There’s a lottery to get the parents and grandparents of 2022 invited to apply (ITA).
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent 23,100 ITAs in hopes of getting 15,000 applications.
No matter if you aren’t one of the 23,100 sponsors this year, you can bring your parents or grandparent(s) to Canada with the Super Visa.
The Super Visa application process and eligibility
Listed below are the basic eligibility requirements for a Super Visa.
Firstly, sponsors must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Canadian or a permanent resident
- Be a Canadian citizen at the time of application and when parents/grandparents arrive
- Have a good financial standing
The following requirements must be met by sponsored individuals coming to Canada:
- At least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident parent or grandparent.
- Obtain a super visa from outside of Canada.
- The sponsoring child or grandchild needs to write an invitation letter.
- Children or grandchildren must meet the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) standard
- The sponsor should provide proof that they are the child’s parent, such as a birth certificate.
- Print the visa outside of Canada (wait for instructions).
- Canadians must be admissible (both criminally and medically).
- Get a medical exam for immigration.
- Valid medical insurance from a Canadian company for at least one year from the date of entry, $100,000 emergency coverage, and paid in full.
Ensure your kid or grandkid has written permission to visit Canada, including the following three points.
- Financial support during your stay.
- List and number of people in this person’s household.
- Proof of citizenship or permanent residency.
Applying for a Super Visa involves the following steps.
- Get your documents ready
- Online application via IRCC’s website
First, applicants must create an IRCC account and sign in. Fill out the online application, and answer all questions, to receive an application checklist.
Note: Paper applications are still available for disabled candidates or applicants without a travel document. Their travel document was issued to refugees, stateless people, or non-citizens.”
The Benefits of a Super Visa
Super Visas are advantageous because of their long validity periods.
Sponsored parents and grandparents can visit Canadian relatives every five years with a Super Visa. You can get a visa extension if you already have a Super Visa and want to stay for up to seven years, and parents and grandparents can stay for up to ten years.
Sponsored individuals will only be able to enter Canada for up to two years under the Super Visa program starting July 4, 2022. Here’s how it works:
If you enter Canada before July 4, your stay will not be extended unless you leave and reenter, but a border services officer may approve an extended stay (up to five years).
Applicants who are already in the country can extend the Super Visa for two years.
Candidates who fall into one of these three categories will be entitled to an extended stay (up to five years).
- Applicants applying for Super Visas after July 4, 2022
- Applicant who applied after July 4, 2022
- If applicant entered Canada after July 4, 2022, applications approved before that date.
Super Visas have other benefits, too:
- Visas are available year-round
- Sponsored individuals can travel freely between their country of residence and Canada without reapplying for a TRV (if they need one).
- A letter of approval is required if you’re from a country that does not require TRVs.