Dear Mr Brown:

I am a Canadian citizen who would like to file for my father to become a citizen of Canada. When will the programme reopen?

— DE

Dear DE:

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada announced that the programme for sponsoring the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to become permanent residents will reopen on January 3, 2017.

There will be a quota of a maximum of 10,000 applications. As such, due to the fact that the quota is expected to be reached very quickly, I would encourage you to prepare to make submissions on January 3, 2017. However, applications received before this date will not be processed.

Requirements

The requirements for you to be a sponsor 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.

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

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

You would not be able to sponsor your mother under the following circumstances:

• You are in receipt of social assistance (for a reason other than disability).

• You are in default of an undertaking, an immigration loan, a performance bond, or family support payments.

• You are an undischarged bankrupt.

• You were convicted of an offence of a sexual nature, a violent criminal offence, an offence against a relative that results in bodily harm, or an attempt or threat to commit any such offences, depending on the nature of the offence, how long ago it was committed and whether a pardon was issued.

• You are under a removal order.

• You are detained in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory, or prison.

Super visas

Due to quotas set to address significant backlogs, the programme closes once the allocation is reached. As an alternative, parents and grandparents are encouraged to apply for Parent and Grandparent Super Visas, which allows for extended periods of time (up to two years) to visit with family in Canada, which may be valid for up to 10 years. It is a convenient means of parents and grandparents to be connected with family in Canada, although they would not have the permanent resident status.

For further information on Express Entry or the Study and Work progamme, please visit