Reuniting with Family: Canadian Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents: A Handbook

The need to be with the family is one of the most substantial feelings that a person can have. For many Canadian citizens and permanent residents, this means wishing their parents and grandparents to come to visit or even live with them for some time. The Canadian Super Visa program provides an answer to this problem, which enables parents and grandparents to visit Canada for a longer time and be with their families.

Benefits of the Super Visa:

• Extended Stays: Compared to a standard visitor visa, which permits a stay of up to six months, the Super Visa enables much more extended visits, which are beneficial for maintaining close family ties.
• Multiple Entries:

  The Super Visa also permits the holder to make several entries to Canada within the validity of the visa, which means that parents and grandparents can visit their families in Canada and their home country severally.

• Peace of Mind:

  This way parents and grandparents can have a peace of mind knowing that they can spend as much time as they want in Canada without worrying about visa renewals.

Who is Eligible to Apply for a Super Visa?

• Parents and grandparents:

  The applicants must be biological or adopted parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It is also important to note that spouses or common-law partners of parents and grandparents can also be included in the same application.

• Canadian citizen or permanent resident host: The applicant’s child or grandchild who invites them to Canada must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Financial Support: The inviting child or grandchild must meet the minimum necessary income based on family size, as determined by the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO).
• Health Requirements: Applicants must be admissible to Canada on health grounds and undergo a medical examination.
• Genuine Visitor:

  The applicants must show that they have a genuine intention to leave the country at the end of the period they are allowed to stay in the country. This is often evidenced by the provision of property, employment, and family connections in the home country.

The Super Visa Application Process:

The application process for the Super Visa involves several steps:

1. Gather Required Documents:

   These are a letter of invitation from the inviting child or grandchild, birth certificates of the applicant and the inviting child or grandchild, proof that the host meets the LICO, proof of private health insurance for the applicant’s entire stay in Canada, and a completed application form.

2. Medical Examination:

   All applicants will be expected to submit to a medical examination by a physician who is recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

3. Submit Application:

   The application package has to be sent to the Canadian visa office that serves the applicant’s country of residence if he or she is living outside Canada. The time taken to process the visa applications may also be affected by the workload of the visa office.

Important Considerations:

• No Dependents:

  In contrast to some other immigration programs, the Super Visa does not allow the applicants to have dependents included in the application.

• Private Health Insurance:

  Compulsory private health insurance with a minimum required level of insurance is also required.

• Maintaining Ties to Home Country:

  The applicants should show that they have strong ties to their home country in terms of owning property, having a job, or family members.

Additional Resources:

The Canadian government provides resources and information on the Super Visa program on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa/eligibility.html

Conclusion:

The Super Visa program is a good chance for families in Canada to reunite with parents and grandparents for an extended period of time. Thus, the information about the eligibility criteria, application procedure, and other relevant factors will help families to address the issue of the Super Visa and have a wonderful time together.

Other Information to Consider Including

• Visa-Exempt Countries:

  However, citizens of the visa-free countries are also eligible to apply for a Super Visa. Instead of a visa, they will receive a letter of introduction from IRCC, which will allow them to enter Canada for up to two years on their first visit.

• Processing Time:

  The time it takes to process the Super Visa depends on the volume of applications that the visa office handling the application receives. Some of the applications may be processed within a short time, while others may take several months.

• Professional Immigration Assistance:

  Although the application for the Super Visa can be done without the assistance of an immigration professional, it is advisable to seek the services of a professional to help in the application process.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa/eligibility.html