In 2017 Canada adopted lottery system to sponsor parents and grandparents replacing the first-come, first-serve structure to make the process of family reunification faster and more transparent.

5 Things to be aware of if you want to sponsor parents or grandparents

1) According to changes for 2017 Parent and Grandparent Program, 10,000 candidates for sponsorship will be randomly selected and invited to sponsor their grandparents or parents to Canada.

2) If you would like to sponsor parents or grandparents you have to complete a simple online form to express your interest in becoming a sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). If interested you must complete this request by February 2, 2017. After February 2, 2017, the applicants will be informed by email about the decision.  The information you need to show in the online form only takes a few minutes of your time to fill in. You should provide the following details in order to show your interest in the PGP:

• your first and last name;
• the date and the country of birth;
• main home address and postal code
• your email

If selected, you have 90 days to complete the full application package for sponsorship under the Parent and Grandparent program (PGP) and submit it to IRCC. The applicants who were not selected can apply similarly in 2018.

Completing and submitting an online form within now until February 2, 2017, indicates your interest to sponsor parents or grandparents. It is not your application for sponsorship under PGP.

3) There is no need to submit the application forms more than once as all the duplicates will be removed from the pool.

4) The potential sponsor has to have the Minimum Necessary Income requirement in order to apply for sponsorship under the PGP:

The Minimum Necessary Income is calculated by adding 30% to the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) of the potential sponsor.

5) All potential applicants must meet the requirements of the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship programs before submitting online forms to the general pool. All the individuals interested in sponsoring their parents or grandparents will have the opportunity to self-assess their eligibility before applying under the particular program.

If you have any questions concerning the documentation to be submitted, you can submit your inquiries or contact our office to discuss your case.

If you have applied for family sponsorship in Canada but your application was refused, you have the right to appeal the rejection to the Federal Court of Canada. In addition, family class sponsorship refusals may be reversed by raising humanitarian and compassionate considerations.