Canada pauses immigration applications for parent, grandparent sponsorship

The Canadian federal government has announced a temporary halt to accepting new applications for its parent and grandparent sponsorship program. This decision means individuals wishing to sponsor their parents or grandparents to come to Canada will have to wait, as no new applications will be processed this year.

Immigration officials stated that the pause is part of an effort to "responsibly manage the system." The primary goal is to reduce the lengthy wait times currently associated with the program, which average around three years. By stopping new intake, the department aims to focus on processing the existing backlog.

Currently, there are 60,500 applications already in the pipeline. The government anticipates approving 15,000 parents and grandparents annually over the next two years from these existing files. The program, launched in 2020, saw significant interest, with over 200,000 permanent residents and citizens expressing a desire to sponsor family members.

The pause on accepting new applications is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice. This measure impacts many families hoping to reunite with their loved ones in Canada.