If you submitted an interest to sponsor form & were invited to apply for the same, then you can sponsor your parents & grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada. Basically, you can apply for the parent & grandparent program to help them arrive in Canada & settle here. 

Well, if you are invited to apply, there will be two applications that must have been submitted for the parents & grandparents program. They are: 

• The sponsorship application 
• The PR application 

If IRCC approves both of these applications, you will sign an agreement called an undertaking that begins on the day the person you are sponsoring becomes a permanent inhabitant of Canada. 

If you wish to know more about the parent & grandparent program, stick to this blog as we will be discussing an essential part of the program, i.e., how you can apply for it. So, make sure you read it till the end. 

Parent & Grandparent Program: Overview 

Canada’s family class immigration strategy allows the permanent inhabitants & citizens of Canada to sponsor their parents & grandparents via PGP, i.e., Parent & Grandparent Program. 

Sponsored parents & grandparents can become permanent inhabitants of Canada along with other benefits, like the right to live & work in Canada, access to free healthcare, etc. 

As per the Canadian Immigration Plan 2023-25, around 25,000 new permanent inhabitants will be admitted annually via PGP. 

Eligibility Of The Program 

In order to be eligible for the parent & grandparent program, both the sponsor & the sponsored must meet the following eligibility requirements: 

• Be a permanent inhabitant or Canadian citizen 
• Have sufficient funds to support the sponsored financially
• Have adequate income 

Quebec has some additional requirements for the program. The province’s residents must sign an ‘undertaking’ that binds the sponsorship. In addition, the sponsors in Quebec must also meet the requirements of Quebec sponsorship after being approved as a sponsor by IRCC.

 

Parent & Grandparent Program: How To Apply 

Suppose you are invited to apply for the parent & grandparent program. In that case, there are two documents, as we discussed earlier, that you need to submit, i.e., apply to become a sponsor & your parents/ grandparents must apply for a PR. 

You have to submit both sponsorship & PR applications online simultaneously. 

In addition, you must also submit your application by the deadline set out in your invitation letter. 

Below are the steps for applying to the parent & grandparent program. 

• Step 1: Get An Invitation To Apply 

Sponsors are randomly selected & invited to sponsor their parents & grandparents. For instance, for the 2022 intake, over 23,100 ITAs, i.e., invitations to apply were sent to reach the objective of reaching up to 15,000 complete applications. 

• Step 2: Apply Online

Don’t start filling out your application unless you are invited to apply for the process. If you applied and haven’t received any invitation to apply, this implies that: 

• Your application has been rejected 
• You won’t be refunded the sponsorship application processing fee. 

Also, if you live in Quebec, here are some steps to sponsor your parents & grandparents. 

Forms For Sponsors 

The sponsors must download & fill out the following forms: 

• Document checklist form 
• Sponsor Application – Sponsorship Undertaking & Agreement 
• Financial Evaluation For Parents & Grandparents Sponsorship 
• Income Sources For Sponsorship Of Parents & Grandparents (if applicable) 
• Statutory Declaration Of Common-Law Union (if applicable)

The person you are sponsoring will: 

• Upload all forms online 
• Have to sign the application electronically, including their family members as well

Tips For Downloading & Filling Out Application Forms 

• Ensure that you have Adobe Reader 10 or higher along with Javascript. If you have any difficulty downloading, just right-click the link & select ‘Save Target As’. 
• Fill out the form on your laptop/ computer instead by hand. Filling out the form online is easier & reduces mistakes, which can cause delays. 
• Complete, sign, & date your application forms.

Forms For The Principal Applicant 

The sponsored person must fill out the following forms: 

• Generic application form for Canada 
• Schedule A – Background/ Declaration 
• Additional family information 
• Supplementary information – Your Travels 

In addition, it is vital to note that any dependent 18 years or older must complete a separate IMM 5669, IMM 5406, IMM 5562, & if needed, IMM 5476. 

Using An Immigration Representative

If you are a representative, seek how you can create an account & submit applications on behalf of your clients. 

If you wish to appoint someone to do business with IRCC on your behalf, you should: 

• Submit a Use of a Representative form 
• Sign it electronically & get your immigration representative to do so
• Upload it with your application 

An immigration representative can be an immigration lawyer or consultant who can offer you advice & help you with your application. However, these representatives aren’t able to: 

• Open a portal account on your behalf
• Sign in to the portal with your username/ password 
• Electronically sign the application for you 

A representative can fill out forms & communicate with IRCC on your behalf via their own account. In addition, they can also: 

• Help you prepare the supporting documents that you need to upload 
• Answer specific questions regarding the form 

After you have read the declaration, you must type your name & click the submit button. Remember that this is a legal necessity for considering an application as ‘signed’, according to Canadian immigration law.

Helping Your Parents & Grandparents With The Application 

You have to seek permission & provide the proper forms if you wish to: 

• Prepare/ assist in preparing your parent’s as well as grandparents’ applications & communicate on their behalf with IRCC. This implies that you are acting as their representative. 
• Check continuously on their application status.  

How To Find Canadian Citizenship Information 

If you are a citizen of Canada & need to apply for the parent & grandparent program, you need: 

• The date you became a citizen of Canada 
• Your UCI/ client ID number 

In order to find the date & number, you need to check the back of your citizenship certificate. In case you don’t have the citizenship certificate, you can apply for the following:

• A search of citizenship records
• Citizenship certificate immediately 

Details Of The Principal Applicant 

Sign in or create a PR Portal Account or open a new session. 

Get Your Fingerprints & Photo 

You, along with dependents aged from 14 to 79 years of age, need to give your biometrics, i.e., fingerprints & photographs, for every PR application submitted. 

• You have to pay the biometric fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you might experience delays. 
• Go for biometrics as soon as you receive the letter asking you for the same.
• You have around 30 days to do this from the date of the letter. 

Photo Specifications 

You need one photo of each person on your application. Follow the directive/ instructions in the online application to scan & upload both sides of the photograph. 

• Step 3: Pay Your Application Fees 

In most cases, your fees will include: 

• Processing fees for you, the people you are sponsoring, along with their dependents
• The right of PR fee 
• The biometric fee

Make sure you are paying your fee online. 

Biometric Fee 

In many cases, you must pay a biometric fee when you submit your application. If you don’t pay the fee, your application might be delayed. In addition, the biometric fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints & digital photographs. 

Third-Party Fees 

Depending on your situation, you might need to pay a third-party fee for the following: 

• A police certificate 
• Your medical examination 

• Step 4: Submit Your Online Application 

Before you submit your application, ensure that: 

• You answer all the questions on the form 
• Electronically sign your application 
• Include your processing fee receipt 
• Upload all supporting documents 

If your application is still incomplete, you will receive a request letter to submit any missing documents. For this, you will have around 30 days. 

In addition, follow the instructions in the request letter for submitting the missing documents. After 30 days, if your application is still incomplete, it will be returned to you & your application won’t be processed. 

• Step 5: Send Us Additional Information During Application Processing 

During processing, the person you are sponsoring has to submit police certificates, biometrics & medical exams. 

• You don’t need to include police certificates when you apply. You can submit/ present them afterwards during the process. 
• A police certificate is needed for sponsored people, along with each family member who is 18 years or older. 
• Police certificates are valid for one year from the date they are issued. Depending upon the processing time, you might have to submit new certificates. 
• For biometrics, once you pay the fees, you will receive a letter asking your family members to give their biometrics. 
• Your family members must show/ deliver this letter when they provide their biometrics. 
• In addition, they have around 30 days to give their biometrics in person at the closest collection point. 

• Step 6: Get Updates Regarding Your Application 

If you & the person you are sponsoring meet all eligibility requirements, you will receive a mail for linking your application to an online account. 

 

Conclusion 

To conclude, we’d say that applying for the parent & grandparent programs needs adherence & careful preparation for the application process. In order to increase your chances of sponsoring your parents & grandparents, you need to gather all the necessary documents mentioned above. 

In addition, you must thoroughly review the eligibility criteria & ensure that you meet the minimum requirements before applying for the program. Moreover, it is advisable to seek professional advice or consult with immigration experts who can guide you throughout the process. 

Remember that timeliness is paramount as the parent & grandparent account operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Thus, by following the tips mentioned above, you can easily apply for the program & enhance your prospects of reuniting with your parents & grandparents, thus permanently residing in Canada.  

 

FAQs 

• How long does parents’ & grandparents’ sponsorship take in Canada? 

Invitations to sponsors are sent to submit a complete application with all the necessary documents within 60 days. In addition, once you submit the applications, IRCC takes around 20-24 months to process them. 

• What is the parents & grandparents program in Canada? 

The permanent inhabitants & citizens of Canada are able to sponsor their parents & grandparents to arrive in Canada & permanently reside there. Moreover, the parents & grandparents approved under this program receive PR & interestingly, they can further apply for Canadian citizenship. 

• Can I get my grandparents a visa?  

Visas can be easily obtained for close relatives of US citizens. This implies that your family members do not need to wait in line to obtain a visa.