Super Visa Parental Super Visa

Super Visa

A Super Visa is a type of Temporary Resident Visa that is specifically reserved for parents and grandparents of Canadian Permanent residents or Citizens. It can be valid for up to ten years at a time, which is substantially greater than the traditional Temporary Resident Visa.

The Super Visa became popular with the closing of the parental sponsorship application. Now, Canadian Citizens and permanent residents have the option to invite their parents and grandparents for this extended period of time.

Those who are successful in obtaining their Super Visa will still need to renew their visa every three years, if they remain in Canada consecutively, but the duration of its validity can be as long as ten years.

What is the difference between the Super Visa and Regular Visa?

A Super Visa is geared specifically to Grandparents and Parents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents while a regular visa or Visitor Visa is open to anyone who requires it to enter Canada temporarily.

Currently, most visitors to Canada may visit for up to six months when they first enter Canada. Visitors who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension, and pay a new fee.

With the Super Visa, parents and grandparents can visit family in Canada for up to two years without the need to renew their status. Also, the Super Visa can be granted for up to ten (10) years. This means that your parent or grandparent can remain in Canada for this extended period of time with only the need to renew their Super Visa every two years as oppose to six months.

Further, the Super Visa is also a Multiple-Entry visa and therefore allows your parent or grandparent to enter and exit Canada at their convenience for the duration of their Super Visa.

Qualify for the Super Visa

The Super Visa is strictly for parents and grandparents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, as such, you must:

  • Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
  • Provide a written statement from the child or grandchild in Canada that they will give you financial support
  • Have valid Canadian Medical Insurance Coverage for at least one year
  • Have an immigration Medical Exam

Part of the Super Visa Application is also demonstrating that you have the necessary funds available to support your parents’ or grandparents’ stay in Canada. As such, you will need to meet the minimum necessary income as per the Low Income Cut Off:

Super Visa Income Table

Effective from January 1 to December 31, 2015

Your child or grandchild may use the following income scale to assess their ability to meet the income requirements.

Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) 2015 for Super Visa 

Size of Family Unit Minimum necessary income
1 person (your child or grandchild) $23,861
2 persons $29,706
3 persons $36,520
4 persons $44,340
5 persons $50,290
6 persons $56,718
7 persons $63,147
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $6,429

How to Determine your Income Requirement

This chart outlines the income that your Canadian Host needs as per their family size. In order to accurately assess their family size your child or grandchild counts:

  • Them self
  • Their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable,
  • Their dependent children, if applicable,
  • Any person they may have sponsored previously and for whom the sponsorship agreement and undertaking are still in effect.

They then count the number of people they will be supporting:

  • You, and
  • Your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

These numbers are then added together and represent their family size. Depending on your family size, the income requirement applies.

Factors to Consider…

When processing your Super Visa application, an Immigration Officer will assess several different factors before they make a decision. These factors should be adequately demonstrated in your application and supporting documentation if you hope to be successful in your application. An Immigration Officer will look at such things as:

  • Your ties to your home country;
  • The purpose of your visit;
  • Your family ties in Canada
  • Your financial stability
  • The overall economic and political stability in your home country; and
  • An invitation from a Canadian host

Other Requirements

In your Super Visa application, you will also need to prove that:

  • Your child in Canada meets the Minimum Income Threshold
  • Provide proof that your child has the ability to provide you with financial support while you are in Canada
  • You have valid medical insurance coverage in Canada for at least one (1) year
  • You have completed a Medical Exam conducted by a Panel Physician

What You will Need

In order to be successful in applying for the Super Visa application, in addition to the above, you will also need to demonstrate the fact that you are also a bona fide Temporary Resident. This means also demonstrating the following:

  • You will leave Canada at the end of your stay,
  • You Have enough money or financial support to maintain yourself and your spouse or common law partner (should they be accompanying you) while you are in Canada,
  • That you have sufficient funds to return home,
  • The reason for your visit,
  • you are law-abiding and have no record of criminal activity,
  • be in good health

How We Can Help

If you are interested in applying for a Super Visa, we will work with you and your family to ensure the application is done right. Ensuring that you demonstrate your familial connection, availability of funds and your status to be that of a Temporary Resident is essential. A Super Visa may be issued for up to ten years, but that does not mean it will automatically be granted as such. Submitting a strong case means the Super Visa has a high chance for success and will be granted for the longest possible amount of time.

We will assist you:

  • Draft the necessary forms;
  • Draft appropriate supporting documentation like employment reference letters, invitation letters, personal statements and purpose of travel letters;
  • Assist you with gathering important documents like medical insurance and proof of familial connection;
  • Help demonstrate how you meet the conditions of a Temporary Resident;
  • Compile the strongest possible case as per your unique situation;
  • Prepare you for making an application at a Port of Entry; and
  • Of course, be with you every step of the way.

For more information on the Super Visa, feel free to browse our vast collection of information on the subject or contact us directly at 1-877-622-8182 or 416 477 2570. You can also email at Info@ToImmigrate.com.

Sponsoring your parents or grandparents can be a hassle and may take many years for it to even go through. With Super Visa, the Government of Canada has made it easier and faster for you to sponsor your parents or grandparents.

What is Super visa?

In order to sponsor your parents or grandparents before the Super Visa, you had to apply for sponsorship through the Parental Sponsorship Program, which could take a while for the process to go through.

The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa is a visa created by the Government of Canada that allows parents or grandparents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to visit Canada multiple times. With the Super Visa your parents or grandparents can stay for up to two years in Canada

This Super Visa is valid for up to 10 years and within these 10 years, your parents or grandparents are allowed multiple visits. Though the Super Visa makes it easy for your parents or grandparents to come visit you in Canada, with this visa they are not allowed to apply for permanent residency and instead have to voluntarily leave after the completion of their two years stay.

Who is Eligible for the Super Visa?

  • Parents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
  • Grandparents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
  • Allowed to entry Canada
  • Meet the requirement/conditions set out by Immigration and Citizenship Canada
  • Only parents or grandparents, their dependents are not eligible

What to consider when applying for the super visa

When you apply for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa to come to Canada, there are various things that the immigration officer may look at before deciding if the application can go through.

  • Coming to Canada as a visitor and will leave voluntarily when stay is over
  • The reason for your visit
  • Financial income of both yours and the families
  • Financial situation of your home country
  • The ties that you hold with your home country
  • Invitation by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to come to Canada

Is there anything else?

Yes, for the application to be successful, you further need to make sure that:

  • You the child (Canadian citizen or a permanent resident) meet the minimum income threshold
  • Ensure that your parents or grandparent have minimum one year Canadian medical insurance coverage
  • Depending on the length of their stay, they may need a medical exam

How to apply for Parent and Grandparent Super Visa

Before you begin your application, you need to make sure if the country you are applying from requires a visa. If that is the case then you need to apply for the visit visa

For certain countries, providing biometric information may also be required. Thus it is good practice to make sure that you are providing all the required information

We Can Help!

Going through this process can be tough, especially when you have little knowledge of the law. Immigration law can be very complicated as there are many things that can be overlooked.

At Akrami & Associates, we have experienced immigration representatives that will guide you through the whole process and help you attain the result you desire.

The Super Visa, a recently created program, has been touted as one of Canada’s best immigration policies. After the closure of the Parental Sponsorship Program, the Super Visa came into action as another means for Parents and Grandparents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents to visit for a long term basis.

The Super Visa is essentially a Visitor Visa specifically geared towards Parents and Grandparents and would allow them the ability to visit Canada on an ongoing basis for up to ten (10) years while only having to renew their Super Visa every two (2) years approximately, depending on how long their Super Visa was initially granted for.

In this way, Parents and Grandparents who obtain a Super Visa can visit with their loved ones for an extended period of time. However, you should be aware that this is not a Permanent Resident status but a means nonetheless for those who do not qualify for sponsorship or for those who simply wish to be able to visit family in Canada.

Who Qualifies?

In order to qualify, you, as the applicant, must:

  • Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Be allowed to enter Canada, meaning you are not considered inadmissible
  • Meet the requirements of a Visitor

Factors to Consider…

When processing your Super Visa application, an Immigration Officer will assess several different factors before they make a decision. These factors should be adequately demonstrated in your application and supporting documentation if you hope to be successful in your application. An Immigration Officer will look at such things as:

  • Your ties to your home country;
  • The purpose of your visit;
  • Your family ties in Canada
  • Your financial stability
  • The overall economic and political stability in your home country; and
  • An invitation from a Canadian host

Other Requirements

In your Super Visa application, you will also need to prove that:

  • Your child in Canada meets the Minimum Income Threshold
  • Provide proof that your child has the ability to provide you with financial support while you are in Canada
  • You have valid medical insurance coverage in Canada for at least one (1) year
  • You have completed a Medical Exam conducted by a Panel Physician

If you wish to visit your child or grandchild in Canada but you do not want to go through the hassle of applying for a visitor’s visa every time you wish to visit, and you do not want to permanently stay in Canada, then the Super Visa is probably a viable solution.

In order to be eligible in this class, there are a few basic requirements that you must meet. This includes, most obviously, being the parent or grandparent of a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Other requirements include not being inadmissible, and meeting all the other specific requirements that I will discuss shortly.

Some other specific conditions that must be met include,

  • Your child or grandchild meeting the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO)
  • Having your child or grandchild agreeing, in writing, to support you financially
  • Having a Canadian medical insurance coverage for a minimum of one year
  • Being medically examined

Other considerations that may be taken in account by a visa officer is,

  • What sorts of connections do you have with your home country?
  • Why are you visiting Canada?
  • What is the financial state of you and your family?
  • What is the state of your home country in terms of political stability?
  • Do you have an invite from a Canadian host?

It is imperative to understand why these considerations are being evaluated so that you understand what you need to prove. As a Super Visa applicant, the visa officer wants to make sure that you will leave at the end of your authorized stay and that you will not cause Canada any burdens while you are visiting.

In addition to the information set forth above, it is important to recognize that you will be allowed to visit Canada multiple times for up to ten years, each visit being allowed up to two years. This being said, it is not a guarantee that you will be allowed the maximum amount of time because the decision is dependent upon the Canadian Border Services Agent officer.

If you require further information regarding your application, you can contact Akrami & Associates and get an experienced legal professional to assist you through the process.

If you have a child or grandchild who is a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, you may be able to come to Canada through the Super Visa program.

The difference between the Super Visa program and the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program is that the Super Visa does not allow you to become a Permanent Resident and therefore, you will not be eligible to apply for Citizenship.

This being said, with a cap of 5,000 applications in the Parents and Grandparents Program, often times a Super Visa is the best alternative. In addition to this, you may not want to apply for a Canadian Citizenship and only wish to visit on a long term basis. If this is the case a Super Visa would be the better choice with the added benefits of being less costly and quicker to process.

When applying for a Super Visa, you must first assess you eligibility. Once you have determined that you are eligible, you can begin your application process. A few things visa officers will look at include,

  • What ties you have to your home country
    • A reason you will not stay in Canada permanently and will return at the end of your authorized stay
  • Your family and finances
    • Whether you are self-sufficient
  • An invitation from your child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or permanent residence
    • This will validate your reason for coming

In addition to the brief information set forth above that you must be aware of, there are also forms that you must fill out and submit with supporting documents.

Although you are not required to retain the services of a lawyer to assist you, many people opt to do so. One of main reasons why a person may choose to do it themselves is the cost factor.

At Akrami & Associates, we cater to every need. If retaining a lawyer is not an option for you, you may wish to obtain our Super Visa Application Kit instead.

The Super Visa application kit is a step-by-step tool to guide you through the application process. Once you are finished your forms, as part of the kit’s price, a legal representative will review the final product.

If you are facing difficulties after buying the kit and wish to retain a legal representative, we will subtract the kit price from the service fee that we provide, this way, you cannot lose!

If you would like further information regarding the Super Visa or our kits, please contact Akrami & Associates today and we will be happy to assist you.

What is the difference between the Super Visa and Regular Visa?

A Super Visa is geared specifically to Grandparents and Parents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents while a regular visa or Visitor Visa is open to anyone who requires it to enter Canada temporarily.

Currently, most visitors to Canada may visit for up to six months when they first enter Canada. Visitors who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension, and pay a new fee.

With the Super Visa, parents and grandparents can visit family in Canada for up to two years without the need to renew their status. Also, the Super Visa can be granted for up to ten (10) years. This means that your parent or grandparent can remain in Canada for this extended period of time with only the need to renew their Super Visa every two years as oppose to six months.

Further, the Super Visa is also a Multiple-Entry visa and therefore allows your parent or grandparent to enter and exit Canada at their convenience for the duration of their Super Visa.

Do I still need a Super Visa if I do not need a Visitor Visa?

That depends on your purpose in Canada and how long you intend on visiting. Remember, you will first need to determine whether or not you meet the qualifications of a Super Visa. Firstly, that you are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.

If this applies to you, and you want the ability to remain in Canada for more than six months or want the ability to visit Canada over a long period of time to be with family, than yes, you will still need a Super Visa.

How do I apply for a Super Visa?

In order to apply for a Super Visa, you will be applying as a Temporary Resident and will also need to meet these requirements as well. To apply for a Temporary resident visa you must:

  • Apply at a Canadian visa office;
  • undergo a medical examination;
  • provide proof that you have Canadian medical insurance valid for a minimum of one year; and
  • provide the supporting documents required, including
    • proof of your relationship to a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, and
    • proof that he or she will support you financially during your stay in Canada.

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  1. How to get a Super Visa to Canada
  2. Super Visa Minimum Income Requirement
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