compiled by Emili TK
OTTAWA – Canada has temporarily paused the acceptance of new permanent residency sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents, as announced in a ministerial directive.
The directive, published in the Canada Gazette, emphasizes the government’s commitment to family reunification while prioritizing the processing of applications received in previous years.
Key Updates on Immigration Policy
In the directive, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that this measure is intended to “best support” the government’s goals for immigration and family reunification.
To address a significant backlog, new sponsorships in various immigration streams have also been paused.
Focus on Clearing Backlogs
As part of the government’s immigration levels plan, which outlines a gradual reduction in immigration targets over the next three years, more than 24,000 admissions through the parent and grandparent sponsorship stream are planned for 2024.
The directive specifies that no more than 15,000 applications submitted through the family reunification program will be processed in 2024.
Program Details and Challenges
In 2024, 35,700 individuals were randomly invited to submit sponsorship applications, with a target of processing 20,500 applications. However, the backlog remains a challenge.
According to the 2024 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, tabled by Minister Miller, there were over 40,000 parent and grandparent sponsorship applications pending as of the end of 2023. The report also highlighted that the average processing time for these applications was approximately 24 months.
What This Means for Families
While the government reiterates its commitment to reuniting families, the pause reflects a strategic shift to focus on reducing existing processing times and clearing the application inventory, ensuring a more streamlined immigration system in the long term.
