Hi everyone,
I'm looking for advice from people who have experience with Super Visa applications, particularly cases involving dual intent.
I'm originally from Brazil, but I've been living in Canada for 10 years and have been a Canadian citizen for 3 years. I'm married, and my Canadian husband and I co-own a small business in Ontario.
My mother is 80 years old and currently lives in Brazil. She recently became a widow, and we would like her to eventually live with us permanently in Canada. Our intention is to sponsor her through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) if it reopens and we meet the eligibility requirements. However, the program is currently paused, so we're considering applying for a Super Visa in the meantime.
I want to be completely transparent about our circumstances and intentions:
My specific questions are:
We want to approach this honestly but would like to understand the risks before proceeding.
Thank you!
I'm looking for advice from people who have experience with Super Visa applications, particularly cases involving dual intent.
I'm originally from Brazil, but I've been living in Canada for 10 years and have been a Canadian citizen for 3 years. I'm married, and my Canadian husband and I co-own a small business in Ontario.
My mother is 80 years old and currently lives in Brazil. She recently became a widow, and we would like her to eventually live with us permanently in Canada. Our intention is to sponsor her through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) if it reopens and we meet the eligibility requirements. However, the program is currently paused, so we're considering applying for a Super Visa in the meantime.
I want to be completely transparent about our circumstances and intentions:
- Long-term intention: My mother hopes to make Canada her permanent home and eventually obtain permanent residence through family sponsorship if the PGP reopens and we qualify.
- Temporary status: We understand that a Super Visa is temporary. If permanent residence never becomes possible, she is prepared to return to Brazil. We would make arrangements for her to have somewhere to live there, even if that means renting.
- Ties to Brazil: Although we have property in Brazil, we are planning to sell it all, as it is not financially feasible to keep them, and we don't think it makes sense to keep a property empty simply to demonstrate ties to Brazil. If my mother eventually needs to return, she could rent accommodation.
- Financial situation: My husband and I co-own a small business in Ontario, and our household income may not be sufficient to meet the full LICO requirement for the Super Visa. We understand that under the updated 2026 rules, the applicant's income can be used to cover the shortfall, provided the host meets at least 75% of the required amount. My mother receives a pension and is in the process of receiving my late father's survivor pension. We expect to rely on her pension income to meet the remaining income requirement. She also has savings and investments in Brazil, which would help support her living expenses in Canada.
- Bringing her cat: She has a 14-year-old cat, and we plan to bring him to Canada with her. We are already making arrangements for his travel as part of the move.
My specific questions are:
- Has anyone successfully obtained a Super Visa in a situation where the applicant openly declared an intention to apply for permanent residence through the PGP if it reopens? How did you address dual intent in the application?
- How much weight does IRCC give to home-country ties in a case like this? If my mother sells her property for financial reasons, can her pension income, savings, investments and family connections in Brazil help demonstrate that she has the means to return if necessary?
- Would bringing her 14-year-old cat and personal belongings to Canada negatively affect the application? Could this make the application look too much like a permanent relocation?
- Can my mother's pension and survivor pension be included in the income calculation to bring our household income up to the full LICO? What documentation would IRCC require for foreign pension income, particularly when one pension has only recently been approved?
- Can her savings and investment balances themselves be considered, or does IRCC only consider income generated by those investments?
- Since our income comes from a small business, are there any particular documents that would be helpful to demonstrate our household income, aside from notice of assessment?
We want to approach this honestly but would like to understand the risks before proceeding.
Thank you!
