Thousands of individuals migrate to Canada every year, and the number has increased significantly in recent years. Prospects of better education, career, and life attract people worldwide to immigrate to Canada. Many people also migrate to Canada as refugees and settle there. Naturally, they have to stay away from the family for many years at a stretch. To mitigate this problem, the Canadian government has introduced the family visa to Canada.
This visa allows family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada to visit and stay in Canada. Known as a temporary resident visa or visitor visa, it allows multiple entries to Canada for ten years. Each family member can stay for a maximum of six months on each visit. While this helped many families to reunite, the short duration of stay can be disheartening for many.
The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa and is often preferred by families who have been apart for a long time. Such people can opt for the Canadian super visa, allowing parents and grandparents to stay with their family for a longer duration. The Super Visa is also valid for ten years, and the visa holder can stay as long as two years after entering Canada. However, individuals with this family visa to Canada cannot work while in Canada.
In this article, we will walk you through the complete process to get a Super Visa so that you can enjoy with your family in Canada.
Who can apply for the Super Visa?
The Canadian Super Visa is strictly for grandparents and parents of individuals with Canadian citizenship or PR. Any parent or grandparent willing to reunite with their families for an extended period (up to 24 months) can apply for this visa. The visa can be extended for periods of 12 months upon application.
How to get a Super Visa?
The IRCC monitors entries into Canada with a Super Visa. While Canada welcomes family members with open arms, applications for Super Visa are accepted subject to several eligibility criteria. This is because of the benefits a Super Visa holds over an ordinary family visa or visitor visa.
So, if you want to use an immigration service for Canada, make sure that you tell them that you want to apply for a Super Visa and not an ordinary one.
To be eligible for a Super Visa, candidates (parents and grandparents) must fulfill the following criteria:
- Meet the eligibility criteria for entry into Canada. If there is a restriction on your entry, you will not be approved for a Super Visa. This includes criminal records, misrepresentations in the past, security concerns, infectious disease threat, etc.
- Your grandchild or child holds Canadian citizenship or PR.
- You must have a letter of invitation from your grandchild or child stating that they will completely support you financially. The letter must also mention the number of people in the household (including you) and proof of permanent residency or citizenship.
- You must also possess a pre-paid medical insurance that specially caters to individuals on a Super Visa. The insurance must offer coverage of $100,000 for all your stays in Canada within the ten years.
- You should successfully pass a medical examination conducted by an IRCC acknowledged doctor.
- Your child or grandchild must pass the minimum income cut-off for Canada.
- You prove that you do not intend to stay beyond the period of two years and will do so on your own.
- You are presently residing outside Canada.
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IRCC, which offers immigration service for Canada, will also consider other factors like the applicant’s ties with their country of residence. Visa officers would like to know whether the applicant intends to return to their country of residence after their two-year stay. If ties with the residence country are weak, your application may not be approved.
In addition, your child or grandchild will have to submit income proofs like T1/T4 or an NOA, pension statements, investments, employment letter, salary slips, etc. This will be used as proof of income for the child or grandchild.
Besides, the invitation letter sent out to you must include your details like:
- complete name
- date of birth
- address
- contact number
- purpose of visit to Canada
- your relationship with the inviter
- the intended duration of stay of the invitee
- details of residence of the invitee while in Canada
- details of financial support during stay in Canada
Staying away from your family can be very painful, especially if you have to stay away for months and years on end. The Super Visa is a solution for all families forced to stay away from their children or grandchildren for various reasons. It gives you enough time to reunite with your family and have a happy time. It also offers permanent residents and citizens of Canada to give their family the freedom they are currently enjoying. Naturally, the Super Visa is quite popular amongst families of immigrants to Canada.