Who can I sponsor to Canada?
We get many calls from clients asking us whether or not they can sponsor their girlfriend or boyfriend to Canada. If you have been in a relationship with your girlfriend and have lived together less than a year you cannot sponsor your girlfriend/boyfriend to Canada. But if you have lived with your girlfriend/boyfriend for at least one year you can apply under the common law sponsorship which qualifies you to sponsor your partner under the spousal sponsorship category. When applying under such a category you have to demonstrate you have lived together for at least one year and that your relationship is permanent and genuine.
Therefore if you have not lived together for at least one year and cannot demonstrate you are in a common law relationship then unfortunately you do not fall under the Family Class Sponsorship. This is not the end of the road; there are other options available to you by inviting your girlfriend/boyfriend for temporary basis to Canada such as the applying for the Temporary Resident Visa also known as the Visitor Visa.
Not everyone requires a Visitor Visa, depending on the individuals’ country of citizenship they may or may not need a Temporary Resident Visa. Some countries are exempted from obtaining the TRV in which they do not require a document to enter Canada. For instance, if you are the citizen of the United States you are exempted under the North American Free Trade Agreement and are considered an implied visitor to Canada.
What is a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)?
Travelling to Canada can be a fun and exciting experience, we get over 35 million temporary residents to Canada each year ranging from tourists, temporary foreign workers and international students. For these individuals to be able to come to Canada they have to apply for Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). The TRV is a document that is granted by the Canadian Immigration Visa office outside of Canada which displays that applicant has satisfied the TRV requirements for entry into Canada as a visitor.
How long is a Temporary Resident Visa approved for?
As a tourist to Canada the applicant can stay up to a 6-month period to visit Canada beginning with the day they enter Canada. An officer may authorize a stay of less than 6-months. If you wanted to extend your stay in Canada, you must do so within an allotted-time frame or else you must leave Canada. If you are temporary foreign worker or an international student the Temporary Resident Visa is admitted for varying periods of time, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied for within Canada. Once obtaining your TRV its does not mean that the immigration officer at the Canadian Port of Entry cannot deny you entry. At the Canadian Port of Entry, the officer can deny you entry if you do not demonstrate that your purpose of visit to Canada is only temporary. Therefore it is highly recommended to come prepared with supporting documents to demonstrate to immigration your stay to Canada is only temporary.
Visitor Visa Eligibility
To visit Canada, there are certain basic requirements you need to meet in order to be approved for a temporary residence visa, you must:
- Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
- Be in good health
- Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Convince an immigration officer that you have ties-such as a job, home, a family- that will take you back to your home country
- Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit and
- Have enough money for your stay (the amount can vary, depending on the length of your trip and your accommodations)
How can my girlfriend or boyfriend prove ties to their home country?
One of the requirements to obtaining a Temporary Resident Visa to Canada, the applicant has to provide sufficient supporting documents to the immigration officer to demonstrate he/she is only visiting Canada for temporary basis. The immigration officer at the Canadian Port of Entry has to be satisfied that your intent is temporary to Canada and that you will exit the country at the end of your stay. In order to be successful one can provide proof that they have someone or something back home to go back too such family, job, property, bank statements etc. If you don’t have family or a job back home one can provide lease or mortgage agreements, possible job in the future, assets, bank accounts, enrollment in school etc.
Presenting different documents that are detailed helps make your application stronger and it will demonstrate that your intention is only temporary.
Visitor Visa Exemptions
There are certain exemptions to the basic requirements that you need to meet to visit Canada, if you do not fulfil all of the basic requirements needed to visit Canada, you may fall under an exemption:
- Citizens of certain countries
- Citizens holding specific papers or documents
- People entering Canada for specific and temporary purposes
Different types of TRVs
Single Entry Visa:
This visa allows the individual to visit Canada for a period of six month or less. This is only a one time entry into Canada, once you leave Canada excluding the United States and St. Pierre and Miquelon you will need a new visa to re-enter Canada. If your visa expires while visiting the United States, St. Pierre or Miquelon and you do not have a valid visa to re-enter you will need to apply for a new visitor visa.
Multiple Entry Visa:
This type of visa is valid for a period of 10 years in which it allows individuals to come to Canada for a period of six months at a time without having to reapply each time.
Visitor Visa Inadmissibility
There are certain things that may keep a person from being granted authority to visit Canada. The reasons may range from human rights violations, involvement in criminal activity and organized crime. One could also be denied for medical inadmissibility or not showing sufficient funds to support yourself during your intended temporary stay.
Can I extend my stay in Canada or change status of my application?
If you are in Canada and like to extend your stay as temporary visitor you can apply to extend temporary resident status if your visa has not expired. You need to apply 30 days prior to the expiration date. Also, you have to determine your intentions whether you like to apply under the same conditions or would like to change your visa status for example from visitor to Canada to a worker. When changing the status of your application you have to apply outside of Canada. If you do not want to change the condition of your application for example extending your stay as tourist in Canada all you have to do is go online or mail your application.
Contact Akrami and Associates
Our immigration experts at Akrami and Associates have dealt with and solved over hundreds of cases pertaining to Temporary Resident Visa applications. If you like to re-unite with a loved and unsure which route will best work for your immigration needs then please call us at 416-477-2545. Our immigration experts can advise you which application will work best for you and how we can assist you in gathering all the supporting documents to submit a strong application to immigration Canada.
If you are looking to file the application on your own, purchase our very affordable and understandable Do It Yourself Immigration Kits that range from temporary to permanent applications. We will guide you throughout the process. If you would like a consultation and a final review on your application by one of our legal representatives, you can purchase our elite bundle which comes with the kit and these perks at an affordable extra cost.
With Akrami and Associates, there is always a way!