Do you wish to bring your parents or grandparent to Canada as Permanent Residents?
IRCC has advised applicants that the launch of a new intake process for the 2020 parents and grandparents sponsorship program is presently delayed, due to COVID-19 concerns. The program is still expected to be launched, however, there is presently no expected date for the call for applications.
On December 30, 2019, the IRCC announced that information on a new intake process for the 2020 parent and grandparent sponsorship program is coming shortly. This new intake process was coming into force, following serious concerns regarding last year’s process. The new intake process is yet to be disclosed, we at YIC keep a close eye on all updates from IRCC and will inform you as we receive the most up to date information about the 2020 application process.
Application Process to Sponsor your Parents or Grandparents
The first step in the application process is to submit an “interest to sponsor form”. IRCC is presently not accepting any further interest of sponsor form until the 2020 intake process is launched. Keep in mind that, once you have submitted the “interest to sponsor form” you can no longer modify it.
Following the submission of this form, you may be invited to submit a complete application. Once you receive the invitation, you can apply to sponsor your parents and/or grandparents to come to Canada as permanent residents. You must submit two applications together: (i) sponsorship application and (ii) permanent residency application.
You must submit your application package to IRCC 60 days following the date of your invitation.
Can you be a sponsor for your parent or grandparent’s permanent residency?
In order to be eligible to sponsor a parent(s) and/or grandparent(s) to Canada, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be 18 years or older.
- You must live in Canada
- You must be a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Canada and;
- You should have enough money to support the persons you are sponsoring.
- IRCC sets a minimum income requirement depending on the number of members in your household.
If you are unsure whether you meet the minimum income requirement or any other eligibility criteria, please contact the immigration specialists at YIC, who can walk you through the process and advise you whether you are eligible.
If you live outside of Quebec and want to sponsor your parent or grandparent, you must make a promise to the government:
If you live outside Quebec, to sponsor your parent or grandparent, you must undertake (or promise) that you will do the following:
- Financially support the family member you are sponsoring, for a period of 20 years from the date they became permanent residents and
- Repay any social assistance they may obtain during this time.
The sponsor must also enter into a sponsorship agreement with the family member being sponsored whereby the responsibilities of both will be formalized:
- Sponsor agrees to provide the needs of the family member being sponsored &
- The family member being sponsored will make all efforts to support themselves in Canada.
If you live inside Quebec, you must make a promise with the provinces of Quebec:
You are also required to meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements, once you are approved at the federal level, to be a sponsor. You will similarly be asked to sign an undertaking with the province of Quebec.
You cannot be a sponsor of your parent’s or grandparent’s permanent residency if:
You cannot become a sponsor for your parent or grandparent permanent residency application, despite meeting the basic requirements, if you fall within any of the following categories;
- You are in jail, prison, or a penitentiary
- You did not pay back:
- a previous immigration loan;
- a performance bond;
- a court-ordered family support payment.
- You did not give the financial support you agreed to when you signed a sponsorship agreement
- You have declared bankruptcy and are not discharged
- You receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability
- You were convicted of a violent criminal offense, an offense against a relative, or any sexual offense inside or outside Canada
- You can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because you received a Removal Order
If you fall within any of these categories, you can contact our immigration specialists who can advise you of the next steps that might be available to you to become eligible to sponsor a parent or grandparent.
Who are you allowed to sponsor and bring to Canada under this program?
You can sponsor the following people;
- your own parent, grandparent, who is related to you by blood or adoption,
- you brother or sister or your half brother or sister, if they are dependent children,
- more than 1 person if you meet the income requirement.
You cannot sponsor the following people:
- a family member who is inadmissible to Canada, information about the grounds that make you inadmissible to Canada are provided on this page
- your spouse’s parents or grandparents, but you are free to be a co-signer on their sponsorship application.
If you need help with sponsoring your parents or grandparents to come to Canada and want a qualified immigration specialist to manage and monitor your application, contact YIC.