Parents And Grandparents Super Visa

The Parents and Grandparents Super Visa is an extended visitor visa for those wishing to visit a child or grandchild who has immigrated to Canada.

Once a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa has been secured, holders are permitted to enter Canada and stay for up to two years consecutively, compared to the 6-month period for regular visitor visas.

A multiple-entry Parents and Grandparents Super Visa is potentially valid for ten years, allowing holders to come and go as they please during that time. However, the visa will become invalid one month before the expiry date on the applicant’s passport.

Furthermore, the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa has a relatively short processing time with a typical waiting time of around 8 weeks.

Normally, citizens of these countries can enter without any visitor visa and stay for 6 months.

With the new regulations for a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa, applicants from these countries can apply for a Letter of Introduction from outside Canada.

They must produce this letter upon arrival in Canada for border officials to verify. Providing everything is in order, the official will allow the person to enter the country and stay in Canada for up to 2 years.

In order to get a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa, the application needs to be submitted to one of the visa offices outside Canada. As for all applications for immigration to Canada, there are certain criteria to be met.

Initially, the individual must qualify for a standard visitor visa. The requirements for this are to:

• Have good health
• Possess a valid passport.
• Demonstrate existing ties with their home nation. (e.g. job, family, property etc)
• Provide evidence of sufficient funds for their intended stay.

If immigration officials feel the above criteria is not met or if they suspect the individual may not leave Canada at the end of the visa period, then the application for immigration to Canada may be rejected.

Further to these requirements, applicants for a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa must prove the required family ties to a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Applicants must also:

• Have a full medical examination.
• Secure medical insurance with a Canadian company for a minimum period of 12 months. The minimum coverage provided must be no less than $100,000. This must cover all health care as well as hospitalization and repatriation.

The family member of the applicant must prove they are either a citizen or else a permanent resident of Canada and demonstrate that they have an income higher than the predetermined minimum. (Find out here)

They are also responsible for the Letter of Invitation.

The letter provides details on the planned visit, including information on the applicant’s child or grandchild in Canada, such as their occupation and current economic situation.

It is the responsibility of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident to provide this letter to their parent or grandparent prior to the visit.

The most important aspect of the letter is to make a promise to financially support the applicant of the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa for the entire period of the visit, should it be required. This promise must be written and signed.

Parents and Grandparents Super Visa holders are not permitted to work or undertake any studies while in Canada.

If you have a pending application to become a permanent resident, it is still possible to get a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa.

Before applying for any means of immigration to Canada, parents and grandparents should check to see if they are eligible for a Parents and Grandparents Super Visa.