10,000 parents to be sponsored in 2020. Parents and Grandparents Program reopening announced
On October 5, 2020, the Federal Immigration Department (IRCC) finally announced the reopening of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This year, Canadians will be allocated only 10,000 spots, while for the next year, Canada plans to allow 30,000 applications. The major change in the program is a return to the random lottery system among all interested to sponsor their parents or grandparents. This signalizes about the failure of the first-come, first-served approach introduced in 2019. On the other hand, IRCC eases the financial requirement for sponsors and reducing the income requirement to the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30%. All candidates will have a window from October 13, 2020, to November 3, 2020, to submit an Interest to Sponsor (IOS). Once the registration is over, IRCC will randomly select candidates and distribute invitations to apply to potential sponsors. Once invited, sponsors will have sixty days to submit a complete application with all supporting documentation.
#Family_immigration, #parents_sponsorship, #PGP, #Parental_sponsorship #Parents_and_Grandparents_sponsorship, #IRCC
Canada introduced instruction for processing applications of the LGBT candidates
On October 5, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the program instructions for applicants with a diverse sexual orientation or gender identity or expression (SOGIE). The new instructions are provided to ensure SOGIE applicants are processed without discrimination and receive the needed support throughout their processing and after arrival in Canada. Officers are instructed to conduct country-specific research on SOGIE discriminations in the home country of applicants as well as to handle interviews with extra sensitivity.
#SOGIE, #LGBT, #Refugees, #Asylum_seekers, #IRCC
DLIs to reopen to international students
Starting October 20, designated learning institutions (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by their province or territory will be able to reopen to international students who are currently outside Canada. A new list of DLIs with approved COVID-19 readiness plans will be available on or before this date. However, IRCC did not reveal how many schools have readiness plans approved. This has caused many international students to feel uneasy. The new regulation can likely cause a number of students to lose their eligibility to enter the country if their schools did not submit a readiness plan to the province or receive approval.
#International_students, #DLI, #study_in_Canada, #COVID_19
16,000 non-Canadian entered Canada in one week
Despite the widespread belief that Canada’s border is closed, there are many exceptions that allow foreign workers, Canadian citizens and permanent residents and their families, international students and others to enter the country. More than 49,000 travellers arrived in Canada by air during the week of September 21-27, including more than 16,000 non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents, according to the Canadian Border Service Agency. Everyone who enters the country must be quarantined for 14 days. However, not all travellers abide by this rule, as evidenced by the news of various violations of the Quarantine Act. Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety of Canada, said 2% to 3% of infections are related to international travel.
#travel_restriction, #travel_exemptions, #COVID_19, #CBSA
