IRCC to invite PGP program applicants in September 2021

Minister Marco E.L Mendicino recently announced that an additional 30,000 candidates will be invited by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to apply under the 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) to sponsor their parents and grandparents for immigration to Canada.

The lucky draw will give more opportunities to Canadians as well as permanent residents to bring their loved ones and be with them in Canada.

In the Autumn of last year, eligible candidates, as well as Canadian citizens, completed an online application form informing their interest in sponsoring their parents and grandparents for Canadian PR status through the IRCC. In January 2021, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) had a random selection inviting 10,000 potential sponsors. On September 20, 2021, with the use of the same random selection process, IRCC will send out invites to potential sponsors who have already submitted their interest to sponsor from 2020. These invites will be sent out over the course of two weeks starting the draw.

To ensure that more candidates can apply, the Canadian government will implement a more reasonable income requirement as they also consider that a lot of Canadian families have experienced and currently experiencing financial difficulties as an effect of the pandemic. With this, the income requirement will be the minimum necessary income instead of the minimum income plus 30%. The Canadian government will also allow regular Employment Insurance benefits and temporary COVID-19 benefits to be included in the sponsor’s income.

To speed up and make the application process simple, invited candidates will now be able to use Canada’s new Permanent Resident Digital Intake Tool which makes the application submitted electronically. Those who are invited have 60 calendar days to submit their sponsorship application.