Sponsoring Indian Parents: Canada Gives Bad News?

For a long time now, Canada had been imposing a new regulation where a permanent resident of the country will have the legalisation to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada upon government sponsorship.

However, the latest developments are suggesting that Canada has started to scrap this program to the fullest capacity. Canada has temporarily paused its Parents and Grandparents Program, stopping the acceptance of new applications for permanent residency under this sponsorship pathway. The decision means that Canadian citizens and permanent residents cannot submit fresh applications to sponsor their parents or grandparents at this time.

Immigration authorities have clarified that the pause applies only to new submissions. Applications that were already filed in earlier rounds will continue to be processed as per existing rules.In recent years, the program has faced heavy demand, leading to long waiting periods and a growing backlog. By suspending new intakes, the government aims to focus on clearing pending cases and managing overall immigration levels more effectively.

The pause has created uncertainty for many families who were planning to reunite permanently with their parents or grandparents in Canada. However, officials have indicated that this is a temporary measure and does not signal the end of the program. No specific timeline has been announced for when new applications will reopen.

In the meantime, families looking to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada can explore alternative options such as long term visitor arrangements, including the Super Visa, which allows extended stays without permanent residency status. Immigration authorities are expected to provide further updates once a decision is made on resuming the program.