Parent and Grandparent Program Re-Opening January 2, 2015

Parent and Grandparent program re-opening January 2, 2015

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced that the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) will re-open in January 2, 2015, with similar admission criteria and application cap as last year. The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) is designed for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their foreign parents and grandparents to Canada as Permanent Residents.

CIC will accept applications until the 5,000 cap of complete applications has been reached. the intake of new applications to sponsor parents and grandparents starting January 2, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern standard time (EST). Applications must be individually packaged. All applications received after the cap has been reached will be returned to the applicant.Applications received before January 2, 2015 will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

Basic Requirements for sponsor:

• Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program by submitting notices of assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in support of their sponsorship. Sponsors must also demonstrate they have met the minimum necessary income level for three consecutive years. If married or in a common-law relationship, the income of both persons can be included;
• The sponsor must sign an undertaking to repay any provincial social assistance benefits paid to the sponsor and accompanying family member(s), if any, for a period of 20 years, if necessary. If the sponsor resides in Quebec, an additional ‘undertaking’ must be signed.

Individuals willing to bring their parents and /or grandparents to Canada, can also do so through the Super Visa Program.

For more details about the parent and grandparent program (PGP), please see: Family Sponsorship -Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP)