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Visitor Visa
Are you planning to visit Canada? Are you looking into applying for a visitor visa? Have you gotten confused about the process to obtaining a visitors visa? If you have there is no need to worry as many other people get stuck when dealing with an visitor visa.
What is a temporary resident visa/ visitor visa
A temporary resident/ visitor visa is an official document which has been stamped into your passport. This document shows that you have meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada. In many cases, travelers require a visitor visa to travel into Canada. You may also need a visa if you are transiting through a Canadian airport while on your way to your final destination.
How long can I say in Canada
Most visitors are able to stay in Canada for up to 6 months. At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for more or less than 6 months. If this situation does occur, the border services officer will put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They also might give you a document, called a visitor record, which will show the date you need to leave Canada by.
If you don’t get your passport stamped, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you need a stamp, you may ask the a border services officer for one. If you arrive at an airport that uses primary inspection kiosks, just ask the border officer after you finish at the kiosks.
Basic travel requirements
Some of the basic travel requirements that you must meet in order to travel to Canada include, you must:
**Please note that you may also need a medical exam and a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada**
Some people are inadmissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. Some reasons that you can be inadmissible include, being involved in:
You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.
Applying for a visitor visa
When beginning to apply for a visitor visa you can either apply online or on paper. Regardless of your choice the process will be very similar.
If you choose to apply on paper you will first receive the application package. The application package will include an instruction guide and all the forms you will need to fill out. You must read the guide carefully before you complete the application. The government of Canada won’t refund your application fee, so it is very important that you make sure that you are eligible for a temporary resident (visitor) visa before you apply.
**Please note that each individual applicant must submit a completed application form. Applicants under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or guardian.**
In most countries, application fees must be paid in Canadian dollars. If you apply on paper at a VAC, you will also have to pay the VAC services fees. These fees aren’t included in you application fees.
When submitting the application package, families should send all their application in one package. The principal applicant must send this combined package to the location where the application will be processed.
**Please note that if you need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photographs), and you are applying on paper, submit you application in person. VAC staff will check that it is completed and will confirm that you have paid the correct fees before you can give your biometrics.**
What happens after you apply for a visitor visa
In most cases, you will need to give biometrics. After you pay the biometrics fee and submit your application, the government of Canada will send you a letter that states that you have to give your biometrics. The letter will tell you how and where to give your biometrics. You will have up to 30 days to give your biometrics (in person). If , for some reason, you have not paid the biometrics fee, the government of Canada will send you a letter asking you to do this first. You will only get the instructional letter if you pay the biometrics fee.
The government of Canada will check your application to make sure you have all the necessary documents. If it is incomplete, the government of Canada will return you application without processing it. The government of Canada may also ask you to:
The government of Canada will tell you what to do if you need to complete any of these.
The government of Canada will process most applications in a few weeks or less. Processing time depends on the visa office and if you need to do any extra steps. The Government of Canada will return your passport and other original documents to you after they process the application. They won’t return original bank statements or any documents that they find to be fake.
If the application is approved, the visa will be stamped inside your passport. If your application is refused, the government of Canada will send you an explanation.
Contact Akrami and Associates
Throughout this blog, we have discussed what a visitor visa is, how long an applicant can stay in Canada with a visitor visa, the basic travel requirements for a visitor visa, how to apply for a visitor visa, and what happens after an applicant applies for a visitor visa. With a trusted and experienced team of lawyers at Akrami and Associates, we can help you deal with problems related to such documents.
Please feel free to contact us at 416-477- 2545 for a consultation. Many of our clients come to us after they have already been refused on their own application. Not to worry, because Akrami & Associates has a wealth of experience in dealing with such matters. Contact us to find out how we can help you! There's always a way! Do not forget to check out our blogs at thevisa.ca and follow our Facebook page for more information.
