Dear Mr Brown,

I heard that super visas will soon allow parents and grandparents to stay in Canada up to five years. Please tell me about the requirements. I will need your assistance.

— MB

Dear MB:

Currently, super visa holders are able to stay in Canada for up to two years. The super visa is a multi-entry visa that is valid for up to 10 years, based on the expiration date of your passport. The Canadian Government has recently announced changes to the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa, which will be effective July 4, 2022.

The changes

• Super visa holders will be allowed to stay in Canada for up to five years.

• People who currently have a super visa also have the option to request to extend their stay by up to two years while in Canada, which would result in current super visa holders being able to stay up to seven years in Canada.

• Canada’s immigration minister will have the authority to designate international medical insurance companies to provide coverage to super visa applicants in the future.

These enhancements will make it easier for Canadians to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada and will allow super visa holders to stay for a longer period of time. Oftentimes parents and grandparents also assist with childcare, which is a significant benefit of allowing long-term stays with family in Canada.

Sponsorship of parents and grandparents

Regarding the sponsorship of parents and grandparents for permanent residence, quotas are set to address significant backlogs. The programme closes once the allocation is reached. Therefore, as an alternative, parents and grandparents are encouraged to apply for Parent and Grandparent Super Visas, which allow for extended periods of time to visit with family in Canada. It is a convenient means of parents and grandparents to be connected with family in Canada, although they would not have the permanent resident status.

Compared to a regular visitor’s visa, additional requirements include the Canadian sponsor (child or grandchild) to meet a minimum income requirement set by the government. Additionally, as mentioned previously, there is a requirement for medical insurance coverage for the parents and grandparents. Tax information from the sponsor will be required.

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, The Study & Work programme, Visas or Appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM— a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to documents.jamaica2canada@gmail.com