Parent And Grandparent Program (Video Topic)

1. Parent And Grandparent Program (Video Topic) Canadian fall has definitely arrived, at least in Toronto, as the temperatures are falling together with the leaves. And as the calendar approaches the end of 2015, there should be one objective in sight for adult children looking to sponsor their parents to immigrate to Canada from their home countries – the Parent and Grandparent Program. The very popular Parent and Grandparent Program, which allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign parents and grandparents to come to Canada, is expected to reopen in January, 2016. If the previous two year experience after new criteria were introduced are any indication, the application cap will be filled quite quickly. In 2014, the 5,000 application cap was filled in just three weeks; last year, in 2015 the cap was filled in a matter of a couple of days. There is every reason to believe that the application cap will be filled very quickly this coming January, as fast if not faster than previous years. So why is the program so popular? Obviously family reunification in Canada remains the most compelling reason. There are many prospective sponsors and their families living in Canada who have no other family members or close relatives living in the country. They lack family support and this programs offers them the means to reunite their family permanently in Canada. Fortunately for them, one of the key objectives of Canada’s immigration policy is just that – family reunification in Canada, therefore contributing to the overall success of the Parent and Grandparent Program. Further attention will be paid to this program following the Canadian Elections on October 19th, to determine what changes, if any, are brought into the program to fulfill any promises made by opposition parties, should they assume power. In the meantime, it reasonably follows that, the better prepared an interested sponsor and applicant are in advance of the 2016 program window opening, the better the chances their application will be accepted within the submission window in January. There are several criteria in order to qualify for sponsoring a parent or grandparent: You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada You must be 18 years of age or older You must not be receiving any government financial assistance for reasons other than a disability You must not be in prison You must not have defaulted on an immigration loan (late or missed payments) and you must not have declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it You must not be currently sponsoring another individual into Canada You must meet certain income requirements For more information about sponsoring your parents or grandparents as Canadian permanent residents, contact the immigration professionals at Mamann, Sandaluk & Kingwell for a consultation about your specific circumstances, and to confirm whether you qualify to act as a sponsor. Mamann, Sandaluk & Kingwell LLP is one of Canada’s leading teams in Canadian and US immigration law, helping individuals and businesses with their immigration needs since 1988. Their team of expert lawyers in Toronto and Mississauga can speak your language and provide professional and expert immigration advice, no matter your issue. For the latest immigration news, follow them on Facebook or Google+, or visit their website (www.migrationlaw.com).