High Demand for Canada's PGP Visa: Managing Family Sponsorship Applications
A recent memo from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals a growing demand for Canada's Parents and Grandparents (PGP) visa program. The number of applicants looking to sponsor their parents and grandparents exceeds the country's capacity to admit them.
Before the pandemic, the IRCC would receive annual submissions and select a limited number of applicants based on predetermined targets. In 2022, the IRCC aimed to process 15,000 complete applications from a pool of submissions collected in fall 2020. However, since 2019, both the number of applications and their processing time for the PGP program have been steadily increasing, resulting in nearly 100,000 people waiting in line.
PGP Immigration Plan for 2023
In 2023, the PGP plans to admit 28,500 parents and grandparents. The Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 forecasts an increase to 32,000 in 2024 and 34,000 in 2025 and 2026. Despite these expansions, new applications in 2023 may face a two to three-year waiting period due to the existing backlog.
Processing times for PGP applications are directly affected by the influx of new applications. To address this issue, Canada plans to implement stricter controls on application intake and completion, following the IRCC memo's suggestions.
The memo proposes aligning application intake with the Levels Plan and adopting a multi-year Intake Plan, similar to the Express Entry system, to ensure that only as many applications are accepted as can be accommodated.
Super Visa: An Alternative Solution
An alternative to the PGP visa is the Super Visa, which allows parents and grandparents of Canadians to stay in Canada for extended periods. The Super Visa permits them to visit their families in Canada for up to five years without the need to renew their visitor status. Moreover, Super Visa holders can enter Canada multiple times for up to 10 years.
If you already possess a Super Visa, you can apply for an extension to enable a parent or grandparent to stay in Canada as a visitor for up to seven years. Notably, the Super Visa is available year-round and benefits parents and grandparents from countries requiring a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for Canada.
To apply for a Super Visa, you need to be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You also require a letter from your child or grandchild in Canada, guaranteeing financial support, household composition, and providing a copy of their Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document. Additionally, you must show proof of medical insurance from a Canadian company that covers emergencies for at least one year, with a minimum of $100,000 in coverage. Importantly, as of December 7, 2022, you no longer need to pay for the insurance policy in full when applying for the Super Visa.
Finally, your child or grandchild in Canada must demonstrate the ability to meet the income requirements of the Super Visa, known as the Low-Income Cut Off (LICO). This ensures they can support their family members, and proof may include documents such as the Notice of Assessment (NOA), T4/T1 for the most recent tax year, Employment Insurance Stubs, an employment letter displaying salary and hire date, pay stubs, or bank statements.
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