I am writing to express my horror at the unexpected change to the immigration policy here in Canada for reunification of parents and grandparents. Over the past 12 months, many Canadians have been working hard to get all necessary documents, medical tests, etc. together as well as paying legal fees to prepare the require sponsorship application. Unbeknownst to us, a plan was in place to change the entire system from first come, first serve to a lottery system.

I think you need to understand that many people are in the same situation. They prepared applications in preparation submission on Jan 3rd via courier (as the lawyer advised us).  This is real time and money preparing for the application. This change is a complete disaster for family members as there is NOW a degree of uncertainty into whether or not their application will EVER be processed.

I could understand if this was phased in over the course of a year, but 14 days notice... it is simply unfair to those who prepared their paperwork... as well as prepared to MOVE here in anticipation of the application being processed.

We ask for the following:

1. Repeal the change until a more comprehensive plan can be formulated... and give people the opportunity to provide feedback about the coming changes.

Some additional suggestions:

1. Phase the changes in over the course of a few years, allowing the people who have prepared for 2017 to submit as per usual
2. Give previous lottery losers priority in the subsequent years if they do not make it in previous year lottery... otherwise their is always a chance someone will NEVER be allowed, no matter how long they wait.