If you have children and grandchildren settled abroad, you desire to visit them occasionally. However, the humongous amount of documentation and approvals forces you to restrict it to a single or at the most two visits.
In December 2011, the Canadian Government introduced a new insurance scheme called the Super Visa Insurance. It covers unexpected medical expenses while residing in Canada. It also pays up if you fall sick on a side trip, if majority of the period is spent in Canada. With a validity of 10 years, there are fewer hassles in planning a trip to Canada. You can visit the country for up to 2 years per visit without having to renew your status during these 10 years. It permits multi-entries into the country. The Super Visa insurance covers you for a minimum amount of $100,000. The insurance benefits include hospitalization, health care and repatriation. This is an individual visa application; it does not include your dependants.
Now every visa and insurance plan has its own terms and conditions; hence if you would like to apply for the same, here’s more on the eligibility criteria and procedures.
Are you eligible?
The first major criterion for the Super Visa Insurance is that you should be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. The second major requirement for the Visa is insurance. The applicant should have private medical insurance from a Canadian company for a period of at least one year. The applicant will be required to submit proof of the same for the application to get approved.
On applying, you will also have to provide a copy of the letter of invitation from the relative inviting you to Canada. This letter specifies the number of persons in the household as well as outlines the details for the plan of care while you stay there. To add, the applicant has to provide documents stating that their children or grandchildren meet the minimum income threshold and that they will provide all the financial support during your stay in Canada.
What after applying?
If you fulfill all the above mentioned criteria, you should submit your application attached with the required document. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) processes documents after scrutinizing them.
After your application has been approved by the CIC, it is handed down to the Visa Officer. He decides if he would like to have an interview with you and schedules the same. Accordingly, you will be notified of the time, place and date.
The visa office might ask you to undergo a medical exam before you enter Canada. The Visa officer will provide all the instructions and directives including how and where the medical examination will be conducted. The medical examination usually delays the approval process, as the Visa office waits for the results before going ahead with the procedure. Another document that you might be asked to provide is a police certificate.
Once the Super Visa insurance is approved, your passport will be stamped and all your original documents will be returned. If your application is not approved, it will be returned to you with a letter of explanation.
