On June 7, 2022, Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced changes to the Super Visa program, making it easier for Canadians to reunite with their parents and grandparents. The new amendments will come into force on July 4, 2022, and allow super visa holders to stay in Canada for a longer period of time.
The super visa holders will be able to stay in Canada for 5 years per entry and request to extend their stay by up to 2 years. In addition, international medical insurance companies also will be allowed to provide the necessary medical coverage for super visa applicants.
The changes will come into effect in Super Visa Program on July 4, 2022
- The length of stay for Super Visa holders will be increased to five years per entry into Canada.
- Applicants who currently have a Super Visa also have the option to request to extend their stay by up to two years while in Canada. It means current Super Visa holders will now be able to stay in Canada for up to seven straight years.
- Canada’s IRCC Immigration Minister will have the authority to designate international medical insurance companies to provide coverage to Super Visa applicants in the future.
For over a decade, the Super Visa has been offered as an alternative to the PGP. The Parents and Grandparents Program offers permanent residence, but due to its popularity, the demand to sponsor far exceeds the number of places available.
The super visa has remained a popular and accessible option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada. Each year, IRCC issues approximately 17,000 super visas.
Super visa Canada requirements
Super visa program is one of the popular immigrations options for parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents in order to visit Canada on a prolonged basis. In order to apply, applicants must meet the following requirements: a letter of invitation from a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, proving relationship to the inviter, and having evidence of sufficient medical insurance coverage from a Canadian insurance company for at least one year.
Applicants need to go through a medical examination and present proof of financial eligibility; they should be able to demonstrate that there is a child or grandchild in Canada who could support them during their time spent there. Evidence of ties to their country of origin should also be presented to ensure applicants return there after the visit. Visas under the Super Category can spend up to two years at a time, making it suitable for long-term visits.
Valuable Facts of the Super Visa Program
The most valuable facts about Canada’s Introduced Changes to the Super Visa Program are:
- To sufficiently support super visa holders while in Canada, their host child or grandchild must meet minimum income requirements.
- Further, parents and grandparents applying for a super visa must have a medical examination and provide proof of private health insurance from an approved insurance provider. This is to ensure that medical costs will be covered for the super visa holders so that the cost of those services does not fall upon Canadian taxpayers.
This alert is only for informational purposes. If you have any queries about Super Visa Program, please contact the Immigration Specialist at Gunness & Associates.
Send an email to info@immigrationmatters.info
Tel: (416) 604-2669
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