Canadian Business Visitor Visa and Business Letter

Business Visitor Visa

The business visitor visa allows you to temporarily immigrate to Canada for less than six months for business purposes pertaining to your international business. As the business visitor to Canada your activities have to be pertaining to your international business. As the owner of the visitor business you can attend business meeting or conferences, buy good for your foreign company, deal with after sales agreements and attend sales and product training which must be done by the Canadian company or distributor.

It is important to note that a business visa does not have a separate application. If you are not from a visa exempt country, you would have to submit the same application as the temporary resident visa. Visiting for business reason increases your credibility, as it gives you a valid reason to tell the officer and gain entry into Canada.

It is very important that you submit the right documents that provide proof of your business back home, and prove that your visit is temporary. For instance, having an invitation letter for your business meeting may help you with your case.

Do I need to apply for any other visas before applying for a business visitor visa?

Yes, you will need to obtain your temporary resident permit (TRP) before you can apply for a business visitor visa. Once you obtained your TRP, you can then apply directly at a port of entry.

It is important to note that a business visa does not have a separate application. If you are not from a visa exempt country, you would have to submit the same application as the temporary resident visa. Visiting for business reason increases your credibility, as it gives you a valid reason to tell the officer and gain entry into Canada.

What documents do I need to bring with me to the port of entry?

Proof of identification (i.e. this can be your passport, birth certificate, or any other document that shows your identity)
Temporary resident permit/visa
Provide the officer with the itinerary for what you will be doing from start to beginning once you come to Canada
A document that verifies you are not coming to Canada to look for employment
That you intend to leave Canada once your trip is over
Letter of invitation from the Canadian organization to you (very necessary)
Have enough money to stay and take care of yourself
The profits that are made go back to your own country
Travel document (i.e. passport)
Letter from your company you are hired by that you are employed in a paid full-time position
Document to show that you can financially support yourself
Medical examination by a panel physician (to prove that you are not medically inadmissible to immigrate to Canada)

If the officer reviewing your application at the border deems that the business you plan to conduct requires the Labour Market Opinion or Impact Assessment and the work permit, your application will be denied.

There are two main requirements to qualify for the business visa:

Your source of income must be outside of Canada
To not have a criminal record or health problems

There are certain documentation when applying for a business visitor visa. These documentation include but are not limited to:

There are countries that may prevent from applying for a business visitor visa into Canada. To overcome this you can apply for an implied business visa.

The officer can deny your application if he/she finds that the business you will perform will require you to obtain a Labour Market Opinion or Assessment and/or work permit. Thus it is recommended to view over your application thoroughly and make sure you do not require one for the business visitor visa.

You should file in advance or as soon as possible because the processing times for this application can be lengthy.

What is a business visitor letter and what should the letter include?

A business visitor letter is given from a Canadian business that will be hosting you and is included with your application. It should include the following:

Information about the person being invited

i.e. their name, date of birth, accommodations or living expenses that your business will cover for the person being invited, length of time they are visiting, whether there is a personal relationship, their work and home phone number, their position, etc.

About the person sending the invitation

i.e. name, job title and their respective position in their company, work email address and their address and telephone number they can be reached at (work and home phone number)

About the company sending the invitation

i.e. name of company, short description of the business, the address, website address if the company has one, etc.

Make sure to obtain two copies of the business visitor letter to put in your application and to present at a port of entry. In some cases your business visitor visa will need to be notarized by a notary.

Please note that obtaining a business visitor visa does not guarantee acceptance for a business visitor visa. Thus it is required to fully submit your application with all the required and supporting documentation so your application has a higher chance of approval for the business visitor visa.

Should I hire an immigration lawyer to help me with my business visitor visa?

It is recommend to hire a legal professional to work with you and your employer to gather the required and supporting documentation so you do not miss anything when you submit your application. This is because if you miss something on your application, then there will be more delay in processing your application. Thus with a legal professional the chances of this occurring will be less.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you need assistance with obtaining your business visitor visa feel free to contact us at 416-477-2545 or call our toll free number at 1-877-820-7121 and will be glad to assist you with your immigration matter.

We also offer affordable Do It Yourself Kit if you decided to submit your own application like a pro!! Our Do It Your Self Immigration Kits are created to provide you step-step guidance on how to submit your own application. We also offer a review of your application when you purchase our Elite kit which gets you a consultation and a final review by one of our legal experts. Looking forward to hearing from you.

With Akrami & Associates there is always a way!!