Do I understand the process of permanent residency/super visa for parents correctly?

[af123]

I'm a dual Canadian/US citizen living in Canada. My parents are US citizens. In the future, there may be a time when they need to live closer to me, either independently, or in a retirement home (they have the financial means to do either of these things without my help). As I understand it, there are two routes I may take to bring them to Canada. First, I can sponsor them for a super visa -- but this does not sound ideal as it expressly prohibits staying in Canada permanently, and, as I understand it, there is no way to convert a super visa into permanent residency from within Canada. The second route is via PR sponsorship. But, this is a lottery system (so my application may never get selected), the process takes ~ 2 years to complete, and there's a possibility of rejection based on pre-existing medical conditions (my parents both have some medical issues but currently live independently).

Do I have that about right?

And, with respect to medical issues, I understand we would likely be able to enlist a lawyer to help with a mitigation plan should it come to that. But, what if the mitigation plan is accepted, and then a sponsored parent goes on to develop more serious health issues? I assume that once they are accepted as permanent residents, they are allowed to access the provincial heatlh insurance plan the same as any permanent resident?

Thanks in advance. This is a few years off at the earliest but I want to start having these conversations with my ageing parents and if I don't understand the process correctly, there's no way that they will.

 

[YVR123]

You are correct. Supervisa is only for parents who want to visit their children and stay in Canada for 2 years or more without leaving.
It's more common for countries that require visitor visa to apply. For US citizens, they will likely travel back and fore and not want to stay in Canada for 2 years staight (unless another COVID lock down happens again)

Also parents on supervisa need to purchase private health insurance to cover their healthcare expensese during their stay in Canada.

For the lottery PGP, we acutally do not know how that's going to go in the future. IRCC had changed it mutliple times in the pass 10 years. But if they keep the system as lottery, it will all come down to luck. Parents need to pass medical to become PRs. And once they landed as PRs, they have access to the same healthcare system as others.

Except that they are being sponsored and you as a sponsor have undertaking for them for 20 years. In case they need to use any social assistance, you will need to pay back. But sound like your parents are well prepared for their retirement and likely not going to need any of that.

Do you live near the border? May be moving closer to each other across the border could be an alternative plan.

 

[af123]

"In case they need to use any social assistance"

Thanks very much for the reply. The only follow up question I have is, what counts as social assistance? If accepted as PRs, once they are here, they would receive regular provincial healthcare and prescription drug benefits, so, do you mean EI, disability, etc.? Would winding up in a publically-funded nursing home be considered social services?

Thanks.

 

[scylla]

"In case they need to use any social assistance"

Thanks very much for the reply. The only follow up question I have is, what counts as social assistance? If accepted as PRs, once they are here, they would receive regular provincial healthcare and prescription drug benefits, so, do you mean EI, disability, etc.? Would winding up in a publically-funded nursing home be considered social services?

Thanks.

EI is not social assistance.

Social assistance is welfare (e.g. Ontario Works). The nursing / health care someone receives in a nursing home is government funded and considered to be part of the health care system - so not cost for that portion. However room and board at the nursing home is a cost that you or your parents will need to cover. If you take advantage of any subsidies related to covering room and board costs for a nursing home, then I believe that would be considered as social assistance (so not available to your parents for 20 years after landing).

 

[canuck78]

You are correct. Supervisa is only for parents who want to visit their children and stay in Canada for 2 years or more without leaving.
It's more common for countries that require visitor visa to apply. For US citizens, they will likely travel back and fore and not want to stay in Canada for 2 years staight (unless another COVID lock down happens again)

Also parents on supervisa need to purchase private health insurance to cover their healthcare expensese during their stay in Canada.

For the lottery PGP, we acutally do not know how that's going to go in the future. IRCC had changed it mutliple times in the pass 10 years. But if they keep the system as lottery, it will all come down to luck. Parents need to pass medical to become PRs. And once they landed as PRs, they have access to the same healthcare system as others.

Except that they are being sponsored and you as a sponsor have undertaking for them for 20 years. In case they need to use any social assistance, you will need to pay back. But sound like your parents are well prepared for their retirement and likely not going to need any of that.

Do you live near the border? May be moving closer to each other across the border could be an alternative plan.

Would clarify that supervisa insurance only covers emergency medical treatment. Routine care will be out of pocket.

 

[canuck78]

I'm a dual Canadian/US citizen living in Canada. My parents are US citizens. In the future, there may be a time when they need to live closer to me, either independently, or in a retirement home (they have the financial means to do either of these things without my help). As I understand it, there are two routes I may take to bring them to Canada. First, I can sponsor them for a super visa -- but this does not sound ideal as it expressly prohibits staying in Canada permanently, and, as I understand it, there is no way to convert a super visa into permanent residency from within Canada. The second route is via PR sponsorship. But, this is a lottery system (so my application may never get selected), the process takes ~ 2 years to complete, and there's a possibility of rejection based on pre-existing medical conditions (my parents both have some medical issues but currently live independently).

Do I have that about right?

And, with respect to medical issues, I understand we would likely be able to enlist a lawyer to help with a mitigation plan should it come to that. But, what if the mitigation plan is accepted, and then a sponsored parent goes on to develop more serious health issues? I assume that once they are accepted as permanent residents, they are allowed to access the provincial heatlh insurance plan the same as any permanent resident?

Thanks in advance. This is a few years off at the earliest but I want to start having these conversations with my ageing parents and if I don't understand the process correctly, there's no way that they will.

There are many things that aren’t covered by provincial healthcare as you age. When it comes to room and board at a provincially funded nursing home it is in the range of 1-1.5k/month. There is usually a wait list to get in often 1-2 years. Retirement homes are out of pocket and are in the range of 5k+/month.