Sponsoring Parent or Grandparent from the USA - program on hold?

[VermiciousKnish]

Looking to sponsor a parent from the USA but saw this notice on the CIC website:

"Citizenship and Immigration Canada has now received 5,000 complete applications and the new intake into the PGP program will again pause until next year. The government will continue to move forward with the Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification by reducing backlogs, improving processing times and reuniting families more quickly. For those who wish to bring their families to Canada, the Super Visa still remains a quick and easy way to reunite parents and grandparents with their loved ones."

Does this mean they are not accepting applications? Or simply that it will take longer to process them? It says there is a 46 month wait for sponsor assessment but then NY visa office simply has a "--" for processing times. If one can still apply what would you peg the total processing time at? Would it be safe to say that this is a 5 year wait??

 

[Aquakitty]

The parent/grandparent stream will reopen on Jan 2st 2016. So, you have to have your application at their doorstep on day 1, Jan 1st 2016. I think it is safe to say it will take 5 years, but no way to know. Maybe they will speed it up now.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The parent/grandparent stream will reopen on Jan 2st 2016. So, you have to have your application at their doorstep on day 1, Jan 1st 2016. I think it is safe to say it will take 5 years, but no way to know. Maybe they will speed it up now.

Incorrect. Jan 1st is a holiday and Jan 2nd is a Saturday, so CIC will start accepting applications on Jan 4th.

 

[VermiciousKnish]

Can I send it now or ealier? Or are they actually refusing applications until the 4rth of January? (or 2nd)

 

[screech339]

Can I send it now or ealier? Or are they actually refusing applications until the 4rth of January? (or 2nd)

They will return the application unopened to tell you to apply Jan 4th 2016 if they receive any application before first business day of the new year.

 

[VermiciousKnish]

Wow! Ok. So they really are not accepting applications until then. Good to know.

Besides a super-visa then, any other quicker ways for a parent(s) to become a PR? Older set of parents (in their mid 80's) want to spend their final years with their daughter in law and grandkids here in Canada. They live in the USA now. Any compassionate grounds possibilities? What about if they agree to use private health care services or something? At this rate...they may not still be kicking when CIC finally processes their application :-\

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Wow! Ok. So they really are not accepting applications until then. Good to know.

Besides a super-visa then, any other quicker ways for a parent(s) to become a PR? Older set of parents (in their mid 80's) want to spend their final years with their daughter in law and grandkids here in Canada. They live in the USA now. Any compassionate grounds possibilities? What about if they agree to use private health care services or something? At this rate...they may not still be kicking when CIC finally processes their application :-\

No, there is no other way for them to become PRs. PRs have the right to medical coverage, so saying that they will use private health care doesn't matter when it comes to a PR app.

 

[Rob_TO]

Wow! Ok. So they really are not accepting applications until then. Good to know.

Besides a super-visa then, any other quicker ways for a parent(s) to become a PR? Older set of parents (in their mid 80's) want to spend their final years with their daughter in law and grandkids here in Canada. They live in the USA now. Any compassionate grounds possibilities? What about if they agree to use private health care services or something? At this rate...they may not still be kicking when CIC finally processes their application :-\

Sometimes H&C cases work for parents, but usually this is only the case when 1 parent has passed away and the remaining parent has no more family or little support in their home country. For a regular case of both parents being sponsored from USA, I doubt a H&C application would be successful.

As mentioned above, there is no such thing as private health care in Canada so there is no point in even trying that strategy. Besides, that would only be an issue if your parents had some medical condition that may bar them from being approved due to excessive demand on our health care system.

CIC will just accept the first 5000 applications they receive on the first business day of 2016, which will be January 4. If you want to apply then you will need to have your application completed and sent with a courier beforehand, with their guarantee they will be first in line when the CPC-Mississauga office open on Jan 4. And you will need to include your CRA income statements showing you meet the minimum income amounts for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Most likely the entire 5000 apps will be received during the first day, so even people that get their app to CIC on Jan 4 will end up needing to wait until 2017.

 

[Aquakitty]

So, why were people saying the 1st? How did you guys find out they are only courting the 4th?

 

[screech339]

So, why were people saying the 1st? How did you guys find out they are only courting the 4th?

Jan 1st is new year's day. A holiday that falls on a Friday. CIC offices are not open on weekends. So Jan 2-3rd is a no-go. That leaves Jan 4th as the first business day open of the new year.