Canada’s Super Visa reforms take effect On July 4th
Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can stay in the country for a maximum of seven consecutive years.
In a recent announcement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada notified the public of a change made in the Super Visa program. Previously, the Super Visa program only allowed stays of up to two years. Now, the Super Visa holders can stay in Canada for five years, with the option for a two-year extension. International medical insurance will also be possible.
The changes will come into effect on July 4th.
“Families are at the heart of Canadian society,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a news release. “The enhancements to the super visa program allow family members to reunite for longer in Canada, which helps everyday Canadian citizens and permanent residents succeed and contribute to society while affording their parents and grandparents invaluable opportunities to spend time with their family in Canada.”
Read More: Canadian Politician Wants to Improve the Super Visa
International Medical Insurance Possible
Before, only Canadian insurance providers could provide the medical coverage required for Super Visa applicants. Also, Super Visa holders could not stay in Canada longer than two years per entry.
The reform now lets parents and grandparents stay in Canada longer and purchase insurance from other countries. Furthermore, the Immigration Minister will have the authority to designate international companies that can provide the coverage.
The possibility of not having to buy medical insurance from a Canadian company could help families save thousands of dollars per year, according to Kyle Seeback, who initially proposed the reform. He believes that the government’s framework for the companies will make sure that Super Visa holders will be covered in case of sickness.
Those with families abroad will likely welcome the changes to the program, but it may take months to obtain a Super Visa. With more than two million applications pending, Canada is plagued by massive backlogs, which have slowed visa processing times.
With the current processing times, if you are applying from India, it can take at least 146 days, and if you are applying from the US, it can take up to 458 days. However, that is still less time than what’s needed with the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which offers permanent residency to its applicants. The downside is – it works based on the number of spots available and can take years to get.
