Parents and grandparents sponsorship cap doubled for the 2016 intake year

Policy effect

Effective February 27, 2016, Canada increased the maximum number of new complete parents and grandparents sponsorship applications accepted for processing from 5,000 to 10,000 for the cap year that began on January 2, 2016. The same amendment changed that cap year’s end date from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2016. Other provisions of the earlier processing instructions remained in effect.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Effective February 27, 2016, Canada increased the maximum number of new complete parents and grandparents sponsorship applications accepted for processing from 5,000 to 10,000 for the cap year that began on January 2, 2016.

Official source excerpt

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

… given to best support the attainment of the immigration goals established by the Government of Canada. These Instructions contribute to a strategy to facilitate family reunification and fulfill the Government of Canada's commitment to double new application intake to a maximum of 10 000 applications annually. By these Instructions, the Ministerial Instructions regarding the processing of applications to sponsor parents and grandparents as members of the family class, published in Part I of the Canada Gazette on June 15, 2013, are amended in the following manner: (a) the cap year that began on January 2, 2016, will end on December 31, 2016, instead of ending on January 1, 2017; and (b) for the cap year beginning January 2, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2016, a maximum of 10 000 new complete applications for sponsorship of parents and grandparents as members of the family class will be accepted for processing instead of a maximum of 5 000 new complete applications. For greater certainty, all other provisions of the Ministerial Instructions regarding the processing of applications to sponsor parents and grandparents as members of the family class, published in Part I of the Canada Gazette on June 15, 2013, remain in effect. These Instructions come into force on the day they are signed by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. JOHN McCALLUM, P.C., M.P. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration [9-1-o] …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Canada changes operative in 2016

• 2016-03-11Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2016-37)
• 2016-03-11Revised passenger reservation information privacy regime
• 2016-03-15Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
• 2016-04-01Canada restores equal basic, supplemental and prescription coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program
• 2016-05-07Employer-sanction grounds for work permit revocation updated
• 2016-11-19Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System, 2016-1
• 2016-11-19Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Skilled Worker) (SOR/2016-298)
• 2016-12-01Temporary Resident Visa Exemption for Citizens of Mexico (SOR/2016-293)
• 2016-12-15Ministerial Instructions on Spousal and Dependent Child Sponsorship Application Intake Simplification
• 2016-12-16Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2016-316)