Parents: Super visa vs Sponsorship

[Deanlumavi]

My parents were granted Super visa in January 2016. They were here for a year in 2016-2017. I would like to bring them again but their visa expires in January 2021, which is when their passports expire.
Can someone please tell me what's the best way to go forward? Do I need to do a new application or is there a renewal to the existing visas? I am not clear at all on the next steps.

On a different note, my preference in fact would have been to sponsor my parents. However, I am just below the minimum income for 4 people, for 2018 (darn!). For my curiosity and information though:
- I see there is a difference between the minimum income for 4 people between the super visa and sponsoring parents:
Sponsorship 4 persons $60,271-2018/ $59,426-2017/ $58,768-2016/ $57,642-2015
LICO Super visa 4 persons $46,362
Can someone please explain why the difference?

Also, in the eligibility for sponsorship, it says:
"The undertaking commits you to:
providing financial support for your sponsored family members for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents"

If parents become permanent residents, don't they have the rights like every other permanent residents, meaning access to free health care, and other benefits, expect voting? Why is there a need for providing financially for the next 20 years if they become permanent residents? What is the purpose of the permanent residency then?
I just need some clarification.
thank you so much in advance.

 

[21Goose]

1. To sponsor your parents, you need LICO + 30%. That's why you see 60K. That's just the rule.
2. You will need to apply for the super visa again. It'll be the same process, and they are likely to get it quite easily since they have met the conditions of the past super visa. No point applying till they get a new passport though.
3. Yes, if your parents become PRs, they have all the rights of a standard PR. However, Canada doesn't want people to come here and immediately start using welfare funding. That's why you have the undertaking. They will get access to healthcare though, you don't need to worry about that. You just need to make sure they don't go on welfare - if they do, you will be liable for paying that back to the government.

There are similar undertakings for spousal sponsorship and dependant sponsorship. For parents it's 20 years because people do horrible things like abandoning their elderly parents in a strange country - young people can potentially get a job, but you can't expect 70-year old immigrants to suddenly start working. That's why the government makes sure you know that you are responsible for them for 2 decades.

Your parents should get new passports when they are eligible (Jan 2020 I assume), and then you can apply for a new supervisa. In the meanwhile, they can keep visiting you till Jan 2021 on the current visa.

 

[Deanlumavi]

1. To sponsor your parents, you need LICO + 30%. That's why you see 60K. That's just the rule.
2. You will need to apply for the super visa again. It'll be the same process, and they are likely to get it quite easily since they have met the conditions of the past super visa. No point applying till they get a new passport though.
3. Yes, if your parents become PRs, they have all the rights of a standard PR. However, Canada doesn't want people to come here and immediately start using welfare funding. That's why you have the undertaking. They will get access to healthcare though, you don't need to worry about that. You just need to make sure they don't go on welfare - if they do, you will be liable for paying that back to the government.

There are similar undertakings for spousal sponsorship and dependant sponsorship. For parents it's 20 years because people do horrible things like abandoning their elderly parents in a strange country - young people can potentially get a job, but you can't expect 70-year old immigrants to suddenly start working. That's why the government makes sure you know that you are responsible for them for 2 decades.

Your parents should get new passports when they are eligible (Jan 2020 I assume), and then you can apply for a new supervisa. In the meanwhile, they can keep visiting you till Jan 2021 on the current visa.

Thanks so much 21 Goose.
This is so helpful, but it leads me to another question:
If i wish to go for the sponsorship, I understand I cant do this alone, since i only had one income for the past 3 years, below the 60K and that is not enough. Im wondering though, if I am not single anymore after 2018, can i co-apply with my partner even though we were not together during the years in question? Can it not be that his income for the past 3 years is also calculated?
If that applies, which would be great, does that mean though that we both need to live in the same address? what if we dont?
thanks again

ps. yes, i totally understand the issue of welfare and abandonment, etc of parents and I completely agree with these rules.

 

[21Goose]

Thanks so much 21 Goose.
This is so helpful, but it leads me to another question:
If i wish to go for the sponsorship, I understand I cant do this alone, since i only had one income for the past 3 years, below the 60K and that is not enough. Im wondering though, if I am not single anymore after 2018, can i co-apply with my partner even though we were not together during the years in question? Can it not be that his income for the past 3 years is also calculated?
If that applies, which would be great, does that mean though that we both need to live in the same address? what if we dont?
thanks again

ps. yes, i totally understand the issue of welfare and abandonment, etc of parents and I completely agree with these rules.

Yes, your spouse/common-law spouse can be a co-sponsor even if you weren't together in 2018. Of course then your spouse is equally bound by the 20 year obligation - you are jointly and severally liable.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5772-application-sponsor-parents-grandparents.html#apply-sponsor

May I have a co-signer?
Your spouse or common-law partner may be a co-signer on the sponsorship application, regardless of how long you have been married. Your combined gross income may help you meet the income requirements. You and your co-signer must each provide proof of income from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the 3 consecutive taxation years immediately preceding the date of the sponsorship application.

 

[21Goose]

A partner, boy/girlfriend etc. can't be a co-sponsor. Only a spouse or a common-law partner.

 

[YVR123]

If that applies, which would be great, does that mean though that we both need to live in the same address? what if we dont?

You are not being very unclear on your status. If you are "not single anymore", are you married?
If you are married, I don't think they care if you live with your spouse (but that's a strange arrangement).
If you want to delcare with a common law partner and use him/her as a co-sponsor, then you need to proof that you live together for a minium of 12 months without break.
Again, you need to live with your common law partner and have proof.

 

[canuck78]

My parents were granted Super visa in January 2016. They were here for a year in 2016-2017. I would like to bring them again but their visa expires in January 2021, which is when their passports expire.
Can someone please tell me what's the best way to go forward? Do I need to do a new application or is there a renewal to the existing visas? I am not clear at all on the next steps.

On a different note, my preference in fact would have been to sponsor my parents. However, I am just below the minimum income for 4 people, for 2018 (darn!). For my curiosity and information though:
- I see there is a difference between the minimum income for 4 people between the super visa and sponsoring parents:
Sponsorship 4 persons $60,271-2018/ $59,426-2017/ $58,768-2016/ $57,642-2015
LICO Super visa 4 persons $46,362
Can someone please explain why the difference?

Also, in the eligibility for sponsorship, it says:
"The undertaking commits you to:
providing financial support for your sponsored family members for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents"

If parents become permanent residents, don't they have the rights like every other permanent residents, meaning access to free health care, and other benefits, expect voting? Why is there a need for providing financially for the next 20 years if they become permanent residents? What is the purpose of the permanent residency then?
I just need some clarification.
thank you so much in advance.

Would add that there are many things that are not paid for through public healthcare. Dental, Optical, supplies elderly people often require like incontinence supplies, etc. or are partially covered like longterm care which still requires a fee of 1K/month, hearing aids, mobility aids, etc. Then there are basic things like housing food, transportation, etc. that need to be paid for by the sponsors if the parents arrive with no or little savings. Even senior drug program has an annual deductible. Sponsoring parents is big financial commitment.

 

[steaky]

Would add that there are many things that are not paid for through public healthcare. Dental, Optical, supplies elderly people often require like incontinence supplies, etc. or are partially covered like longterm care which still requires a fee of 1K/month, hearing aids, mobility aids, etc. Then there are basic things like housing food, transportation, etc. that need to be paid for by the sponsors if the parents arrive with no or little savings. Even senior drug program has an annual deductible. Sponsoring parents is big financial commitment.

There is no financial commitment if you don't sponsor parents? Does not make sense!

 

[canuck78]

There is no financial commitment if you don't sponsor parents? Does not make sense!

Have you read the post I responded to. They would actually prefer to sponsor their parents and don’t understand why there is a need to provide financially for parents because they are under the impression that everything is already covered. Pointing out that many things are not covered.