singingringingtree

Apologies if this has been posted before, but I can't find it.

Bad news: CIC announced on 4 November they are not accepting any applications to sponsor parents for two years until they have cleared the massive backlog, but will be issuing more visas to help clear it.

Good news: They also announced a new Parent and Grandparent Super Visa that will, if conditions met, allow parents to stay in Canada for 2 years. Available from 1 December.

Here's the link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...2011-11-04.asp

christmasoompa

It was posted a week or so ago by Jim Humphries - http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=737897

No worries though, it's helpful for anybody that didn't see that thread. Thanks.

singingringingtree

Thanks Christmasoompa - haven't been on in a while and missed that.

madisonavenue

Does anyone know if the supervisa has restrictions on working?

PMM

Hi


It will be a visitor visa, no work no studies IMHO.

Aviator

And no provincial healthcare, they have to get private coverage.

Jerseygirl

Can PR's sponsor parents under the new scheme or only citizens?

After spending 2 years in Canada then the parents must leave the country...does anyone know how long they have to be out of Canada before returning?

PMM

Hi

Either PR or Citizen, no one really knows until the instructions are released in December if it can be extended or is there is a return clause.

Jerseygirl

OK thank you. I suppose the next big question is health insurance. We have coverage in Canada through our US Aetna healthcare insurance...but from what I've read it has to be Canadian healthcare insurance. Could be pricey methinks.

Aviator

Especially where wrinklies are concerned

Jerseygirl

You're as old as you feel...but not where healthcare insurance is concerned.

Our daughter lives in Toronto...we own property there and spend a quite a bit of time there. DH took early retirement so we would like the opportunity of spending more than 6 months per year in T.O. if we wish. We are Brits with US citizenship...and private US healthcare insurance (worldwide). We were looking at the investor's visa but this could be an alternative.

Robin (The Gadget family)

I am struggling to find a Canadian insurance company that will cover a visitor for longer than 180 days. They all say that they have not been informed about this new visa, that covers periods of stay for up to 2 years, so cannot offer health insurance for this length of time....

Bupa have said that cover for my mother would be £267 per month with a £5000 deductable, or a higher monthly premium with a lower deductable....This is all rather irrelevent though if the cover has to be Canadian...

My mother is 80 and does not have any medical conditions. She is prepared to pay the price of this kind of cover because she just wants to be with the family and thinks of it as rent because she will be living in a cabin on land belonging to one of us kids. We all live within a few hundred yards of each other.

If anyone knows of any companies that will cover visitors for longer periods then do let me know.

Thanks

Jerseygirl

When my daughter went to U of T she had to buy the uni's healthcare insurance. The US Aetna healthcare insurance was not acceptable...even though it covered her for all aspects of healthcare and meds. I presume the same will apply for the new visa.

PMM

Hi

The Operational Bulletin has been released for the"Super Visa" for parents and grandparents. See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resourc...2011/ob357.asp

You should note the following:

1. Medical Exam required and must be admissible.
2. Provide satisfactory evidence of private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, valid for a minimum period of one year from the date of entry which:

covers the applicant for health care, hospitalization and repatriation;
provides a minimum of $100,000 coverage; and
is valid for each entry to Canada and available for review by the examining officer upon request;
3. provided a written and signed promise of financial support, e.g. a letter of invitation, from the host child or grandchild for the entire duration the applicant intends to stay in Canada. The letter must be accompanied by evidence of their means of providing such support.

This will normally mean details of the number of persons in the host’s household and proof of income at a level meeting or exceeding the Low-income Cut-off (refer to IP 2 – section 5.32) for the total number of persons, including the visiting parent(s) or grandparent(s).

4. Visa exempt applicants must contact a Canadian Mission abroad before departing for Canada to request a letter confirming that they have met the eligibility criteria .

madisonavenue

Does this mean that if the income of the permanent resident/canadian citizen is below the threshold, then the income/assets of the parents/grandparents will be taken into account?