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DiplomacyCanada to Slash Wait-Time toExpedite Family ReunificationThe Government of Canada is taking immediate action of the application. This means that instead of waitingto cut the backlog and wait times for sponsored parents for eight years, a parent or a grandparent can come toand grandparents, Citizenship, Immigration and Canada within eight weeks. Parent and GrandparentMulticulturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced in Super Visa applicants will be required to obtain privateOttawa recently.Canadian health-care insurance for their stay inCurrently, more than 165,000 parents andCanada.grandparents who have applied to become permanent Third - The government will consult Canadians on howresidents of Canada are still waiting for a final decision. to redesign the parents and grandparents program toEach year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) ensure that it is sustainable in the future. Thereceives applications for sponsorship of nearly 38,000 redesigned program must avoid future large backlogsparents and grandparents, a number that will only and be sensitive to fiscal constraints.continue to expand if no action is taken.Fourth - To prevent the build-up of an unmanageable“Wait times for Family Class sponsorship applications number of new applications during these consultationsfor parents and grandparents now exceed seven years, and to further reduce the 165,000-strong backlog ofand without taking action, those times will continue to parent and grandparent applicants, CIC is putting ingrow, and that is unacceptable,” said Minister Kenney. place a temporary pause of up to 24 months on the“Action must be taken to cut the backlog, reduce the acceptance of new sponsorship applications forwait times, and ensure that the parents and parents and grandparents. The pause comes into effectgrandparents program is sustainable over the long on November 5, 2011.run.”“The Government of Canada is fully committed toTo deal with the large backlog and lengthy wait times, helping families reunite,” said Minister Kenney. “WeCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is recognize that what parents and grandparents wantannouncing Phase I of the Action Plan for Faster Family most is to be able to spend time with their families.”Reunification.“If we do not take real action now, the large andFirst - The Government of Canada will increase by growing backlog in the parents and grandparentsover 60 percent the number of sponsored parents and program will lead to completely unmanageable waitgrandparents. Canada will admit next year, from nearly times. Through this balanced series of measures, we15,500 in 2010 to 25,000 in 2012 the highest level in will be able to dramatically reduce the backlog andnearly two decades.wait times, while the new Parent and GrandparentSuper Visa will allow more family members to paySecond - The government is introducing the newextended visits to their loved ones,” added the Minister.“Parent and Grandparent Super Visa,” which will be“We anticipate that in about two years, following ourvalid for up to 10 years. The multiple-entry visa willconsultations, Phase II of our Action Plan for Fasterallow an applicant to remain in Canada for up to 24Family Reunification will come into effect, ensuring thatmonths at a time without the need for renewal of theirfuture applicants are processed quickly and that thestatus. The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa willprogram can operate on an efficient and sustainablecome into effect on December 1, 2011, and CIC will bebasis.”able to issue the visas, on average, within eight weeks30Indo-Canadian Business October - December 2011