Fort McMurray gains new Canadians

By Morgan Modjeski

Posted 3 hours ago

Fort McMurray recently wel­comed just under 300 new Canadian citizens, as three citi­zenship ceremonies—two held on Thursday and one today—recently took place here in Wood Buffalo.

The first two ceremonies held on Thursday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with 97 individuals taking the oath at the ceremony and 111 individuals taking the oath at the second, were held at West­wood Community High school.

Citizenship Judge Sonia Bitar with Citizenship and Immigra­tion Canada said she's always happy to participate in these events as those becoming Cana­dians are usually overwhelmed with happiness.

"It's really nice to see their faces, the happiness and the excitement when they're becom­ing a Canadian Citizen," said Bitar.

She also said that the impor­tance of a diverse community is unmeasurable as it symbolizes what Canada is all about.

"Diversity is so important, and you see it, it's not like you have to talk about it, if you look at this room now, you see how many people are from different cultures," said Bitar.

"Even coming to this school, I was surprised to see the word 'welcome' in all different lan­guages. (When) you look at these students, you can see they are from a diverse background, and all of them working together in harmony. This is what Canada is all about, to accept each other and to respect each other."

Mike Allen, deputy mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo was also on hand at the ceremony to congratu­late the new Canadian citizens saying he was excited about the fact they've decided to make Fort McMurray their home.

"We have almost 300 people who have chosen to call Canada and Wood Buffalo home today and tomorrow, and it's a compli­ment to this community, that out of thousands of jurisdictions that we have across Canada, that you have chosen Wood Buffalo to be your home."

Nargis Zaid, a Wood Buffalo resident and vice-president of Pakistan Canada Association Fort McMurray, was one of the people who participated in the 10 a.m. ceremony on Thursday and she said she was excited about her new citizenship.

"I feel very grateful to be Canadian," said Zaid. "Canada is a fully multicultural country, so I feel very proud and very happy."

She continued, "It feels very good, because I consider Canada as my home, especially Fort McMurray. I feel like (it's) my home country—like my birth country."

Zaid also said she was pleased with the entire ceremony saying she felt very welcome by the municipality.

"I feel like all the councillors cared for me, and it just feels great to be part of the cere­mony," said Zaid.

"There was a lot excitement and a lot of cheering."

The third and final ceremony will be held at the Oil Sands Dis­covery Centre today and roughly 50 people are expected to take the oath.

morgan.modjeski@fortmcmurraytoday.com

carol.christian@fortmcmurraytoday.com

What is a Super Visa?

This is a multiple entry visa lasting 10 years which allows parents and grandparents the right to stay in Canada temporarily. This new extended visa makes it easier to travel back and forth to Canada.

Which qualifications are required by myself, my parent or my grandparent?

Child/Grandchild:

In order to comply with Canadian immigration regulations on the parent and grandparent supervisa, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You will also need a valid birth certificate listing your parents' names. Next is proving your able to financially support your parent or grandparent with your own Canadian income source(s). The "minimum income threshold" will change every year and depends on the size of your family. With these documents in hand, you will need to get writing: an invitation letter to your relatives is needed. Finding reliable health insurance for your parent or grandparent is also necessary since they must own a current private Canadian health insurance policy covering a minimum 12-month period.

Parent:

You must provide official documentation listing your name (or maiden name, if applicable) and this name should match the name on your child's birth certificate. You will need to take the Immigration Medical Exam. Furthermore, you will need to own a current private Canadian health insurance policy covering a minimum 12-month period.

Grandparent:

You must provide official documentation listing your name (or maiden name, if applicable) and this name should match the name on your child's birth certificate. In turn, you should be able to prove that your child is the parent of your grandchild. You will need to take the Immigration Medical Exam. You will also need to own a current private Canadian health insurance policy covering a minimum 12-month period.

What does a Super Visa look like?

Essentially, it's just a letter! The supervisa issue date and expiration date will be printed on it. You must show this letter at the port of entry when arriving in Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency officer will stamp your passport or national travel document and authorize your stay for up to two years once shown this letter.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

The government and its international visa offices are dedicated to processing all applications within 8 weeks. The more complete your application, the more likely your application will be done within this time frame. Incomplete submissions will slow down process and your application may even be denied. Avoid this problem by contacting us for help bringing your parent or grandparent to Canada.

How long will my parent or grandparent be able to stay in Canada with a valid Super Visa?

While successful applicants can hold a valid supervisa for 10 years, they will only be able to stay in Canada for 24 months at a time. After that, their visitor status will need to be renewed by submitting an application for potential renewal/extension.

The maximum extension is 24 months and there may be an additional fee involved. The only exception to this rule is for parents and grandparents currently in Canada who already hold a valid visitor visa. A two-year extension may be granted by submitting an application.

When can my parent or grandparent apply for a Super visa extension?

The application for renewal should be submitted no later than 30 days before the 24 month period is complete.

If my parent or grandparent lives in a country with a visa exception can we still get a Supervisa?

The application for renewal should be submitted no later than 30 days before the 24 month period is complete. Yes, however the process will be slightly different since they will first need to get Temporary Resident Visa. A medical exam is still needed as well as proof of financial support from a child or grandchild.

What happens to standard sponsorship applications?

If you submitted your application before November 5, 2011, then the application will be reviewed in due time. Any sponsorship applications received after this date will be returned to the applicant with all fees refunded. You may be able to submit standard sponsorship applications by late 2013.

Source: http://canadim.com