The Family Class is a Canadian immigration stream through which Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor close family members such as spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, and parents. Successful applicants under this program receive Canadian permanent residency.

In 2012, Canada welcomed 65,000 new permanent residents through this program. This includes a 60 percent increase in visa issuance to parents and grandparents, the highest amount in 20 years. CIC has made it clear that the parent and grandparent category, which has suffered from a significant application backlog, is a priority until application numbers can be brought down significantly.

“By reducing the backlog through increased admissions, we have dramatically reduced wait times so that parents and grandparents no longer have to wait close to a decade to be reunited with loved ones,” said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

It is anticipated that the parent and grandparent backlog will be reduced by 50 percent by the end of 2013.

Another popular option for bringing parents and grandparents to Canada is the new Super Visa program. This program, while not a path to Permanent Residency, allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada as visitors for an extended period of time. Since opening last year, over 1,000 Super Visas have been issued each month.

Ultimately, the goal of Family Class immigration is to promote family reunification. “The actions taken by the government are helping more families reunite,” said Minister Kenney. “We have created additional avenues and flexibility, so that an increasing number of families can spend more time with each other.”