Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Intake

Summary#

These are Ministerial Instructions with respect to the processing of applications for a permanent resident visa made by parents or grandparents of a sponsor as members of the family class under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. They set rules and timelines for a fall 2020 intake and say up to 40,000 sponsorship applications will be accepted for processing in 2021, with the Instructions coming into force on August 4, 2021.

What it does#

• Limits intake and processing
  • After the 2020 expression-of-interest period (duplicates removed and invitations randomized), a maximum of 40,000 sponsorship applications from invited sponsors’ parents and grandparents will be accepted for processing in 2021.
• Controls how people enter the intake pool
  • Prospective sponsors had to file an “interest to sponsor” electronically during the period in 2020 that began at noon Eastern daylight time on October 13, 2020 and ended at noon Eastern standard time on November 3, 2020. Duplicate entries are removed, keeping only the most recent.
  • If someone could not use the online system because of a disability, they could request an alternative format between noon Eastern daylight time on September 30, 2020 and noon Eastern standard time on November 3, 2020; any alternative-format submission had to be returned within 25 working days of the Department sending it.
• Sets invitation and application rules
  • Invitations to apply are chosen by randomized selection from non-duplicate interests to sponsor and are not transferable.
  • A sponsorship application must match the information on the interest to sponsor or explain and provide evidence for any changes.
  • Sponsors must submit their sponsorship application and supporting documents within 60 days of the invitation. If fees and the application arrive within 60 days but some documents are missing, the Department normally grants an extra 30 days (total 90 days) to provide the missing items.
  • The sponsored parent/grandparent’s permanent resident visa application must also be received within 60 days of the invite (with the same possible 30-day extension for missing documents).
• Requires electronic filing
  • Sponsorship and permanent resident visa applications submitted on or after the Instructions’ effective date must be submitted online, except where an alternative means is provided for people with a disability.
• Processing order and outcomes
  • Applications that meet the Instructions’ conditions are processed in the order they are received.
  • Applications that do not meet the conditions will be returned.
• Administrative changes
  • These Instructions repeal the earlier Ministerial Instructions published on October 10, 2020, effective August 4, 2021.

Who's affected#

• People who applied in the fall 2020 “interest to sponsor” intake to sponsor their parents or grandparents.
• Parents and grandparents who would be sponsored under the family class and their potential sponsors in Canada.
• Sponsors and applicants who need to file documents electronically (or request accommodations if they have a disability).
• Immigration practitioners and community helpers who assist families with sponsorship paperwork.
• If a sponsor or applicant fails to meet the timelines or documentation requirements, their application could be returned.

Why it matters#

• There is a clear cap — 40,000 applications for processing in 2021 — so not everyone who expressed interest in 2020 will necessarily move forward unless invited. That affects how quickly families can reunite.
• Strict timelines and the requirement to file online mean invited sponsors must act quickly and prepare digital documents in advance. Missing items or late filings can lead to a returned application.
• The randomized invitation process reduces predictability about who gets invited. People and support organizations need to watch for invites and be ready to submit complete applications within the set deadlines.
• The Instructions also standardize how accommodations for disabilities are handled during intake, which matters for accessibility.