Super Visa hits super milestone
May 19, 2015
Surrey
Program helps families reunite faster
Over 50,000 of the popular Parent and Grandparent Super Visas have been issued since its December 2011 launch, as part of Phase I of the Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification.
This multiple-entry visa is valid for up to 10 years and provides parents and grandparents with the flexibility of being able to visit family in Canada for up to two years without needing to renew their status.
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced this milestone at the Surrey-Delta Indo Canadian Seniors Centre, in Surrey, B.C., noting that the 50,000th Super Visa had recently been issued.
Parents and grandparents wanting to visit their families in Canada for a longer period of time continue to take advantage of the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. Approval rates have remained consistently high since the launch of the Super Visa.
Quick facts
- With close to 1,200 Super Visas being approved monthly, this remains one of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s most popular programs.
- Super Visa applications are processed quickly—with over 80 percent of all Super Visa applications processed in under three months.
- The majority of Super Visa applicants come from India and China—with Philippine and Pakistan nationals also among the top users of the visa.
Quote
“Canada has one of the most generous family reunification programs in the world. We admit more parents and family members than most other developed countries. With the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, eligible parents and grandparents pay fewer status renewal fees and have certainty that they will be able to enjoy the company of their families in Canada for a longer period of time. Today we mark the milestone of 50,000 Super Visas approved since the introduction of the Super Visa program on December 1, 2011; with an overall approval rate of 82 percent. The Super Visa gives eligible parents and grandparents an opportunity to spend extended periods of time with their families in Canada and I’m proud to highlight today’s milestone in support of families.”
Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister