Parents & Grandparents Sponsorship 2024 (PGP) - Unfair & Unjust Process Continues
On Friday May 3rd 2024, the Canadian government made their intentions known loud & clear.
The Government of Canada is playing with the lives of hardworking & honest Canadian citizens & residents by keeping the Interest To Sponsor Form closed since 2020. For 4 years, IRCC has chosen from the same pool.
Why does this matter?
TL;DR
- Unfair Selection Pool: The Canadian government continues to select potential sponsors from a pool opened in 2020 for just a few weeks. There were no verification checks at the time. This pool includes entries that would have been illegible, if selected in 2020
- No Historical Income Verification: The government only verifies applicants' income for 3 latest years before they officially apply. This allows those who weren't eligible in 2020 but entered the pool anyway to now meet requirements and sponsor their parents or grandparents.
- Exclusion of Honest Applicants: Genuine applicants who followed the rules and waited for a new application opportunity since 2020 remain locked out due to the continued use of the same pool. The government even said the pool would re-open in 2021, but it never did.
- Government's Response: Government officials insist that the program remains fair and transparent, despite concerns about loopholes that could allow ineligible applicants to participate.
So what can we do?
Contact your MPs, and speak to the media to advocate for a fair and transparent sponsorship process.
The longer version (with FAQs at the end)
The interest to sponsor form was last opened by IRCC & the Canadian Government in 2020 for just 3 weeks. During the time the initial interest to sponsor form was open, it was communicated that the form will re-open in 2021. It did not, the Government went back on their word.
At the time of entry in 2020, there was no way for IRCC to verify potential sponsors income. If chosen from the 'lottery' PGP program requires potential sponsors to submit 3 years income (dependent on family size).
Each year since 2020 IRCC & the Canadian Government continues to select sponsors from the 2020 pool. The latest announcement by IRCC marks the 4th year in a row where IRCC us using the 2020 pool to select potential sponsors.
This is unfair & unjust, as there are many fraudulent entries in the 2020 pool. This is a strong word to use but remember, in the weeks the ITSF was open, IRCC did not choose to verify income before an interested sponsor pressed the submit button.
IRCC IS NOT verifying income for the 3 years prior to 2020. They are only verifying income from date of submission of the actual application. This was communicated in the Government's response to petition e-4180.
Potential sponsors who WERE NOT eligible in 2020, may have become eligible now. Those that fraudulently entered the pool in 2020, are being rewarded with a ticket to sponsor their parents. You will be able to see examples of such cases that have been sourced from social media channels.
Meanwhile genuine, honest Canadian residents & citizens who followed the rules, law & Government advice continue to be locked out of a chance to sponsor their parents.
This website is created to urge Marc Miller (immigration minister), IRCC & Government officials to give a fair chance to all eligible sponsors - everyone who is eligible deserves a chance to sponsor their parents.
Sign up using this link, when the petition is ready you will be emailed with a link to sign the petition that will be read in the House of Commons.
You will also find resources & templates on this website that you can use to contact your local MP.
Together, we can make our voices heard hold the Government to account. We deserve a fair and transparent process.
We do not deserve a process that involves secrecy and one rewards dishonesty.
The clear fact remains that there is no way for IRCC to remove entries from the pool that would not have been eligible to apply in 2020. They do not deserve a ticket to family reunification at the expense of honest, law-abiding, hardworking Canadians Citizens & Residents.
Parents & Grandparents 2024 - Why Canadians Disappointed & Angry [FAQs]
What is the Interest to Sponsor Form?
The "Interest to Sponsor" form is a document that Canadian citizens and permanent residents use to express their intention to sponsor their parents or grandparents for immigration to Canada. It's the initial step in the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) to show a desire to financially support and sponsor their family members for residency.
There was NO verification of required income during the initial phase that the form was open. You simply fill & submit. Around 200,000 people filled out the form in 2020. Currently, just over 100,000 remain.
How Are Potential Sponsors Chosen?
Those that submitted their interest are then chosen from a lottery. Since 2020, their have been multiple draws. Let's talk about the most recent.
In 2023, IRCC sent 24,200 invitations, with a view to receiving 15,000 complete applications. In 2024, IRCC will be sending 35,700, with a view to receiving 20,500 complete applications.
Therefore IRCC believes that nearly 40% of the current pool was not eligible in 2023, and 43% in 2024.
How Does IRCC Verify Income of a Potential Sponsor?
IRCC evaluate the income of 3 previous tax years. For 2024 this information can be found here. Now you see why this is a problem?
IRCC DO NOT EVALUATE THE INCOME 3 YEARS PRIOR TO 2020.
This means that someone who was not eligible in 2020, but then submitted their interest anyway, and was selected. They could now BE ELIGIBLE TO SPONSOR THEIR PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS.
Meanwhile someone who was honest in 2020, and waited until the next cycle is not being rewarded with the interest to sponsor form being frozen for the past 4 years.
What Does IRCC or the Immigration Minister Have to Say About This?
You can see for yourselves.
The Government are proud of their decision. In e-petition e-4180 the response, by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Marie-France Lalonde, M.P. states:
"All potential sponsors invited to apply as part of the 2022 intake were required to submit their application by December 24, 2022 and had to meet the income requirement for three previous tax years (2019, 2020, and 2021). As such, no potential sponsor randomly selected from the 2020 pool, who does not meet the necessary income requirements, is eligible for parent and grandparent sponsorship."
The basically refused to answer the question about the loophole.
In a CBC article, they further refuse to answer the question about the loophole.
Department spokesperson Isabelle Dubois said:
"IRCC is catching up on a list of 200,000 potential sponsors who expressed interest in 2020. Approximately 132,000 people remain in the pool.
"Given the volume of interest-to-sponsor forms received in 2020 that remain, IRCC will continue to use this pool of submissions for the 2023 intake," said Dubois in an emailed statement.
She also confirmed that IRCC will only be assessing the income of potential sponsors for the 2020-2022 tax years.
"No potential sponsor randomly selected from the 2020 pool, who does not meet the necessary eligibility requirements, is eligible for parent and grandparent sponsorship," she said.
"IRCC takes program integrity very seriously and is committed to ensuring our programs are fair and equally accessible."
Again, they refused to answer the question about the loophole.
It does not take a genius to work out that unless you verify the income of the sponsors for the 3 years prior to 2020, the freezing of the pool is absolutely unfair to sponsors that have been waiting since.
(A Canadian has been in touch - they have been waiting for 15 years. They did not qualify in 2020, took official advice & thought they would wait until 2021 when the form re-opens. Now they are locked out) This policy is damaging & affecting real people.
How Was The Interest To Sponsor Form Handled Before 2020?
Since the Liberal Government won the election, each year there has been a new interest to sponsor form. This idea of the form being full is a new phenomenon that was developed by governing bodies in 2020.
There has always been more demand than places. The PGP has been criticized in the past, but eligible folks have never been locked out in the way that they are now.
So What Can Be Done?
Contact your M.P.
Contact the Media (resources to be provided soon).
Sign the petition (once ready) to go.
Are People Really Disappointed and Angry?
Don't take our word for it. Look at the replies to IRCC's announcement on Facebook and X.