Difference Between a Visitor Visa and a Super Visa

Visitor Visa vs Super Visa

Currently, most visitors to Canada may visit for up to six months when they first enter Canada. Visitors who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension and pay a new fee. With the parent and grandparent super visa, eligible parents and grandparents can visit family in Canada for up to two years without the need to renew their status.

The Super Visa is a multi-entry visa that provides multiple entries for a period of up to 10 years. The key difference is that the Super Visa allows an individual to stay for up to two years on each entry into Canada, while a 10-year multiple entry visa would only have a status period for each entry of six months only.

There are also specific requirements that you must meet to be able to get a super visa. To be eligible for the super visa, applicants must be the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Dependents of parents and grandparents are not eligible for the super visa. However, they can apply for a regular visitor visa. The Super Visa applicants must also be found admissible to Canada and meet some other conditions.

Visa officers consider several factors before deciding whether an applicant is admissible. Officers must believe the applicant is a genuine visitor to Canada who will leave by choice at the end of the visit. Among the things the officer might consider are the following:

• the person’s ties to his or her home country
• the purpose of the visit
• the person’s family and financial situation
• the overall economic and political stability of the home country
• invitations from Canadian hosts

The parent or grandparent must also do the following:

• provide a letter promising financial support from their child or grandchild in Canada who has a minimum income
• prove he or she has Canadian medical insurance for at least one year to cover the time he or she will be in Canada
• complete an immigration medical examination.

The Super Visa application can be considered in two parts; there are requirements on both the Canadian and permanent resident who is inviting and the applicant themselves. Both must meet certain requirements to be considered by the immigration officer.

Preparing the right documentation, like a letter of invitation, will be very important to the success of applications such as these. Akrami & Associates will help you prepare such documentation that is uniquely geared towards the specifics of your case while assisting you compile a strong application. Contact us for further information.