Parents and Grandparents Program 2020 Deferral

Policy effect

The 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program intake was delayed to refocus departmental resources on COVID-19 priorities.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices.html) # Update on 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program **Ottawa, March 27, 2020—**Due to the current focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will delay the opening of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program to accepting new applications. The launch of the annual call for expressions of interest to apply was anticipated in the coming weeks. Given the present circumstances, however, we are prioritizing our efforts to contribute to the whole-of-government response to the pandemic. It is important to note that the temporary deferral of the launch of the 2020 call for applications is not expected to impact when parents and grandparents will arrive in our country, and that processing of these applications continues. The Government of Canada remains strongly committed to family reunification, and IRCC is committed to opening the program as soon as possible. Details on the opening of the PGP Program will be posted [online](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents.html …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Canada changes operative in 2020

• 2020-01-01Temporary Freeze on the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
• 2020-01-02Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
• 2020-03-18COVID-19 Border Restrictions and Essential Exemptions
• 2020-03-20Pandemic Protections for International Students and PGWP
• 2020-04-09Mandatory Electronic Application Submission and Visitor Processing Suspension
• 2020-04-20Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Emergencies Act and Quarantine Act)
• 2020-04-22Alignment and Factors for Immigration Performance Guarantees and Deposits
• 2020-04-22Temporary Removal of Off-Campus Work Limit for International Students in Essential Services
• 2020-04-29Suspension of Non-Essential Visitor Visa Processing and Biometrics Extension
• 2020-04-30Permanent Residence Application Fee Increases
• 2020-05-06Temporary Foreign Worker Expedited Work Permit and Job Change Public Policy
• 2020-05-15Implementation of the Agri-Food Immigration Class (Agri-Food Pilot)
• 2020-06-05Temporary Biometrics Exemption for Essential Sectors
• 2020-06-08Border Reopening and Entry Exemption for Immediate Family Members
• 2020-06-10Ministerial Instructions on Temporary Resident Processing Restrictions
• 2020-07-01Mandatory Online Submission for Temporary Resident Applications
• 2020-07-15Biometrics Collection Exemption for In-Canada Temporary Residence
• 2020-08-24Temporary Public Policy Allowing In-Land Visitors to Apply for Employer-Specific Work Permits
• 2020-08-26Expansion of 100% Online Distance Learning Facilitation for PGWP Eligibility
• 2020-08-31Express Entry Ministerial Instruction Amending ITA Application Submission Validity to 90 Days
• 2020-09-22Biometrics Exemption for Permanent Residence Applicants Who Previously Submitted Biometrics Within 10 Years
• 2020-09-29Re-Opening and Intake Rules for Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP 2020)
• 2020-10-01Ministerial Instructions 42 (MI42): Mandatory Electronic Applications
• 2020-10-08Border Restriction Exemption for Extended Family Members and Compassionate Entry
• 2020-10-20International Student Border Reopening for Approved DLIs
• 2020-10-27Increased Express Entry CRS Points for French-Speaking Candidates
• 2020-11-06Relaxed Work Experience Requirements for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
• 2020-11-30Launch of Citizenship Grant Electronic Application (e-App)
• 2020-12-09Coming into Force of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act
• 2020-12-14Temporary Public Policy for Certain Refugee Claimants Working in the Health Care Sector (Rest of Canada)
• 2020-12-14Temporary Public Policy for Health Care Workers Selected by Quebec During COVID-19
• 2020-12-16Special Open Work Permit for Stranded Agricultural Workers from Trinidad and Tobago