Sponsoring My Mother-In-Law

[Bigbenbird]

Hi guys

I have a few questions, hopefully you guys can help me or at least point me in the right direction.

My wife and I are permenant residents (Feb 17) live in Alberta, I work and earn >$100 a year.

My wifes mother is 73 and her health is failing her, to the point that she will need daily help very soon with simple household tasks. Nothing medical, but stuff my wife could do for her if she lived with us. Unfortunately, my wife is the only surviving family member and as such feels very frustrated by the distance that separates us.

My Mother-In-Law has suffered multiple strokes and does have ongoing issues with circulation, inc metal heart valves. All these things aside, she is a very able and independent woman.

What options do we have to bring her here?
Could she come on an extended vacation visa?
Would I have to apply for that before she travelled?
Would they even accept her entering Canada given her medical issues/history?

I have a feeling this is a non-starter, but I have to explore all options.

If we were successful in getting her over here, what options do we have for medical insurance or Alberta health care?

Any info will be gratefully received

Many thanks

Ben

 

[scylla]

Her health conditions complicate the situation significantly. You should assume it will be difficult for her to qualify for PR. A super visa will likely be problematic as well since she will have difficulty passing the medical based on the information you've provided.

She can try applying for a regular visitor visa. If approved, this will allow her to visit only - she won't be able to live or work her - and certainly won't qualify for Alberta health care coverage. Visitor visas can be extended once someone is in Canada - but it's up to CIC if the extension is approved and you can't extend indefinitely. You can try the super visa route as well so that she can visit for longer periods of time. However this option requires her to pass a medical which I suspect will be difficult to do. It also requires her to obtain private health care coverage which may be difficult to do given her health conditions.

If you're able to get her here on a visitor visa - she could try applying for PR under H&C stating that your wife is her only remaining relative. H&C has low approval rates and the waiting time is a few years (during which time she won't qualify for any sort of health care coverage) - but it's likely her best bet for PR. I think PR under the regular parent / grandparent stream will be refused due to her ill health.

Something to keep in mind while she's here as a visitor is that any private health care you buy most likely won't cover pre-exisitng conditions. So if she has any heart-related health issues while here, you're going to be paying for that medical care out of your own pocket. This could quickly amount to tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars if she has serious issues.

 

[Bigbenbird]

Thanks for your reply

It pretty much is how I thought it would be...... basically a long shot, with us covering and medical expenses out of pocket.

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your reply

It pretty much is how I thought it would be...... basically a long shot, with us covering and medical expenses out of pocket.

Thanks

Yes - unfortunately that's the situation. I think she might have a decent shot under H&C (provided she can get here on a visitor visa). But there would be a significant period of time where you would be responsible for paying for all of her health care related expenses. That could get extremely expensive very very fast.