On October 5, 2020, the Minister of Immigration has announced the re-opening of the Parental Sponsorship Program.
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada will have the opportunity to submit an expression of interest to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents for permanent residency. The Program will be open for a period of three weeks from October 13 to November 4, and applicants will be chosen at random, as per the Minister’s statement, “we think this is the fairest way in which to administer the intake and to invite expressions of interest”.
Whoever is selected for the parent grandparent sponsorship program will have 60 days to complete and submit the application forms and supporting documents. Only 10,000 applicants will be selected this year due to Covid19.
This lottery system will replace the online first come, first served application system implemented last year, which some applicants felt was unfair due to some people being unable to access a computer or complete the forms quickly enough.
While the lottery selection process is not what many have wished for the reinstatement of the program, the opportunity the Government of Canada is providing to families to be reunited with their love ones during this difficult time is wonderful news.