IRCC holding a sponsorship lottery for PGP 2021

By Scarlett Wilson [Published 24 Sep, 2021 | 04:40 AM] 1023

IRCC will send 30,000 invites to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents during the following two weeks

The IRCC has officially announced that it will begin sending out invites under the Parents and Grandparents Program 2021. A total of 30,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be asked to sponsor their parents and grandparents. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send the invitations over the following two weeks, between today and October 7. Invited sponsors will have 60 days to complete and submit their sponsorship applications to IRCC.

Sponsored parents and grandparents will become permanent residents of Canada and will be eligible for all related benefits, including free health care. Receiving a PGP invitation is challenging due to the high demand for sponsorship among Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Previously, IRCC had about 100,000 sponsors visiting its website and submitting interest to sponsor forms within minutes of the form being launched.

This time, between October and November 2020, IRCC enabled sponsors to submit interest to sponsor applications on its website. In January 2021, it launched a lottery to invite 10,000 sponsors. The 30,000 invites in this round are drawn from the same group of potential candidates of 2020. The IRCC has not yet said how it intends to handle the PGP in 2022.

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What should I do if I get invited to PGP 2021?

It is critical that you satisfy the qualifying requirements for the PGP 2021. You must be at least 18 years old and either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a member of a First Nations tribe. You must also show IRCC that you fulfil the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) criteria. You must submit your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notices of assessment for the tax years 2020, 2019, and 2018.

If you satisfy the criteria and choose to proceed, you will have 60 days to submit your full sponsorship application, including costs, to IRCC. Residents of Quebec must demonstrate that they have met the province's sponsorship income criteria during the previous 12 months.

Both IRCC and Quebec need sponsors to sign an undertaking agreement. Sponsors are legally required to return any social assistance received by their parents or grandparents during the duration of the endeavour. Non-Quebec residents have a 20-year term, whereas Quebec residents have a 10-year period.

What if I'm not invited?

Those who desire to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada should use the Super Visa as an option. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply to IRCC for a Super Visa. The Super Visa allows for numerous entry into Canada over the course of ten years.

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