Dear Mr Brown:

My family and I left Jamaica some years ago to permantly settle in Canada. While in Jamaica, my mother played a key role in the nuturing of my children. Now, I am considering filing for her so she can be with them in Canada. Do you think this is a wise move?

— AW

Dear AW:

The current processing time for reunification of parents and grandparents is upwards of four years. Applications submitted on or before November 2011 are being processed. The current processing time for sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner is over two years if they live in Canada and upwards of 17 months for those living outside the country.

Long processing times

Long processing times

Immigration Minister John McCallum announced the Canadian government’s priority to reduce processing times for Canadians who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents, spouses and common-law partners, children and caregivers. The government has budgeted an additional $25 million to reduce application processing times in 2016-2017, followed by an additional $50 million a year for the following three years.

New quota for parents/grandparents

New quota for parents/grandparents

The government has received over 14,000 new applications from Canadians who wish to sponsor their parents and grandparents when the programme reopened recently. The application period is now closed and the Immigration Department will retain the first 10,000 completed applications. This approach is in contrast to that of the previous government, which put a freeze on new applications in order to reduce the backlog of eight years in 2011 and introduced an annual limit of 5,000 when the programm reopened in 2014.

Super Visa

Super Visa

As an alternative, parents and grandparents were encouraged to apply for parent and grandparentsuper visas, which allow for extended periods of time (up to two years) to visit with family in Canada. The super visa may be valid for up to 10 years and is a convenient means for parents and grandparents to be connected with family in Canada, although they would not have the permanent resident status.

The requirements for eligible sponsors in Canada include:

• Being 18 years of age or older;

• Being a Canadian citizen, Registered Indian or permanent resident;

• Sponsoring a member of the Family Class;

• Living in Canada;

• Signing an unconditional undertaking promising to provide for the basic requirements of the person being sponsored for 20 years, which includes food, clothing, shelter, utilities, fuel, and household supplies, healthcare, and so forth;

• Signing an agreement with your mother that confirms that each of you understands your mutual obligations and responsibilities; and

• Proving that you have sufficient income to provide the basic requirements for your family members in Canada as well as your mother, whether as a single person or with a co-signer, if applicable (spouse or common-law partner).

Please visit

jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, Visitor’s visas or appeals, etc.