The Government of Canada today announced details of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program which will open from October 13 this year. The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship made the announcement. With this program, the Federal Canadian Government aims to take its commitment to reuniting families further.
Canadians and Permanent Residents Can Submit Interest for 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program Online
According to the announcement, the 3-week period for submitting interest for the 2020 parents and grandparents program will start from 12 pm EDT on 13 October 2020. It will be open until 12 pm EST on 3 November 2020. Permanent residents as well as Canadians can sponsor their grandparents as well as parents through this program so that they can come to Canada and stay with them. They can avail of this opportunity by submitting their interest to sponsor form online.
The IRCC emphasizes that the selection process is carried fairly and transparently. It wants to give equal opportunity to every applicant and hence selects the potential sponsors randomly. After the selection of the potential sponsors, the officials then send an invitation to these sponsors inviting them to apply. These applicants have to submit their application within 60 days from the date of receiving the invitation.
Provisions For Sponsors With Disabilities, Affected By COVID-19 Pandemic
Those sponsors who are unable to use the online medium for submitting their forms can avail of the accommodation provision made available by IRCC. They have the option to request an alternative format of the sponsor form such as in paper form, large print, or Braille. For these alternative forms, such sponsors can contact IRCC Client Support Centre at 1-888-242-2100. They can also ask for the alternative format via email until November 3, 2020.
The entire world has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. And the Canadian government is aware of this fact. That is why IRCC has come up with a temporary public policy in which it has reduced the income requirement for the 2020 tax year. This year IRCC will take into consideration the minimum necessary income which will be 30% less than regular.
In its report, the government has said that it understands how important it is for the families to stay together in such difficult times. And it hopes that with the launch of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program many such families will be able to come together. Reportedly, the Canadian government wants to approve 49,000 family sponsorship applications by the end of this year.
IRCC will be accepting a maximum of 10,000 applications as a part of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program this year. Next year, it will open sponsor forms for new intake online to accept around 30,000 new applications.