Parents and Grandparents Lottery Opens Today

Today Canadian government unfurls its annual opportunity for family reunification under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2023, a contentious lottery system that allows Canadian permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents.

From October 10th to the 23rd, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will dispatch invitations to a select 24,200 potential sponsors, chosen at random from a reservoir of 2020 submissions. The objective? To meticulously process and approve 15,000 comprehensive applications, thereby facilitating the reunion of families.

It’s a bitter pill that no Canadian families since 2020 have been given a chance to join the applicant selection pool. We offer a detailed analysis of the problem here.

Navigating the PGP necessitates a keen understanding of its eligibility criteria. The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), a pivotal factor, serves as a financial barometer, ensuring sponsors possess the monetary stability to support incoming family members. This financial capability is gauged through Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the three taxation years immediately preceding the application, applicable across all provinces and territories, save for Quebec.

For those left uninvited, the Super Visa emerges as a viable alternative. This temporary visa, devoid of a lottery system and available year-round, enables Canadian citizens and permanent residents to invite their parents and grandparents to Canada for up to five consecutive years without the need for visitor status renewal.

The Super Visa, valid for multiple entries over a decade, also provides an extension opportunity, allowing visitors to extend their stay up to seven years. Eligibility hinges on several factors, including a relationship proof to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, adherence to health and criminality criteria, and the ability to meet the Low-Income Cut Off (LICO) income requirements (which is not a high number).

Applicants must also furnish a letter of invitation from their Canadian relative, promising financial support during the visit, and secure private medical insurance coverage for a minimum of one year with a Canadian insurance company.

Once an invitation to apply is issued, IRCC’s published processing time for PGP applications is currently at 21 months.