How to Apply for a Visitor Visa
Do you want to visit Canada, whether it is to see a relative or go sight-seeing? While visitor visa applications are generally handled by private lawyers, we are happy to provide you with the following information.
Whether you need a visa depends on which country you come from. US citizens can generally enter Canada with just their passports. Citizens of some other (wealthy) countries need to apply for an eTA (electronic travel authorization) to enter Canada. This is a relatively quick process.
Citizens of the majority of the world’s countries, however, cannot enter Canada without applying for a Temporary Resident Visa. To figure out what rules apply to your country of citizenship, check the IRCC website:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Standard visitor visas allow for visits of up to six months at a time. However, most visitors can leave and return to Canada for a separate six-month period so long as their visa has not expired. If you are already in Canada and want to extend your visit beyond six months, you have to apply for a document called a visitor record.
When applying for a visitor visa, you should refer to Canada’s official checklist (form IMM5484) and the relevant instruction guide. Currently you have the option of mailing a paper application to your local VAC office, or applying online. See the instruction guide for details on these two ways of applying.
A visitor visa application costs $100. Since this is a “processing fee,” you cannot usually get a refund, even if your application is refused.
When filling out an application form, it is very important to avoid “misrepresentation.” This means giving false information to the government of Canada or leaving out important information. The law around misrepresentation is very strict. It often doesn’t matter if the misrepresentation was an accident; the same harsh consequence applies! This is one of the reasons why hiring a properly licensed lawyer or immigration consultant is important!
You will have to put together a number of other supporting documents listed on the IMM5484 checklist. The purpose of these documents is to prove that you are genuinely coming to Canada as a visitor (i.e. you don’t plan to make a refugee claim, or live in Canada illegally).
For example, you should provide proof that you have a good job in your home country (especially if the job is one that you would not be licensed to perform in Canada, such as doctor or lawyer). You should also provide bank statements and proof of home ownership as evidence that you live a better life in your home country than you would in Canada.
You should provide proof that your family ties are stronger to your home country than they are to Canada. For example, if you have a spouse and children in your home country (and only more distant relatives abroad), provide proof of this and state in writing that your closest relatives are in your home country.
If you are from a refugee-producing country, you may want to provide proof that you do not fit the profile of a probable-refugee-claimant (example: you are not part of an ethnic, religious, or political minority, you live in a peaceful region of your country, etc.).
You should also provide an invitation letter drafted by a relative (or friend) in Canada. As the instructions here show, the phrase “invitation letter” is a bit misleading. These letters are not meant to be written as private correspondence between two friends/relatives. Rather, they are legal documents in which the inviting person lays out their commitments to the invited person and the government of Canada.
With that in mind, the inviting person should also provide proof of their own financial status (bank statements, proof of employment, etc.). This is because visitors are not allowed to work while in Canada. The government will want to see proof that you will have someone to support you should you face financial hardship.
As we have written before, there are some serious problems with the visitor visa application process. While it is important to provide officers with a lot of documents (those described above), there is a risk the officer will not read all of these documents. Therefore, it is a good idea to provide a quick list at the front of your package that summarizes your evidence. Such a list could look like the following (please consult a lawyer before making your own list):
Dear Officer,
I am providing evidence of the following points. For these reasons, I hope you will grant the applicant a visa.
1) Owns a three-bedroom home in a desirable neighborhood in Karachi, Pakistan
2) 10 years experience as a licensed doctor in Pakistan (see reference letters) and not licensed to work in Canada.
3) Income of ___ Pakistan Rupees, equivalent to ____ Canadian dollars, puts applicant in top__ % of Pakistani income earners.
4) Applicant lives with spouse, three children, and parents in Pakistan. Children are getting high marks in school.
5) Applicant coming to Canada for cousin’s wedding (see copy of wedding invitation). Applicant will return to Pakistan after 1 month (see attached return ticket).
Applying for a visitor visa can involve many tough decisions – is it worth buying a return ticket to prove you intend to leave Canada, if your application might still be rejected? This is why one should seek out representation from a lawyer or immigration consultant who is properly licensed and who has had repeated success with securing visitor visas for individuals from your country.
***This is legal information and not legal advice. If you need further information or need legal advice, please call our Intake Line at 416-441-1764 ext. 1 or complete our online Intake Form.***