New Guidance Issued for Super Visas

On June 18th, 2018, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a program delivery update regarding Super Visas.

The program delivery update provides guidance for officers regarding Super Visas and the duration for which parents and grandparents can enter Canada. The guidance for super visa holders has been updated to reflect that each entry to Canada should be for a duration of up to 2 years and extensions should be for 1 year. This clarification is welcomed as there has been some uncertainty on the extension of Super Visas for those already granted entry to Canada.

Super Visas can be issued to anyone whose child or grandchild is a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada.

An applicant is eligible for a super visa if they meet the requirements for temporary residence in Canada as a visitor and provide the additional required documentation. Specifically, they must provide the following:

• proof of their relationship to the child or grandchild (who must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident), such as:
  • a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s birth certificate;
  • a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s baptismal certificate; or
  • other official document naming the applicant as the parent.
• proof of a medical examination and of being admissible on health grounds;
• satisfactory evidence of private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company valid for a minimum period of 1 year from the date of entry that (all must apply):
  • covers the applicant for health care, hospitalization and repatriation;
  • provides a minimum of $100,000 coverage;
  • is valid for each entry to Canada and available for review by the examining officer upon request.
• a letter of invitation written and signed by the host child or grandchild promising financial support for the entire duration the applicant intends to stay in Canada;
• evidence of the child’s or grandchild’s means of providing financial support through meeting the low income cut-off (LICO) minimum (a co-signer may be added to meet the LICO minimum) in the form of 1 of the following documents:
  • the most recent copy of the notice of assessment (if the child or grandchild does not have a paper copy of their notice of assessment on file, they can view and print their tax returns as well as other personal tax information using the Canada Revenue Agency My Account online service by visiting www.cra.gc.ca/myaccount to register or log in);
  • the most recent copy of the child’s or grandchild’s T4 or T1;
  • an original letter from the child’s or grandchild’s employer stating their:
    • job title;
    • job description;
    • salary.
  • the child’s or grandchild’s employment insurance pay stubs, including:
    • a letter from an accountant confirming the child’s or grandchild’s annual income, if they are self-employed;
    • proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.).

The low income cut-off amounts are listed below by family size: