Seeking Advice: H&C Application for My Widowed Mother in Canada
Hello everyone,
My family and I have been living in Canada for approximately 10 years, and we are Canadian citizens. My mother and father came to Canada on visitor visas to spend time with us. Unfortunately, my father passed away about two months ago, and my mother is now widowed.
My mother currently holds a valid Canadian visitor visa until 2032. However, following my father's passing, we are deeply concerned about her returning to her home country, where she would have to live alone. Given her circumstances, we would like her to remain with our family in Canada permanently, if possible, and are considering applying for permanent residence under Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds.
Regarding our family circumstances, we are several siblings living in different countries. We two brothers lives in Canada; another younger brother lives in New Zealand, one younger sister lives in the United States, and our elder sister lives in our home country. Although our elder sister lives in the same country as our mother, she resides in a different city and is unable to provide the day-to-day support and companionship our mother needs. Therefore, we are concerned about our mother's well-being and ability to live alone if she returns.
We would be very grateful if anyone with relevant experience or knowledge of Canadian immigration could help us with the following questions:
1. H&C eligibility: Given my mother's circumstances, including the recent loss of her husband, her family ties in Canada, and the lack of adequate family support in her home city, could she be eligible to apply for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds?
2. Super visa or visitor status: Does my mother need to obtain a super visa before submitting an H&C application? Can she continue staying in Canada while her application is being processed, or would she need to maintain valid visitor status or apply for an extension?
3. Immigration lawyer: Could anyone recommend an experienced and reputable Canadian immigration lawyer or regulated immigration consultant who specializes in H&C applications, particularly cases involving elderly, widowed parents?
4. Provincial health coverage: At what stage, if any, could my mother become eligible for provincial health coverage in Saskatchewan or Alberta? Would she qualify while her H&C application is pending, or only after obtaining permanent resident status?
We understand that every case is different, and we are looking for guidance based on relevant experience. We would sincerely appreciate any advice, recommendations, or information about similar cases.
Thank you very much for your time and support.