Canada has announced a temporary pause on accepting new parent and grandparent permanent residency sponsorship applications, as stated in a ministerial directive published in the Canada Gazette. The move aims to address existing backlogs while ensuring the government’s commitment to family reunification.
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Focus on Family Reunification Amid Immigration Backlog
Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized that the decision aligns with the government’s broader goals of improving immigration processing efficiency. According to Miller, pausing new applications will “best support” family reunification efforts while addressing delays caused by an overwhelmed immigration system.
This decision comes as part of Canada’s immigration levels plan, which includes an overall reduction in immigration targets over the next three years.
Current Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Goals
The government remains committed to reuniting families under the parent and grandparent program. Here are the key numbers for 2024:
- 2024 Admission Goal: More than 24,000 people through the parent and grandparent stream.
- Processing Target: A maximum of 15,000 applications submitted in 2024 under the family reunification program will be processed.
- Application Invitations: 35,700 individuals were randomly selected to submit applications in 2024, with a target to accept 20,500 of these applications.
These figures aim to balance family reunification with addressing the backlog of applications currently in the system.
Backlog Challenges in Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship
According to the 2024 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, Canada ended 2023 with more than 40,000 parent and grandparent sponsorship applications in its inventory. The average processing time for these applications is currently 24 months, highlighting the challenges faced by the immigration system.
Broader Impacts on Canada’s Immigration System
The decision to pause new applications is not limited to the parent and grandparent program. Other immigration streams have also seen temporary halts to sponsorships as part of broader efforts to clear existing backlogs.
This approach is expected to bring discipline to an overheated immigration system, which has been under strain due to high demand and resource limitations.
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What’s Next for Family Reunification?
While new applications are paused, the Canadian government reiterates its commitment to family reunification as a core principle of its immigration policy. The measures taken aim to improve processing times and ensure that families are reunited more efficiently.
For applicants and sponsors, staying informed about updates to immigration policies and monitoring announcements from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be essential.
By addressing backlogs and streamlining immigration processes, Canada hopes to create a more sustainable system that continues to prioritize family reunification without compromising efficiency.
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