Beginning May 21, Canada is set to extend invitations to 35,700 potential sponsors from the remaining pool of individuals who submitted interest-to-sponsor forms in 2020 for sponsoring parents and grandparents. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will conduct the invitation process over a span of approximately two weeks. If you submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, it is advisable to regularly check your email for updates.
For those who did not submit an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, there is still an option for parents and grandparents to visit Canada for an extended period through the Super Visa program. This program allows them to visit for up to five years at a time and to extend their stay while in Canada.
Under the Super Visa, parents and grandparents can visit their children or grandchildren in Canada for a maximum duration of five years at a time. This visa offers multiple entries over a period of up to ten years.
To qualify for a Super Visa, parents or grandparents must have a host who is their child or grandchild and is either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a registered Indian. The host must provide relevant documentation, such as a copy of their Canadian citizenship document, permanent resident document, or a Secure Certificate of Indian Status.
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa (TRV) valid for up to ten years, with each entry allowing a stay of up to five years. It is available to applicants who apply from outside of Canada and meet the requirements for temporary residence in Canada as a visitor.
Distinction exists between a Super Visa and a visitor visa. While a Super Visa permits qualifying parents and grandparents to visit family in Canada for up to five years at a time, a visitor visa allows for a maximum stay of six months. Extensions beyond this period require additional applications and fees.
Only biological or adopted children are eligible to invite their parents or grandparents under the Super Visa program. Spouses or common-law partners of parents or grandparents may also be included in the invitation.
In cases where a registered Indian is the host, the Super Visa application process remains unchanged, with the Certificate of Indian Status serving as the sole proof of the host’s eligibility. Once all requirements for a Super Visa are met, a five-year stay period is granted for each permitted entry.
Hosts must demonstrate their ability to financially support the applicant throughout their approved stays by meeting or exceeding the minimum necessary income, based on Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-offs.
Additionally, parents or grandparents must provide evidence of valid health insurance from a Canadian or non-Canadian insurance provider certified by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.
