IRCC will delay its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2020 immigration lottery. Their decision is to postpone it until early next year.
The plan was to let the lottery take place by the end of December 2020. However, several factors are behind this delay. This includes the recent global pandemic.
IRCC had opened the PGP 2020 expression of interest (EOI) window to all the potential sponsor. This window was open from October 13 to November 3, 2020.
Canadian PRs and citizens were allowed to fill out a form during this period. The form was to notify the IRCC of their intention to sponsor their parents or grandparents to enter Canada.
Once the forms got submitted, IRCC was to organize a lottery to invite up to 10,000 sponsors. These sponsors would be asked to submit their PGP applications.
On the IRCC website, you will find a notice stating that they were planning to hold a lottery by this year-end: “sponsors will be invited to apply near the end of the year, so we expect to get applications in early 2021 (likely January and February).”
IRCC Explains the Reason behind the Delay
IRCC has explained a few factors that are the primary cause of the delay in the PGP lottery.
“We’re currently working through this year’s submissions to remove duplicates and we will further generate a randomized list and will begin to send out invitations to apply. Because the program opened later than usual this year, and due to ongoing circumstances beyond our control such as the global pandemic, potential sponsors will be invited to apply early in 2021. We are updating our website to reflect this.”
What to Expect From the 2021 PGP?
2021 is all set to be a big one for the PGP. Once the PGP 2020 lottery completes, invited sponsors will have a maximum of 60 days to submit their applications to the IRCC.
There has been an announcement made by the IRCC for the PGP 2021. They have said that the PGP 2021 window will be triple the size of the 2020 version.
IRCC will also open a new EOI window and invite a maximum of 30,000 sponsors under the 2021 program.
Apart from the PGP, Canadian PR holders and citizens can use the Super Visa Program to invite their parents and grandparents to Canada. These will be renewable visas valid for up to 10 years.
Get in touch with us on WhatsApp or Call us at 905-671-4442. You may even email us at info@immigrationterminal.ca if you have any queries about your PGP application.