Sponsoring Parents – Unacceptable Delays
If a Canadian citizen (or permanent resident) sponsors a spouse for Canadian permanent residence, the process takes about 6 to 8 months. If that same person sponsors a parent, the process will likely take 5, 7 or even 10 years. Why the difference?
CIC does not place the same importance on parental sponsorships as they do for spousal sponsorships. CIC supports the premise that spouses should not be separated by citizenship, but it rejects the notion that parents should be not be separated from their adult children.
I would argue that parents are often a valuable resource for new immigrant families in Canada. Sponsored parents often live with their adult children provide free childcare for their grandchildren, perform household duties, and allow their adult immigrant children to focus on establishing themselves financially in their new communities.
By delaying the entry of parents, CIC creates undue hardships on new immigrant families who rely on parents as an essential aspect of running a household. The delays are a disgrace and CIC should re-visit the parental sponsorship process and policy.