Super visa holders in Canada struggle with financial challenges due to employment restrictions
Chandarbhan Singh sits in his house in Martindale, Calgary on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Singh came to Canada on a super visa in 2021 to visit his family. (Photo by Sukhneet Kaur/The Press)
The inability of parents and grandparents to work on a super visa in Canada is adding financial strain to families as living costs in Canada are rising.
The super visa program was started in 2011 and it allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit and stay in Canada for up to five years at a time. It is more beneficial than a regular multiple-entry visitor visa, under which the length of stay is usually six months or less.
It is a way for families to reunite and spend quality time together without the need for frequent visa renewals.
Mandeep Kaur applied for her parent-in-law’s super visa in 2021 after getting permanent residency. She was pregnant with her daughter at that time.
“Having my parent-in-laws here has been an incredible blessing,” said Kaur.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, approximately 17,000 super visas are issued every year.
Super visa holders are not permitted to work in Canada, as this visa prioritizes family visits over employment, but this restriction poses challenges for children supporting their families.
“My father is eager to contribute and be independent, and not being able to work limits his options. It puts financial strain on us as well, and I believe allowing them to work would benefit them,” said Jaswinder Singh, who applied for his parent’s super visa in 2021.
“We should be allowed to work, so at least we could manage our daily expenses,” said Chandarbhan Singh, father of Singh in a Punjabi-language interview.
With tough economic times due to rising prices and housing market changes, it is adding more pressure on families.
Chandarbhan Singh takes care of her grand daughter, Inayat Kaur in his house in Martindale, Calgary on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Singh takes pleasure in being with his granddaughter, and they love to play together. (Photo by Sukhneet Kaur/The Press)
According to Finance Monthly, for a family of four living in Canada, excluding the cost of rent, their monthly costs average around $5208.07, which is 7 per cent higher on average than the cost of living in the UK.
“With the rising cost of living in Canada, managing our finances has become more difficult without their ability to work,” said Kaur.
According to the Bank of Canada, inflation in July 2023 increased by 3.3 per cent year-over-year, following a 2.8 per cent increase in June. Shelter prices, including rented accommodation, owned accommodation, water, fuel, and electricity also increased by 7.4 per cent in April 2022, which was the largest increase since 1983.
Allowing super visa holders to work would provide them with a sense of purpose and independence, which is crucial for their well-being.
“We just want our parents to feel at home here, and that means letting them work and be a part of things,” said Kaur.
“I hope he can fully integrate into Canadian society and find work that he wants to do,” said Singh.
Getting permanent residency in Canada is also not easy for super visa holders. Only those who obtained their permanent residency before 2020 can apply for their parents' PR through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Applicants are also required to show a good amount of funds and meet the requirements of the program.
Singh got his permanent residency in 2021, so he is not eligible to apply for his parent’s permanent residency either.
“As per the guidelines, we are restricted from applying for their PR,” he said.
These rules make it hard for super visa holders to become permanent residents and work, which would give them stability and more chances to succeed.
Advocating for policy changes that allow them to work could provide them more opportunities for financial independence and integration into the Canadian society.
