NEWS RELEASE: Answers to frequently asked questions about the Super Visa
1. What makes the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa different from what is available now as a visitor visa? Currently, visitors to Canada usually may only visit for six months at a time. Most visitors who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension, and pay a new fee, every six months. With the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, eligible parents and grandparents will pay fewer fees and have some certainty that they will be able to enjoy the company of their families in Canada for a longer period of time.
This program will take effect on December 1, 2011. CIC will be able to issue the visas, on average, within eight weeks of the application. This means that instead of waiting for eight years, a parent or a grandparent can come to Canada within eight weeks.
2. Is the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa a multi-entry visa? What’s the difference between the Super Visa and the 10-year multiple entry visa? Yes, the Super Visa is a multi-entry visa that will provide multiple entries for a period up to ten years. The key difference is that the Super Visa will have status periods for each entry that last up to two years, while the 10-year multiple entry visa status period for each entry is six months.