VISIT CANADA
Millions of visitors come to Canada each year. The country is a famous tourist destination as it has many multicultural cities, each with its own distinct personality and a range of natural wonders. With more coastlines than any other country, lakes, forests, mountain ranges, arctic lands and even deserts, Canada has a diverse landscape full of surprises. Fabulous outdoor activities are another amazing reason to visit Canada. Skiing, camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, and kayaking are among the most popular outdoor activities in Canada.
For those who desire to travel to Canada for a visit, there are several visa options below
TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA
If you wish to come to Canada for a temporary purpose such as visiting places, friends, or family, you may need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). TRV’s may be issued for single or multiple entry and visitor visa holders are typically admitted for a period of six months.
You can submit your application online, by paper, or in person at any Visa Application Centre (VAC). There are many factors that will be considered when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reviewing your application. Some factors include, but not limited to, ties (assets) to your home country, financial ability to support your stay in Canada, social and economic connection to your home country, etc.
If you are a visitor from a visa-exempt country, then you are not required to obtain a TRV.
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (eTA)
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an agreement that Canada has with many countries around the world. It allows the citizens of that country to visit Canada without needing a visa. In most cases, citizens of these visa-exempt countries will only need an eTA and can stay in Canada for up to six months. Additionally, lawful permanent residents of the USA, who hold a valid Green Card and are travelling by air, must also obtain an eTA.
Some Exemptions where an eTA is not required are, but not limited to:
- Citizens of the USA
- Visitors arriving by land or sea.
- Canadian permanent residents. However, you must travel with a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document
- Travelers who hold a valid Canadian visa (TRV)
- Lawful permanent residents of the USA, who hold a valid Green Card and are travelling to Canada by car, bus, train, boats, or cruise ship
- Foreign nationals who are passengers on a flight that makes an unscheduled stop in Canada
If you are a visitor from a visa-exempt country, then you are not required to obtain a TRV.
EXTEND YOUR STAY IN CANADA FOR A LONGER PERIOD
If you want to extend your stay in Canada for a longer period, as a visitor, you will need to apply for a visitor record. A visitor record is a document issued by IRCC that will give your visitor status an extended period of stay and the length of time given is at the discretion of IRCC.
Those who like to extend their stay, it is recommended that you should apply for an extension at least 30 days before your current visitor status will expire. If your current visitor status expires while your application is in process with IRCC, you may remain in Canada while waiting for a decision to be made. This is called implied status. This only applies if you have applied for the visitor record before your current status expires.
It doesn’t matter if you entered Canada using a visitor visa, electronic travel authorization (eTA), or any other document. If you want to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor, you will need a visitor record.
SUPER VISA
The super visa allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to come to Canada as visitors for up to two years at a time. Under a super visa, you will receive a multiple-entry visa, with a validity of up to 10 years. This visa provides the flexibility for parents and grandparents to visit their children and grandchildren for a longer extended period.
To be eligible for a super visa, parents and grandparents must meet the following:
- Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
- Must have a signed letter of invitation from your child or grandchild
- Must have proof of paid medical insurance coverage from a Canadian insurance company; valid for 1 year from date of entry and at least $100,000.00 coverage
- Must undergo immigration medical exam
- Must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements
- Must satisfy the requirements of a Temporary Resident Visa, and not be inadmissible on various grounds such as, but not limited to, misrepresentation, criminality, or medical reasons, etc.
CASE STUDY
A family in Canada referred UCIC to take on a complicated case for their cousin (client) living abroad to apply for a visitor visa. The client had applied from his home country but was refused. UCIC collected the required information and provided the client with a detailed assessment, which included pros and cons of his application. The client could easily determine how the cons outweighed the pros. The client is a self-employed street food vendor and could not provide verification for his employment and income in the previous application. In addition, he had no travel history, verification of personal assets, and family ties from his home country.
The client knew that this was a challenging case, and he may not be able to come to Canada to visit his family. UCIC’s team of experienced experts helped to collect the required missing information and prepare a new application and submitted to the Canadian authorities. This complicated case was ultimately approved and the client was full of joy that UCIC was able to help him achieve his dreams to visit his family in Canada.
Interested in any of the following?
Applying for a visitor visa to Canada
Extending your stay in Canada as a visitor