to sponsor their parents or grandparents.

The online form will be available for 30 days, from noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 3, 2017, to noon EST on February 2, 2017.

The form will ask for the individual’s first name, family name, date of birth, country of birth, main home address, postal code and email address. Once the information is successfully submitted through the online form, the individual will get a confirmation number. They should keep this number for their records. They will need to submit only one online form, as duplicate entries will be removed. Completing the form will not mean a person has applied to sponsor under the program.

At the end of the 30 days, IRCC will remove the duplicates, randomly choose 10 000 people and ask them to complete the full application. IRCC will let everyone who completed an online form know whether they were chosen or not. Only those who were randomly chosen will be invited to apply to the Parent and Grandparent Program.

Those who were invited to apply will have 90 days to submit their complete application to IRCC. The 2017 application kit and guide will be available on IRCC’s website on January 9, 2017.

Interested sponsors who are not selected will be able to indicate their interest to apply again in 2018.

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1168899

Tell us you want to sponsor a parent or grandparent

To sponsor your parent or grandparent, the first step is to tell us you want to apply by submitting the online interest to sponsor form. This form is not an application to sponsor.

The form is short and easy to complete. We ask for things like your name, date of birth, country of birth, postal code, etc.

You have 30 days to fill out and submit the form (from January 3, 2017 noon – February 2, 2017 noon, Eastern Standard Time.)

If you make a mistake, you can correct or change the information you submitted by email. Please clearly note all information you want to change. Your email must include:

• the original confirmation number
• full name
• date of birth
• country of birth.

You can only make updates to your information before February 2, 2017, noon, Eastern Standard Time.

At the end of the 30 days, we will choose 10,000 numbered entries at random. These people will be invited to submit their application to sponsor.

If you are chosen at random, we will send you an email telling you that you can submit your application to sponsor your parents or grandparents.

If you are invited, you will have 90 days to send us your completed application. You will find the 2017 forms and guide on our website on January 9, 2017.

You should check if you are eligible to sponsor before filling out the form.

Apply here