(Express News Service)- Canada has temporarily halted accepting new applications for parent and grandparent permanent residency sponsorships to focus on clearing the backlog of existing cases, according to a directive issued by Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
The directive, published in the Canada Gazette, reaffirms the government’s commitment to family reunification but prioritises processing applications submitted last year. Miller noted that this decision aligns with the government’s broader immigration goals.
To streamline operations, other immigration streams have also seen new sponsorships paused. As part of its immigration levels plan, which targets a reduced overall intake over the next three years, the government aims to admit up to 15,000 applications submitted through the family reunification program this year.
In 2024, 35,700 randomly selected candidates were invited to apply under the program, with a goal of accepting 20,500 applications.
According to the 2024 annual report on immigration tabled by Miller, there were over 40,000 parent and grandparent sponsorship applications pending as of the end of 2023. The report also highlighted that the average processing time for these applications is currently 24 months.
This pause, a government spokesman said, will enable it to manage the backlog efficiently while maintaining its commitment to family reunification.