Family Sponsorship Program and Super Visa

By Me Herbert Brownstein

Sponsorship ProgramWhat is the Sponsorship Program?

If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child or other eligible relative to become a permanent resident.

There are two different processes for sponsoring your family:

1. A process to sponsor your spouse, conjugal or common-law partner and/or dependent children.

2. A process to sponsor other eligible relatives.

Sponsorship Program

To sponsor a spouse, partner or dependant child, you should:

Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada;Sign a sponsorship agreement with the sponsored relative that will commit you to provide financial support ;Provide financial support for your partner for three years from the date they become a permanent resident;Provide financial support for a dependent child for 10 years, or until the child turns 25;To Sponsor a spouse or common law partner you must prove the relationship is genuine (photos, phone records, emails etc.)Meet certain other conditions.

The Sponsored PersonThe sponsored person should:

Complete the application for permanent residency;Promise to make every effort to become self-supporting.If accepted, pay the fees for the acquisition of permanent resident status: $490

Extra steps to sponsor a person living outside Canada:Extra steps to sponsor a person living outside Canada:

The sponsored person should complete the medical examination requirements;The sponsored person should assemble the final application for permanent residence, including applications, supporting documents, and proof that the medical examination has been done.

Sponsorship of parents and grandparents

As of November 5, 2011, no new applications to sponsor parents or grandparents will be accepted for processing for up to 24 months.

This does not affect sponsorship applications for spouses, partners, dependent or adopted children and other eligible relatives.

Super Visa Program

What is the Super Visa Program?

Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents have a new option for visiting Canada.

Your parents or grandparents may be eligible to apply for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa and enjoy visiting your family in Canada for up to two years without the need to review their status.

Super Visa

To apply for a Super Visa, you must:

Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;

Be found admissible to Canada;

Meet certain other conditions.

Multi-entry Visa

When applying for a Super Visa, you may request a multiple-entry visa, if you submit the applicable fees along with your application, for up to ten years.

A multiple entry visa allows you to enter Canada as many times as you’d like during the period your visa is valid. A multiple-entry visa is valid for a maximum of 10 years.

Once a multi-entry visa is approved, it will allow you to enter and leave Canada repeatedly during the period in which your visa is valid.

Cost For Multi-entry Visa

INR CADVisitors Visitors Multiple entry $ 7,350 $ 150

Immigration Cost Effective March 26, 2012Immigration Cost Effective March 26, 2012

Admissibility to Canada

Visa officers consider several factors before deciding if a person is admissible :

The person’s ties to the home country;

The purpose of the visit; Person’s family and financial situation; Overall economic and political situation of the home; An invitation from a Canadian host.

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Ties to the Inviter

You must provide evidence of your relationship with the Canadian citizen or permanent resident if you wish to visit.Birth certificates;Baptismal certificate;Or any other official document naming you as parent.

Financial Situation

In order to be admissible in Canada, you must provide a written commitment of financial support to your parent or grandparent proving that you meet a minimum income minimum income threshold.threshold.

A minimum income threshold A minimum income threshold is a scale used to assess your ability to meet the income requirements.

Minimum Income Threshold

Size of Family Unit Size of Family Unit Minimum necessary income Minimum necessary income 2 persons $28,182 3 persons $34,646 4 persons $42,065 5 persons $47,710 6 persons $53,808 7 persons $59,907 More than 7 personsfor each additional person, add $6,099

Please note the Family Unit includes the invited personPlease note the Family Unit includes the invited person

Letter of Invitation

Letter of Invitation must include:About the person you invite:About the person you invite:Complete NameDate of BirthThe person’s address and telephone number in IndiaRelationship to the person being invitedPurpose of the tripHow long the invited person intends to stay in CanadaDetails on accommodation and living expensesThe date the person invited intends to leave Canada

Letter of Invitation

About you:About you:Complete nameDate of birthAddress and Telephone number in CanadaOccupationIndication if your a Canadian Citizen or Permanent ResidentPhotocopy of document(s) proving your status in CanadaDetails of the family unit, including names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants Written and signed promise for financial support for the entire duration of their stay in Canada

Medical Examination and Insurance

The parent or grandparent must prove they bought Canadian medical insurance

coverage from a Canadian insurance company for at least one year :

Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation;Provides a minimum coverage of $100, 000;Is valid for each entry to Canada and available to review by a port of entry officer.

Conditional two years permanent resident visa for spouses and common law partners

New Conditions

Limits of the proposed condition

BROWNSTEIN BROWNSTEIN &ASSOCIATES

AVOCATS ATTORNEYS

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