Backgrounder — Action plan for faster family reunification – update

by | Nov 7, 2013 | News | 0 comments

News Source:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2013/2013-10-29a.asp

October 29, 2013

Action Plan for Faster Family Re-unification: Phase I

  1. In 2012 and 2013, over 50,000 parents and grandparents will be admitted as permanent residents – the highest levels in 20 years
  2. The new Super Visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows parents and grandparents to remain in Canada for 2 years at a time
    • Over 26,000 issued since 2011 with high 84% approval rate
  3. A temporary pause on new permanent resident applications
  4. Consult with Canadians on how to redesign program to ensure it is fiscally sustainable and avoids future backlogs
    • Roundtables across the country, polling, focus groups, online consultations with highest response rate in CIC history

Results: Backlog and wait times on track to be cut in half in 2014

Parents and grandparents (PGP) backlog

Year     Backlog     Backlog with no action taken     Backlog inventory     Future backlog
2000 29,603      
2001 35,532      
2002 41,415      
2003 73,582      
2004 105,594      
2005 107,994      
2006 108,261      
2007 103,402      
2008 110,689      
2009 110,741      
2010 150,964      
2011 167,466 167,466 167,466  
2012   187,604 125,600 125,600
2013   208,659   81,572
2014   228,714   58,199
2015   250,770   42,387

 
Assumptions for Actual PGP Inventory

  • PGP admission levels set at 20,000 in 2014
  • PGP intake of approximately 5,000 applications (9,000 persons) in 2014

Under a return to 2006 admission levels, with unlimited applications

Year     Backlog     Backlog with no action taken     Backlog inventory     Future backlog
2000 29,603      
2001 35,532      
2002 41,415      
2003 73,582      
2004 105,594      
2005 107,994      
2006 108,261      
2007 103,402      
2008 110,688      
2009 110,741      
2010 150,964      
2011 167,466 167,466 167,466  
2012   200,390 125,600 125,600
2013   224,442   81,572
2014   248,494   58,199
2015   272,546   42,387

 
Assumptions for Actual PGP Inventory

  • PGP admission levels set at 20,000 in 2014
  • PGP intake of approximately 5,000 applications (9,000 persons) in 2014

New Qualifying Criteria for Sponsorship

Increasing Minimum Necessary Income

  • Current Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) does not accurately reflect the increased costs of providing financially for elderly parents and grandparents.
  • An increase of 30% to the Minimum Necessary Income will ensure sponsors can adequately provide for their sponsored parents and grandparents and would reduce the net costs to Canadian taxpayers.
Size of family unit, including applicants     Current Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)     MNI, plus 30%
2 persons $28,182 $36,636
3 persons $34,646 $45,039
4 persons $42,065 $54,684
5 persons $47,710 $62,023
6 persons $53,808 $69,950
7 persons $59,907 $77,879
For each additional person $6,099 $7,928

 
Requiring more objective proof of income

  • Only a Notice of Assessment or an equivalent document (Option C print out) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be accepted as proof of income.
  • Sponsors will be required to provide CRA proof of income (or documentation) for a 3-year period, instead of just a 1 year period.
  • Changes will ensure sponsors have income stability and have contributed through paying taxes.

It will also result in less time being spent during processing verifying income documents.

 
20-year Sponsorship Undertaking

  • Moving from 10-year to 20-year sponsorship undertaking
  • Very few parents and grandparents engage in paid employment, and the few who do only make an average income of $15,696
  • Lengthening undertaking period will ensure that sponsors – not taxpayer – remain responsible for any welfare or supplementary health care costs

Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Backlog

Year     Backlog     Backlog with no action taken     Backlog inventory     Future Backlog
2000 29,603      
2001 35,532      
2002 41,415      
2003 73,582      
2004 105,594      
2005 107,994      
2006 108,261      
2007 103,402      
2008 110,689      
2009 110,741      
2010 150,964      
2011 167,466 167,466 167,466  
2012   187,604 125,600 125,600
2013   208,659   81,572
2014   228,714   58,199
2015   250,770   42,387

 
Assumptions for Actual PGP Inventory, 2013-2015

  • PGP admission levels at 25,000 in 2013 and approximately 20,000 per year in 2014 and 2015.
  • PGP intake of approximately 5,000 applications (9,000 persons) per year begins in 2014.