According to a report by the Canadian "World Journal", Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada officially announced on the 23rd that it will reopen applications for the Parent and Grandparent Program starting at 8:00 AM on January 4, 2016. Regarding the quota, it may remain at 5,000 spots as in previous years, or it could be the 10,000 spots promised by the Liberal Party during the federal election in October.
The latest policy maintains the 20-year sponsorship undertaking period for parents. The minimum income requirement for sponsoring parents or grandparents is 30% higher than the income requirement for the Super Visa. The income proof documents to be provided by the sponsor must be those issued by the Canada Revenue Agency for the most recent three consecutive years (i.e., 2012, 2013, and 2014), namely the Notice of Assessment or the Option-C printout.
To obtain the Option-C printout, the sponsor needs to call the tax agency to request it. There is no fee, and it takes at least 10 business days for the tax agency to mail the printout to the sponsor's home.
Immigration authorities stated that the Super Visa remains a highly sought-after visitor visa, and they will continue to keep it open and promote it. For children or grandchildren who wish to reunite with their parents or grandparents as soon as possible, this is a fast and convenient option. Unlike the Parent and Grandparent Program, applying for a Super Visa only requires the sponsor in Canada to provide the Notice of Assessment for the most recent year, and the income requirement for the Super Visa is 30% lower than the standard mentioned above.
(Source: Phoenix New Media)