Visitor Visa
Visitor Visa
A visitor visa is required various purposes of visit such as, if you plan to visit your family or friends in Canada or visit for vacation or visit for business purposes. This type of visa is also known as TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) and it is stamped on your passport. At first, check if you need a visitor visa to come to Canada for temporarily, as some of the foreign nationals coming from specified countries may not require obtaining a TRV
A visitor visa is required various purposes of visit such as, if you plan to visit your family or friends in Canada or visit for vacation or visit for business purposes. This type of visa is also known as TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) and it is stamped on your passport. At first, check if you need a visitor visa to come to Canada for temporarily, as some of the foreign nationals coming from specified countries may not require obtaining a TRV.
- A foreign national can stay in Canada for up to 6 months on a visitor visa, unless extended.
- There are certain factors that will determine the eligibility to obtain temporary visa, such as legitimate purpose of visit, financial status and health status. There are documents that an applicant must gather before applying:
- Valid travel document: A country resident card and a passport
- Letter of Invitation: A letter of invitation from the person inviting you to come to Canada
- Intention to Leave: The evidence that you will stay in the country only on a temporary basis
- Sufficient Funds: The evidence of having enough funds for your visit to Canada
- Connections: Your ties to your home country, to convince that you will leave Canada
These are the basic documents that you will require to apply for a Canadian visitor visa. You may need more documents, depending upon your specific situation.
- Additionally, you must
- Not be charged of a serious offence
- Agree that you will leave the country at the end of your stay or before your visa expires
- Prove that you do not intend to study or work in Canada
- Undergo a complete medical examination
- Points to Be Noted
Here are a few important points that a potential visitor to Canada must know beforehand.
– A temporary visitor’s visa is not offered on arrival in Canada. The visitors must obtain it before travelling to Canada.
– This visa doesn’t allow applicants to study or work or undertake any profession in the country
– The visitors are allowed an opportunity to explore Canadian landscape and visit tourist destinations or other purposes for which the visa is granted
- Who Doesn’t Need a Visitor’s Visa to Visit Canada?
These people do not require a visitor’s visa to visit Canada.
1. Citizens of Visa-Exempt Countries
A
Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Austria Australia |
B
Bahamas Barbados Belgium Botswana Brunei |
C
Costa Rica Cyprus |
D
Denmark |
F
Finland France |
G
Germany Greece Grenada |
H
Hungry |
I
Iceland Ireland Israel (only National Passport Holders) Italy |
J
Japan |
K
Kiribati |
L
Liechtenstein Luxemburg
|
M
Malaysia Malta Monaco |
N
Namibia Nauru New Zealand Netherlands Norway |
P
Papua New Guinea Portugal Republic of Korea
|
R
Republic of Korea |
S
St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent San Marino Singapore Spain Solomon Islands Swaziland Sweden Slovenia Switzerland
|
T
Tuvalu |
U
United States |
V
Vanuatu |
W
Western Samoa |
Z
Zimbabwe |
2.Individuals who have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residents and posses
-USA Green Card
– Evidence of permanent residence
3. A British citizen or a British Overseas citizen who is re-admissible to the United Kingdom
4. Citizens of British dependent territories who derive citizenships through naturalization, descent, birth or registration in Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, , Caicos Islands
5. Turkish citizens travelling on a diplomatic passport
6. Individuals holding a passport issued by the Holy See
- Who Needs a Visitor’s Visa to Visit Canada?
1. Citizens of these countries need a visitor’s visa before departing their home country for Canada
A
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan |
B
Bangladesh Bahrain Belarus Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia-Herzegovina Brazil Botswana Bulgaria Burundi Burkina-Faso
|
C
Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile Columbia Comoros Congo Croatia Cuba Czech Republic
|
D
Djibouti Dominican Republic
|
E
Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia |
F
Fiji |
G
Gabon Gambia Georgia Ghana Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana |
H
Haiti Honduras
|
I
India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Ivory Coast |
J
Jamaica Jordan |
K
Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan |
L
Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania |
M
Macedonia Malagasy Republic Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar |
N
Namibia Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria
|
O
Oman |
P
Pacific Islands U.S. Trust territory Pakistan Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland
|
Q
Qatar |
R
Romania Russia Rwanda |
S
Sao Tome e Principle Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Slovak Republic Somalia South Africa Sri Lanka St. Lucia St. Vincent Sudan Surinam Swaziland Syria |
T
Tajikistan Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan
|
U
Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay Uzbekistan |
V
Venezuela Vietnam
|
Y
Yemen Yugoslavia
|
Z
Zambia
|
The sponsors who do not meet the income eligibility requirements to sponsor their parents as Permanent residents to Canada, need not to worry! they can now also invite their parents or grandparents on the Super Visa. The dependents of applicants cannot be included in this application, However, the applicant’s spouse or common law partner can accompany them with Super Visa.
The Super visa is a multiple-entry visa, which is valid up to 10 years. The sponsored parents or grandparents can stay up to 2 years at a stretch upon entering into Canada, without renewing their status or visa.
- How is a Super Visa Different from a 10-Year Multiple-Entry Visa?
- The parent and grandparent Super Visa allow eligible applicants to stay with their children and grandchildren in Canada for up to two years continuously on every entry to Canada. Whereas, a 10 years multiple-entry visa allow the visitors to visit Canada for a limited period of 6 months. In order to stay more than 6 months, they have to apply for an extension and pay the required fee every time they extend their visit.
- The sponsor and the applicant must meet eligibility requirements which are given as follows:
- Status: The applicant must be the parent or grandparents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
- Income requirements: The sponsor must show that their income is above a fixed minimum level
- Invitation: The sponsor is required to provide a Letter of invitation signed by the child or grandchild that includes:
- Commit to support financially for the duration of the applicant’s visa.
- Family members in the sponsor’s household
- Proof of sponsor’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
-
- Medical Insurance: The sponsor and the applicant must show the proof of paid medial insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is:
- Valid for at least one year from the date of entry
- At least $100,000 for minimum coverage
- Medical Insurance: The sponsor and the applicant must show the proof of paid medial insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is:
-
- In addition, the visa officer will make a decision on the applicant’s admissibility after taking into consideration various factors as given below:
- Health of the applicant;
- Financial situation;
- Invitation from the Canadian host;
- Ties with the home country;
- Political and economic stability of the home country;
- Purpose of visit; and
- Availability of funds to support themselves for the length of their stay
- In addition, the visa officer will make a decision on the applicant’s admissibility after taking into consideration various factors as given below:
- How long does it take to process an application for a temporary resident’s visa?
It absolutely depends upon the discretion of the Canadian government. So, no one can make any guarantees or consider a specific time period as a precise duration for processing of visa applications. Ideally, one must apply for at least two-three months in advance before departing the home country for Canada.
However, professional help from regulated immigration consultants may help reduce the waiting time. In addition, chances of acceptance improve terrifically because they are the experts in this field and know what exactly it takes to obtain an approval from the authorities.
- What can delay the processing of a temporary visitor’s visa application?
There are actually a number of factors that can lead to delay in processing of your temporary visitor’s visa application. It may be a result of one or a combination of many factors, including but not limited to:
- Incomplete application
- Errors in application
- Pending background check
- Pending health check
- Criminal record
- Pending verification of documents
- Interview required
- Can anyone visiting Canada on a temporary visitor’s visa can leave the country and return before the visa expires?
It depends on the type of visa you have obtained. On a single entry visa, it is not permitted. The individual will require re-applying for the visa in case he/she wants to return to Canada. There are multiple-entry visas that allow individuals to visit the country multiple times until the expiry of visa.
- What if I want to extent my visitor status?
Generally, a visitor’s visa is valid for six months and you can stay in the country for this duration without any problem. However, if you wish to extend your stay, you will need to apply to get a ‘visitor status’ before the expiry of your current visitor status.
And if the renewal is awaited and your visa expires but you have already applied for an extension, you are given an ‘implied status’ until the final decision on your request is taken. A ‘restoration of status’ appeal can be made within the 90 days if your application of visa extension is refused.
- Is it important to seek professional assistance?
Getting a temporary visa is a complex process as the chances of refusal are higher if application filed is incomplete or contains errors. Moreover, it may take really long to get it approved and obtain a visa. In case of refusal, re-processing may take much longer. In order to avoid all the hassles, and keep the process short and smooth, it’s recommended to seek professional assistance. The immigration consultants are people who are qualified and experienced in handling such cases. They can assist you with the entire process right from eligibility assessment to obtaining an approval.