Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 12, 2026: IRCC’s super visa pages and processing-time tool checked that day.
The time: IRCC publishes current processing times by country; they change often.
What slows files: medical exams, biometrics, missing documents, and additional checks.
Why a lawyer: when a file is far past the normal time, a lawyer can push for a decision, and in the end ask the Federal Court to order one. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
How long a super visa takes depends on where your parent applies from and how complete the file is. IRCC publishes processing times by country on its website, and they change from month to month, so any number we print here would soon be out of date. What we can tell you is what slows files down: the immigration medical exam, biometrics, missing or unclear documents, and additional background checks. A complete, well-organized file is the best way to avoid delay. When a file is stuck well beyond the published time, there are steps to take, from a webform to the officer’s notes to an application asking the Federal Court to order IRCC to decide.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares complete super visa files and pushes delayed applications to a decision; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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What slows a super visa down
| Cause | What helps |
|---|---|
| Medical exam not yet done or results pending | Book the exam early with an approved panel physician |
| Biometrics not given | Give biometrics as soon as the instruction letter arrives |
| Missing or unclear documents | Send a complete file: income, insurance, invitation, ties |
| Additional checks | Nothing to do but keep the file complete and respond quickly |
If the file is stuck
- Check the current processing time on IRCC’s tool for your parent’s country.
- Send a webform once the file is past that time.
- Request the officer’s notes to see where the file is. See getting the officer’s notes.
- A lawyer’s demand letter asking IRCC to decide.
- Mandamus: an application asking the Federal Court to order IRCC to make a decision, where the delay is unreasonable and unexplained.
Why hire a lawyer when a super visa is delayed?
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- putting together a complete file so it isn’t held up;
- tracking the file against the published processing time;
- sending a formal demand when it’s overdue;
- applying to the Federal Court for an order forcing a decision if the delay is unreasonable.
Only a lawyer can bring a mandamus application in the Federal Court. A demand letter from a lawyer often moves a file, because IRCC knows the next step is court.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can take a refusal to the Federal Court. An immigration consultant cannot file or argue it there.
Mistakes I have seen
- Applying again while the first application is still in process.
- Booking flights before the visa is issued.
- Waiting a year before asking what’s wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Will paying more speed it up?
No. There’s no paid priority processing for a super visa.
Can a lawyer make IRCC decide faster?
No. A lawyer can push for a decision and, if the delay is unreasonable, ask the Federal Court to order one.
Does a delay mean it will be refused?
Not necessarily. Many delayed files are approved.
What should I do right now?
Check IRCC’s current processing time for your parent’s country, note when the application was submitted, and keep a copy of everything sent.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
- IRCC: Check processing times
- IRCC: Parent and grandparent super visa (modified July 6, 2026)
- IRCC: Super visa eligibility (modified July 6, 2026)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.