Parent Sponsorship

[gertner]

I just heard about changes in the parents/grandparents sponsorship and it seems that lottery is supposed to be open at the beginning of each year for 10,000 people.
I am only child and my mother lives alone abroad. My father passed away. She is 70 years of age and healthy. I am eligible and financially capable to provide a sponsorship, but it seems that it will be very difficult with this new CIC policy. Since I am the only person to whom my mother can rely on, I am wondering if there is any other option to sponsor my mother and get her to Canada to live with me and my wife.
I realize that Canadian citizens/permanent residents could sponsor other relatives (siblings, aunt, uncle) and I would be surprised that I cannot sponsor my only parent.
I would very appreciate if someone could advise me what to do.

 

[Buletruck]

The only way you can sponsor siblings/aunts/uncles is if you fall into the lonely Canadian category. Otherwise you can't sponsor them. Honestly, the Canadian government doesn't place a priority on PGP, hence the limited number of available visas each year

 

[gertner]

Thank you for your response. Is there any way to bring one parent who has no more children, no spouse and highly dependent on me??
It was easier before, you were allowed to apply, it make take 3-4 years, but finally it will happen. Now it may never happen.

 

[Buletruck]

Apply for a TRV or Supervisa. That's about the only other way I know of. Others could have better ideas, but I think your options beyond that are fairly limited or very complex and drawn out.

 

[gertner]

Thank you. It seems that it would be very difficult to get super visa for her because over time she will be less and less capable to function independently and demonstrate an ability to demonstrate ties to her home country, financial independence there, etc. She has no any close relatives in our home country anymore. Our goal is to bring her to Canada to live the rest of her life with us. Is there any chance with the application on the humanitarian and compassionate grounds?

 

[Rob_TO]

. Is there any chance with the application on the humanitarian and compassionate grounds?

You can try, but the first step is to get her a TRV approved since she must be physically in Canada to even attempt a H&C application.

 

[gertner]

Could she stay as a visitor in Canada to try H&C application. She has a visa exempt passport.
What is the process of the H&C application?

 

[scylla]

Could she stay as a visitor in Canada to try H&C application. She has a visa exempt passport.
What is the process of the H&C application?

She can certainly come to Canada and try the H&C route. (Note that the acceptance rate is low and you really would be better off sponsoring her through the parent/grandparent stream.) If she holds a visa exempt passport, she will need an ETA to come to Canada.

Detailed information about the H&C process is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/handc.asp

 

[Rob_TO]

Could she stay as a visitor in Canada to try H&C application. She has a visa exempt passport.
What is the process of the H&C application?

There have been some successful cases of H&C apps for parents where they have no spouse and no other family to care for them in their home country.

As mentioned though H&C cases are difficult and can be very hard to get approved. Might be good to talk to an immigration lawyer experienced with H&C cases.

 

[gertner]

Thank you very much for all your responses. The situation around successful H&C cases is exactly the same situation as with my mother. After my father died, she is left alone with no family support and little social support left in her home country.

 

[gertner]

I don't mind to apply through the parent/grandparent sponsorship, but it seems that it is now more the type of lottery and I am not sure about the likelihood of being invited to apply.

 

[scylla]

I don't mind to apply through the parent/grandparent sponsorship, but it seems that it is now more the type of lottery and I am not sure about the likelihood of being invited to apply.

Do you qualify from an income perspective? If so, did you enter the lottery?

One of the previous arguments under H&C for people in your situation was that the parent/grandparent stream took a very long time. Processing times have significantly dropped (it's shorter that H&C processing). So if you qualify from an income perspective, hopefully you entered the lottery.

 

[gertner]

Yes, I qualify from the income perspective, but I did not know about the new rules for the parent/grandparent stream until few days ago.
Actually, I wanted to apply and then I realized that it is too late (deadline was on February 2nd).
In spite of this drop in the waiting time for parent sponsorship my concern is a low chance of being randomly selected for this opportunity even to apply. I did not know that an application on the H&C ground may take also long time; thank you for this information.

 

[gertner]

Do anyone know if processing the case may go faster if the application was made and supported by an immigration lawyer?
I understand that processing time for parents/grandparents stream will continue be going down because of the limited number of randomly selected applicants starting from January this year, but with this new policy on the parents/grandparents stream there will be people who will never get a chance to apply.

 

[Rob_TO]

Do anyone know if processing the case may go faster if the application was made and supported by an immigration lawyer?

No, using a lawyer doesn't speed up the application. Either way the app gets mailed and goes through the regular processing, same as everyone else.

However using a lawyer for more complex cases like a H&C case, may offer a better chance of success overall if they can guide you in how to best put together the application to ensure the H&C claim is accepted. Just make sure the lawyer truly does have experience with successful H&C cases.
Getting a bad lawyer can be worse and slower than doing it yourself if they give you bad advise or make mistakes in your app.