How to Bring Your Parents and Grandparents to Canada: A Step-by-Step Guide
Canada is renowned for its high quality of life, boasting world-class education and a thriving job market. With its breathtaking natural landscapes and multicultural population, it’s no wonder that Canada is an attractive destination for many.
Fortunately, the Canadian government warmly welcomes millions of immigrants every year.
For newcomers to Canada who are longing to reunite with their families for extended periods, Super Visa Insurance Canada offers an ideal solution. This program provides comprehensive coverage and addresses the challenges faced by foreign national parents who require a visitor visa to stay in Canada. The typical time limitations of a visitor visa often fall short of meeting the needs of families seeking long-term stays. Super Visa Insurance Canada addresses these concerns, making it easier for families to come together and enjoy quality time in Canada.
Super Visa Insurance
The Super Visa is a solution for foreign nationals seeking to bring their parents or grandparents to live with them in Canada. With Parent Super Visa Insurance, parents and grandparents can visit Canada for up to 5 years without needing to renew their visa.
Under the Super Visa, the legal status of your parents or grandparents visiting you will be that of a visitor. They won’t have the same legal rights and responsibilities as permanent residents, such as the right to work in Canada.
Difference Between Parent Super Visa Insurance And Visitor Visa
Planning a trip to Canada to visit your family? Both parent super visa insurance and visitor visas allow entry, but they cater to distinct needs and have different requirements. Understanding these key differences is essential for a smooth and secure visit to Canada.
Visitor Visa:
A visitor visa is a temporary entry permit for individuals who wish to visit Canada for various reasons, including:
- Tourism
- Business meetings
- Short-term studies
Here’s a breakdown of the key points for visitor visas:
- Duration: Visitor visas typically allow stays of up to 6 months, with the possibility of extensions (which require a separate application and additional fees).
- Eligibility: Open to anyone who meets Canadian immigration requirements.
- Medical Coverage: Not mandatory. However, having visitors insurance is highly recommended due to the high cost of medical care in Canada.
- Renewal: You might need to reapply for a visitor visa outside Canada after your authorized stay expires.
Parent Super Visa Insurance:
The Super Visa program is designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Here’s what sets it apart from a visitor visa:
- Duration: Super visas allow for extended stays of up to five years at a time, with the possibility of extensions.
- Eligibility: Only parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply.
- Medical Coverage: Mandatory. Super visa applicants must demonstrate medical insurance coverage with a minimum of $100,000 in coverage for medical expenses incurred during their stay. This is where parent super visa insurance comes in.
- Renewal: Super visa holders can apply for renewals from within Canada
Eligibility Criteria for Super Visa Insurance
To qualify for the Super Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a child or grandchild who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.
- Apply from outside Canada.
- Obtain medical insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 CAD for at least one year from a Canadian insurance provider.
- Provide a signed invitation letter from the child or grandchild they intend to visit in Canada.
- Fulfill additional requirements such as undergoing a medical examination.
- The Canadian government may also consider factors like the purpose of the visit, the stability of the applicant’s home country, and other relevant circumstances during the application review process.
Crafting an Invitation Letter for a Super Visa
If you’re inviting your parents or grandparents to stay with you in Canada for an extended period and they need a super visa, they’ll require a written invitation letter from you. This letter must include a commitment from you to take full financial responsibility for their stay. It should contain the following information:
About the ones visiting:
- Please provide the full name and date of birth of the person you are referring to.
- The addresses and phone numbers of their respective home countries.
- What is your connection to them?
- Please provide the purpose of their trip to Canada and specify the duration, including dates.
- Their accommodation arrangements and the method of funding their expenses.
About the invitee(i.e you):
- Your full name, along with your date of birth.
- Could you please provide your full address and Canadian telephone number?
- Please provide documentation confirming your legal status, such as a PR card, Canadian citizenship card, or Canadian birth certificate.
- Your job.
- Please provide the total count of individuals residing in your household, encompassing both your family members and any other individuals you’ve sponsored.
- Please provide the names and dates of birth for your spouse, children, and any other dependents, as well as any relevant family details.
- Please ensure that your income documentation demonstrates financial stability equal to or exceeding the low-income cut-off (LICO) for the total number of individuals within your family, including the parent or grandparent being invited.
- A pledge to provide financial support for the entirety of your parent or grandparent’s stay in Canada, signed and confirmed.
Guide to Applying for Canadian Super Visa Insurance
Super Visa applications are accepted year-round. If all required documents proving the eligibility of both the invitee and the visitor are submitted, the application is highly likely to be approved.
Let’s break down the application process into individual steps and review each one thoroughly.
Step 1: Choosing Between an Online or Paper Application
Initially, the Parent Super Visa Insurance applicant needs to be located outside of Canada. Opting for online applications is advantageous as it removes courier expenses and processing bottlenecks. The submission can be done either online or via paper, but online submissions are preferable. Additionally, utilizing the online process allows applicants to track their application status.
Step 2: Gather Necessary Documents
Please ensure that either your parents or grandparents carefully gather all the necessary documents listed in the checklist. These documents are vital for various purposes and should be collected systematically:
- Passports
- Birth and Marriage Certificates
- Travel dates
- Medical Insurance Proof
- Please provide the letter of invitation, as well as your proof of status in Canada and financial documentation.
- We will also require copies of financial documents belonging to your parents and grandparents, such as tax returns, property records, bank statements, investment details, and other relevant paperwork.
Step 3: Complete and Implement.
Once you have assembled all the required documents, proceed to complete the super visa insurance application. Ensure that the processing and biometrics fees are paid online using a debit or credit card before submitting. For paper applications, retain a copy of the receipt as it must accompany the filled-out application. If biometrics are necessary for your country, paper applications should be submitted in person at the local visa application center.
Step 4: Provide Supplementary Documents as Required.
Depending on the country they’re applying from, your parents or grandparents may also need to provide additional documents. These could include submitting biometrics such as fingerprints and photographs, obtaining a police certificate, and undergoing a medical examination. Additionally, they might be required to attend an interview at their local visa office.
Step 5: Prepare for Travel with Your Super Visa
Once their super visa insurance applications have been processed and approved, your parents or grandparents must submit their passports and obtain their visas. These visas will bear an expiry date. Subsequently, they will gain the freedom to travel to Canada numerous times within the validity period of the super visa.
Travelers will simply need to present their passport, visa, and medical insurance to the border officer when traveling.
Is it possible to obtain Super Visa insurance from a country exempt from requiring a visa?
For individuals seeking to stay in Canada for longer than six months at a time, the application process differs slightly for visa-exempt travelers. Instead of receiving visa stickers on their passport, they are provided with an approval letter to present to the border officer upon arrival.
The processing fee for a Super Visa for parents or grandparents.
The cost of super visa insurance for a parent or grandparent is approximately $100 CAD. Additionally, applicants may need to pay around $85 CAD for biometric processing, and there could be an additional expense of $200 CAD to $300 CAD for a medical exam if required. These fees do not include travel expenses, mandatory health insurance, courier charges, or living expenses during their stay in Canada.
Processing time for Parent Super Visa Insurance
The processing time for Super Visa Insurance varies depending on the applicant’s country of origin. For instance, applying from India typically takes approximately 135 days. Various factors influence processing times, including the volume of applications received by the government, the status of your application, and the duration required for verifying provided information. It’s advisable to regularly check the government website for updates on processing times.
Is it possible to work in Canada with a Super Visa?
No, it’s not possible because the super visa only grants visitor status. Therefore, your parents or grandparents won’t be able to work under super visa insurance. However, they can apply for a work permit separately if they meet the eligibility criteria. This would require them to secure a job offer in Canada corresponding to the type of work permit they are applying for. Upon approval of their work permit application, their status would change to that of a temporary worker, and their super visa validity would cease.
Can one permanently reside in Canada with a Super Visa?
Once more, the answer is “No.” Your parents are permitted to stay in Canada only for the duration of their Super Visa’s validity. The Super Visa exclusively provides temporary residency.
If you’re contemplating inviting your parents or grandparents to reside with you permanently, you’ll need to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria to sponsor their permanent residence through the family sponsorship program. Once they obtain permanent residence, they’ll have the right to both work and live in Canada indefinitely. However, it’s important to note that only a limited number of permanent residencies are granted under this program, and the application process typically takes two or more years to complete. During the processing period, your parents or grandparents can stay with you under a valid super visa, allowing them to remain in Canada.
Concluding the Discussion
If you’re considering applying for a Super visa insurance, rest assured that the approval rate is exceptionally high, greatly increasing your chances of success. Canada prioritizes keeping families together and provides numerous support avenues for bringing your parents and grandparents to the country. It’s recommended to enlist the assistance of a top-notch immigration professional who can guide you through the entire application process, ensuring a smooth experience every step of the way.
Today, it’s essential to enlist the expertise of a proficient immigration professional. Their guidance will not only simplify the process significantly but also guarantee that you meet the necessary qualifications and achieve success in the end.
The provided information serves purely informative purposes and represents the opinions of Super Visa Insurance Canada, subject to change without notice. It is not intended as financial or legal advice and should not be construed as such. Super Visa Insurance bears no responsibility for actions taken based on the content of this material. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy and currency, certain terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, termination clauses, and other policy details may not be fully outlined here, which could impact policy selection. For comprehensive information, please consult the official policy documents. In the event of any discrepancies, the language within the official policy documents shall prevail. All rights reserved.
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