Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced that it will re-open the parent and grandparent visa program on January 2nd, 2014 because by then the application backlog and the wait time for processing these applications are expected to be reduced significantly.
However, there will be different phases to the program and there will also be several different criteria when the program is reintroduced.
What’s New about the Parent and Grandparent Visa Program for Canada?
Currently, approximately 50,000 parents and grandparents are given permanent residence in Canada every year. This is expected to remain about the same in 2014, and is the highest level parents and grandparents admitted in 20 years.
The Super Visa, which was introduced when Citizenship and Immigration Canada cut the program, will remain a permanent fixture that allows parents and grandparents to hold a 10-year multiple entry visa where they can remain in Canada for two years at a time.
People who sponsor their parents or grandparents will have to meet more increased financially requirements in order to become sponsors.
Sponsoring a Parent and/or Grandparent in the Visa Program
There will be 5,000 applications for sponsorship accepted in 2014, in order to continue to reduce the backlog and avoid long wait times.
Other countries are much more restrictive in their sponsorship policies, with only very limited circumstances for grandparents if any at all while being very restrictive on sponsoring parents.
Do you want to immigrate to Canada? Do you live in Canada and want to sponsor your parents or grandparents? Contact us and schedule an appointment online or fill out our Free Immigration Eligibility Assessment today!
UPDATE: The above is an archived article. Learn more about the newest information regarding the Super Visa.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
