CHANDIGARH: Punjabis are jumping at the 'super visa' introduced by the Canadian government recently, which is providing an opportunity for immigrant families to get together with their aged parents and grandparents, back in Canada. Nearly a 1,000 applications for the 'Parent grandparent super visa' have landed at the Canadian consulate in Chandigarh within a month of its launch.
This means that all the 'Bebe' (grandma) and 'Babaji' (grandpa) in Moga, Nawanshahr, Jallandhar, Banga, who have their 'niyaane' (young ones) in 'kaneda' (Canada) can hope to be soon sunning themselves sitting on charpoys in Calgary, Langley or Vancouver.
Scot Slessor, consul general, told TOI, "Nearly half of all Indo-Canadians are Punjabis and they have this huge concern of being able to live in a family. With half of the family in India and the other half in Canada, we are concerned about this issue of family unification. That is why we are going to be processing these super visas in a stipulated time."
The new super visa will allow grandparents of Canadian citizens to be able to stay with them for a period of 24 months without the need for renewal of their status and the visa will be valid for 10 years.
Slessor said, "The super visa facility was introduced in December last year and within little over a month, we have a huge response, mainly from this part of the country, with hundreds and hundreds of people wanting to avail the super visa facility."
The Canadian government has committed processing the in "less than eight weeks" and reuniting families through the visa type. "Once you have stayed with your family for two years, it is mandated that you get back to your country before embarking on another stay with your children in Canada," said Slessor.
Commenting on the huge rush that the super visa has attracted, Slessor said it was probably due to the fact that the Canadian government is implementing a temporary pause of up to 24 months on the acceptance of new sponsorship applications. "The two have been timed almost simultaneously. Since sponsorships are not being entertained, people have an option of this route," he said.
This means that all the 'Bebe' (grandma) and 'Babaji' (grandpa) in Moga, Nawanshahr, Jallandhar, Banga, who have their 'niyaane' (young ones) in 'kaneda' (Canada) can hope to be soon sunning themselves sitting on charpoys in Calgary, Langley or Vancouver.
Scot Slessor, consul general, told TOI, "Nearly half of all Indo-Canadians are Punjabis and they have this huge concern of being able to live in a family. With half of the family in India and the other half in Canada, we are concerned about this issue of family unification. That is why we are going to be processing these super visas in a stipulated time."
The new super visa will allow grandparents of Canadian citizens to be able to stay with them for a period of 24 months without the need for renewal of their status and the visa will be valid for 10 years.
Slessor said, "The super visa facility was introduced in December last year and within little over a month, we have a huge response, mainly from this part of the country, with hundreds and hundreds of people wanting to avail the super visa facility."
The Canadian government has committed processing the in "less than eight weeks" and reuniting families through the visa type. "Once you have stayed with your family for two years, it is mandated that you get back to your country before embarking on another stay with your children in Canada," said Slessor.
Commenting on the huge rush that the super visa has attracted, Slessor said it was probably due to the fact that the Canadian government is implementing a temporary pause of up to 24 months on the acceptance of new sponsorship applications. "The two have been timed almost simultaneously. Since sponsorships are not being entertained, people have an option of this route," he said.