How to Sponsor Parents/Grandparents to Canada?

How to Sponsor Parents and Grandparents to Canada?

Every first month of the year, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reopen the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program (PGP). The catch is….there is a quota and it only lasted for 3 days to fill up that quota. That is fast! The trick here is to complete the requirements immediately so that by that time you are already ready to submit. So, here are the requirements for the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program.

1. Sponsor Eligibility

The sponsor should be any individual who is a Canadian Citizen, Registered Indian or Permanent Resident that is 18 years old or older.

Furthermore, the sponsor should meet the minimum necessary income to provide the basic requirements for the family members in Canada. Otherwise, the sponsor will need a co-signer to qualify.

2. Who cannot sponsor?

• Any individual in prison
• Any individual in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability
• Any individual who are subject to an immigration removal order
• Individuals convicted of crime
• Individuals who have provided false information to Immigration or who have not met conditions of entry
• Undischarged bankrupts

3. Calculating the family size

In order to determine the family size, you have to count yourself and your dependants. And your dependants includes your spouse, your children under 22 years old then the family members you are sponsoring (parents, grandparents and any of their children under 22 years old) and the number of persons you and your co-sponsor may have sponsored in the past.

4. Minimum Necessary Income

Once you determined the family size, look at the table below to help you decide if you have the financial ability to meet the sponsorship requirements. This calculation should be done with consideration and/or exclusion of any loans you might have, or if you have any insurance policies, like a Final Expense Insurance or similar burial insurance policies, that you have taken for your elderly loved ones.

Federal Income Table for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship

Size of Family Unit	Minimum Income 2016	Minimum Income 2015	Minimum Income 2014
2 persons	$39,371	$38,618	$38,272
3 persons	$48,404	$47,476	$47,051
4 persons	$58,768	$57,642	$57,125
5 persons	$66,654	$65,377	$64,791
6 persons	$75,174	$73,733	$73,072
7 persons	$83,695	$82,091	$81,355
If more than 7 persons, for each additional person, add	$8,522	$8,358	$8,271

Note: If you are applying in 2017, you must provide proof of income from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the taxation years of 2016, 2015 and 2014.

5. Eligible Co-signer

If the individual doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, the co-signer could be the spouse or common-law partner. Brothers, sisters, and children cannot co-sponsor. If this will be a problem, it may be best to figure out which of your siblings or children is willing and is best qualified to sponsor.

Assets, potential earnings, or assistance from other family members will not be considered.²

6. Sponsors and Co-sponsors Obligations

Sponsors and Co-sponsors agree to provide their parents/grandparents and their dependants the basic requirements such as food, clothing, utilities, personal requirements, shelter, fuel, household supplies and health care not provided by public health, such as eye and dental care for 20 years.

The undertaking ensures that these persons and their family members do not have to apply for social assistance. It is an unconditional promise of support. For example, the granting of Canadian citizenship, divorce, separation or relationship breakdown or moving to another province does not cancel the undertaking. The undertaking also remains in effect even if your financial situation deteriorates. ³

For other information about the Parents and Grandparents program (PGP) you can visit directly the CIC website.

In 2017, there have been changes in the program. You need to submit first a Letter of Intent to them that you wanted to sponsor your Parents/Grandparents. And then wait for their response if you have the go signal to submit the complete application package. Once you are qualified and got an email from IRCC, the application package includes the following and their PDF files are available at this link.

• Document Checklist
• Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking
• Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (if applicable)
• Generic Application Form for Canada
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (if applicable)
• Additional Family Information
• Use of a Representative (if applicable)
• Fee Payment Form
• Instruction Guide

UPDATED: THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS 2017 FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE, CLICK HERE OR COPY THIS LINK TO YOUR BROWSER. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/sponsor-parents.asp

Related Stories: 3 Major Changes on Parents/Grandparents Sponsorship Program 2017

Source:

¹ CIC application guide 5772, before you apply, Federal Income Table for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship.

² CIC application guide 5772, May I have a Co-signer?

³ CIC application guide 5772, what does it mean to sponsor parents and grandparents?

Parents and Grandparents Application Guide

Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents

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