Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Prepare to Study in Canada

If you have been considering completing all or a portion of your studies in Canada, it is never too early to start preparing to apply for a study permit. It can take a remarkably long time to prepare an application. Then, on top of this, it takes even longer for the application to be processed and a decision be given to the applicant. Throughout this article, we will aim to provide a comprehensive article, which details all the things one must think of, to prepare to study in Canada.

1. Find out Whether You Come from a Visa-Exempt, or a Non-Visa Exempt Country.

This will determine whether you only need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA), or, if you need to apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV), along with your study permit.

Do You Need a Visitor Visa to Enter Canada? 

Do you wish to come to Canada in the near future, and have no intentions of working or studying in Canada for longer than 6 months? Are you from a non-visa exempt country? If this is the case for you, you’ll need to apply for a temporary resident visa, and receive approval on this application, before you are permitted to travel to Canada. If you are from a visa-exempt country, you may only need to apply for an eTA (electronic travel authorization), if you are flying to Canada. An eTA gives you permission to board your flight which will land at a Canadian airport. A visitor visa gives permission to citizens from countries who are not allowed to enter Canada without a valid visa, the permission to enter Canada, the permission to do so. Please remember, everyone needs a valid travel document, and must not be inadmissible to Canada. Though, this article will cover how to apply for a temporary resident visa, for those individuals who must go through this extra step, before being permitted to enter Canada.

Step 1: Gather Documents

Always start by collecting all the necessary documents, which will have to be submitted with your application for a temporary resident visa. This helps to ensure nothing is missing once your application is submitted, which will result in increased processing times on your application. You will need to provide a variety of things, which Akrami and Associates would be glad to help you with. We help our clients applying for visitors visas every step of the way, to ensure they truly understand what is required in their application. You application must include the following, but is not only limited to these documents.

Coming to Canada with an Agenda?

Have you been considering coming to Canada for a business trip. Or, more likely, you have a plan in mind to come to Canada in the near future, and you’re not sure whether the activities you’re coming to Canada for, qualify was a “business endeavor” or “working.” Sometimes, it is very difficult to know the difference between activities and something that seems like a simple visit, even if you’re going to take care of a couple of things you had planned on doing while you’re here. Though, it is important to know that the Canadian government considers anyone who enters Canada with the intention participating in business-like activities, a business visitor.

Do You Need an Authorization to Return to Canada?

Have you previously been ordered to leave Canada, and are now wondering what this means for your ability to visit the country again? Being ordered to leave Canada is one of the many reasons an individual may be considered inadmissible to the country, and ultimately not be allowed to enter the country. You will know that you have been ordered to leave Canada if you receive a removal order from Canadian immigration services. If this sounds like the circumstances you face, there is good news! Akrami and Associates has plenty of experience evaluating the unique circumstances individuals may face, and helping each one solve their issue of being inadmissible to the country. Keep reading to find out if you will likely need an authorization to return to Canada (ARC), before you are permitted to enter the country again.

What Is an Authorization to Return to Canada?

An authorization to return to Canada (ARC) is a document any individual who has received a removal order from Canadian immigration services most likely needs, though, there are exceptions. In other words, an ARC is needed for any individual who travels to Canada and fails to comply with the requirements set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). One can fail to comply with the requirements set out in IRPA by staying longer than the standard 6 months individuals are allowed to stay, or longer than is permitted according to their visitor’s visa in their specific circumstance. One can also violate IRPA regulations by working or studying in Canada while they are not permitted to do so, for example. Violating the regulations set out in IRPA do not simply trigger your removal from Canada, it is most likely that following this occurrence, you will require an authorization to return to Canada before you are allowed to enter the country. To be clear, you are often considered inadmissible to Canada if you violate the regulations of the IRPA. An ARC overcomes your status as inadmissible if you are inadmissible as the result of a removal order.

What is a visitor’s Visa?

Are you considering a trip to Canada in the future? Are you wondering what you might need to prepare for the big day to make sure you’re not denied entry at the border? This can be a very stressful process, we know. There are a lot of things to consider to be sure you have all the right documents when you arrive at the border, and this means preparing well in advance. Many citizens who seek entry into Canada come from a non-visa exempt country, which means they’ll need to apply for a visitor’s visa, also known as a temporary resident visa, before they will be permitted to enter Canada. Knowing you need a visitor’s visa is the first step towards success, though, the process of applying for a visa can very nerve-wracking. Because you need to have a valid visitor’s visa before you arrive at the border, you will need to start preparing well in advance to ensure your application is processed and approved on time for your preferred travel date. Therefore, this article will aim to help you understand the process of applying for a visitor’s visa, and explain what a visitor’s visa can allow you to do during your stay in Canada.

Who Needs A Visitor’s Visa?

If you are travelling from a non-visa exempt country, you will need to apply for a visitor’s visa before you arrive at the Canadian border. It is important to understand you cannot apply for a visitor’s visa at the border; you must be able to show an approved visitor’s visa to Canadian immigration officers when you arrive at the border. If you are travelling from a visa-exempt country, you do not need a visitor’s visa to be permitted to enter Canada. Though, it is usually the case that individuals from visa-exempt countries, still require an approved electronic travel authorization (eTA) to be permitted to enter the country.

Questions and Answers for Tourist Visas

In this article, I will address popular questions and answers for Tourist Visas. This is intended for foreign nationals that would like to visit Canada for tourism purposes to better understand what can ensue when you are in the process of applying for a Tourist Visa to Canada. If you feel as though you would be eligible to apply for a Tourist Visa, then I suggest you read our article on “Who Needs a Visitor Visa to Come to Canada” prior to reading this question and answer article. Essentially, this article is intended to clarify and answer your questions regarding any immigration matters regarding Tourist Visas.

Q: What kind of visa should I apply for if I would like to visit Canada for tourism purposes?

A: If you would like to come to Canada for tourism purposes, it is best to apply for either a Visitor Visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa, or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Whether you apply for a Visitor Visa or an eTA will ultimately depend on whether you are applying from a visa-exempt country or a non-visa exempt country. Once this is determined, you may proceed to apply for the appropriate application. Keep in mind, you must first receive your eTA, or your Visitor Visa, prior to travelling to Canada.

Canada Plans for an Increase in Tourism

Canada has always been a very welcoming country to any and all citizens of the world population. As a result, the Canadian government has implemented a New Tourism Vision to increase the number of international tourists who are visiting the country by a total of 30 percent estimated to happen by 2021. This New Tourism Vision is an extensive 20-point plan that describes in detail the plans Canada has for its international visitors. Canada hopes to meet this plan and if the country is successful, Canada will be one of the top 10 most visited countries in the world, hopefully by 2025. Therefore, in this article, I will address the 20 points in the New Tourism Vision and what this means for Canada in the future.

Current Tourism

Because Canada has always encouraged foreign nationals to visit Canada, part of the plan is already in place. As of right now, Canada is recognized as the top international destination for 2017 by The New York Times, Lonely Planet and Conde Nast. Canada is known worldwide for its welcoming culture, international festivals, lively cities, and last but most importantly, its stunning landscapes. In addition, Canada has always been a stable and secure environment with an up and coming world-class culinary scene and more. With all of these wonderful aspects in mind, it is not surprising that the tourism has increased substantially over the years.

Romanians, Bulgarians and Brazilians May Now Be Visa-Exempt

There are many countries all around the world that desire to be visa-exempt as the application and process can be somewhat overwhelming and confusing for a lot of people. Luckily for Romanians, Bulgarians and Brazilians, they no longer have to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa when travelling to Canada by air. There are specifications, however, such as you must have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a U.S. visitor visa. If this applies, then you will only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. Additionally, when visiting Canada, you may only stay temporarily for a maximum of six months. In this article, I will address the changes for these countries in particular and why these changes were introduced.

Why the Visa Requirement was Lifted?

Although the visa requirement being lifted is only anticipated to change on December 1, 2017, as per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), many individuals from Romania and Bulgaria are now extremely enthusiastic about the idea of being able to come to Canada without first obtaining a visa. After this lift happens, these individuals will only require an eTA to fly to Canada. The Canadian government has yet to decide whether they will extend the lifting of the visa requirement to all of the citizens of Brazil.

What is an Electronic Travel Authorization eTA

The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) was introduced as a new entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who wish to enter Canada by air and do not require a visa to enter Canada. In comparison with a visa (temporary resident visa TRV) , an eTA application is usually approved within minutes of applying and is a much faster process (maximum waiting period 72 hours). If you are travelling by land or sea, you do not require an eTA if you are a visa-exempt foreign national. This can become extremely beneficial if you are travelling to Canada on short notice. In this article, I will explain who needs an eTA, the cost of an eTA, the length of validity for an eTA, how to apply for an eTA and steps after applying for an eTA.

Do I need an eTA as visitor to Canada?

Whether you need an eTA or not strictly depends on how you intend on travelling to Canada. As previously mentioned, if you are planning on arriving in Canada by air and you are a foreign national from a visa-exempt country, then you will need an eTA prior to arriving. In order to find out whether your country of origin is a visa-exempt country, it is always best to go onto the government of Canada website and check. If your country is not a visa exempt country, then you will require a visa also known as Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) prior to entering Canada.

What is a Visitor Visa?

Do you wish to visit Canada for tourism purposes? Or, do you wish to visit Canada to see family members or friends that you have not seen in a while? Or, do you wish to visit Canada for business purposes? If you said yes to any of the above questions, you will most likely need a visitor visa to enter Canada. It is important to note that there are specific requirements and documentation that you must provide in order to obtain a visitor visa. In this article, I will explain in detail, who needs a visitor visa to come to Canada, what the requirements are for a visitor visa, how to start the process of obtaining a visitor visa and further steps.

Who Needs a Visitor Visa to Come to Canada?

In order to determine whether you need a visitor visa to come to Canada, you must first determine whether or not your country of origin is a visa exempt country or not. If not, then you will require a visa. To find out, I suggest going on the government of Canada website and choose your specific country to find out whether or not you need a visa. If you do not need a visa to enter Canada, you will most likely need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) . Please refer to our blog on “Who Needs an ETA” for more information. If you do need a visa, then please continue reading this blog as it will show you the next steps you need to take.

Travelling to Canada as a Visitor

There are tens of millions of individuals who come from around the world every year and travel to Canada for a variety of reasons including work, school, or even for a visit with family. Depending on who is coming and where they are coming from in the world they may need to apply for a Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before they are able to travel to the country. To clarify what steps you need to take as temporary visitor to Canada then continue reading our blog below.

Do I need a Visitor’s Visa or an eTA?

If a foreign national is looking to fly to Canada for travel they must first consider their country of citizenship, and ask themselves if they are from a visa exempt country or not. If they are from a country which is considered visa exempt such as Germany, Italy, Netherlands then they will not need a visitor’s visa, and will be able to travel to the country by simply applying for an eTA. If they are from a country which is considered to be a non-visa exempt such as Brazil, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India then they must apply for a visitor’s visa before they are able to travel to Canada. It is highly recommended to look into the requirements of visitor visa and eTA prior to booking your travel ticket. Last thing you want to do is book your flight and finding out that you dont meet the requirements to travel to Canada.

Travelling to Canada as a Visitor

Heard of the beautiful Canadian tourist attraction? Would like to visit Canada on your next vacation? You may or may not need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in order to enter Canada as a visitor/tourist. Let’s see if you qualify for one.

Who needs to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa?

Not all foreign nationals need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa when traveling through Canada or visiting Canada. Your eligibility depends on your citizenship, for examples, citizens of United States do not need a visa to enter Canada. Citizens of Afghanistan do need a visa to enter Canada and citizens of Croatia need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. What kind of authorization you need can also depend on your personal situation. For example, if you are an American citizen with a criminal record, you do not need a Temporary Resident Visa but you may need a Temporary Resident Permit which is a much longer process and we have many blogs written on it on our website.

Who is a Business Visitor?

To be considered a Business Visitor to Canada you need to be only engaging in international activities without directly entering the Canadian labour market. So these are individuals that come to attend business meetings, conferences, lectures, come for training in the Canadian parent company, come to train staff in the Canadian branch, buy Canadian goods or service, give after sales service or they come to be trained by the Canadian company for a product or service they purchased. To demonstrate your bona fida Business Visitor it would help to include a Business Invitation Letter from the employer in Canada.

Business Invitation Letter

Business Visitors do not require a work permit and therefore having an invitation letter from the person that is inviting you is highly recommended. The Business Invitation Letter should include the following information:

Do I need a Visitor Visa Invitation Letter?

Visitor Visas are one of the most difficult Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to get approved by citizenship and immigration Canada (CIC). The reason the application is not easily approved is because many individuals that come to Canada as visitor overstay their welcome stay. Meaning they do not exit Canada and stay longer than their authorized stay. So when submitting a Visitor Visa application you need to provide ample amount of documents to proof your intent to Canada is only temporary. One of way of making the application stronger is by having a friend or family member write you an invitation letter. It is great news if you have an inviter but unfortunately it does not guarantee that the immigration officer will issue the visa. Not sure if you want provide an invitation letter for friend or family, because you do not want to be responsible for them? Luckily, when writing an invitation letter you are not legally responsible for the person you are inviting. But ensure when you write the invitation letter you tell the truth and plan to keep the promises you have made in the letter. If you like to know what to include in the invitation letter then continue reading below.

What is an Invitation Letter?

An invitation letter is a formal or informal invite you sent to someone and requesting their presence either for an event to attend or some sort of visit. In this case it would be for a visit to Canada. Invitation letters are needed if you are visiting a friend or relative in Canada. You can ask your friend or family member to send you an invitation letter to make your application for Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) stronger. So when you are asking someone to send you an invitation letter ensure you include all the information they need about you to write the letter. Once they have completed the letter ask them to mail it to you, so that you are able to send out the invitation letter along with your visitor visa application. Have them notarize the letter so it shows some form of authenticity. Also, ask your friend to send a copied version online, by scanning the signed letter and sending you a copy through email. It is good to have a copy should the letter not arrive on time.

Temporary Resident Visa Documents

Do you want to travel to Canada for work/business purposes? Do you want to study in Canada but live abroad? Or do you just want to visit family members? You can do all of these things when you apply and get approved for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Unfortunately, if you do not have the privilege of living in Canada, it is quite a process to do many things that require quite a bit of time if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. At Akrami & Associates we can help you compile all your temporary travelling documents with ease so that you can come to Canada for temporary stay.

What is Temporary Resident Visa or TRV?

TRV is an abbreviation of the phrase “Temporary Resident Visa”. A Temporary Resident Visa is a visa that a foreign person, whom does not reside in Canada, requires in order to complete the duties that they desire to complete in Canada whether it is studying, working, or just visiting some friends/family. There are usually three cases in which travellers need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa, these include individuals that want to work, to study or come for visitation purposes to Canada. These are valid reasons to apply for TRV and the documents are pretty much the same. Few things they all have in common is that when applying for temporary stay in Canada whether it is for Work Permit, Study Permit or Visitor Visa you need to prove your intensions to Canada is only temporary. This can be done by providing ample documents that ties you back to your home country. Also, when travelling to Canada as a temporary visitor you need to show documents that you are able to financially support yourself during your time of stay in Canada. The information page of your passport and applicable fees is another thing all applications have in common.

Who needs a Visitor Visa to enter Canada?

A Visitor Visa is a piece of official document that is issued and attached on the applicant’s travel document such as passport and allows the applicant to enter the country. It usually states the place where the visa is issued, date of issue, passport number, expiry date before which the applicant has to enter the country or the visa goes invalid, types of visa such as single or multi-entry etc.

Visitors from most countries need a visitor visa to come to Canada, a type of Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). If you are planning to travel to Canada, you should find out online in advance to see if you need a visa to enter Canada or not.

What is a Visitor’s Visa?

Formally known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is a document issued by the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) to persons wishing to enter Canada such as visitors (tourists), students, and workers; the document is stamped into the individual’s respective passport and entitles the bearer entry into Canada and stay for the duration as allotted in the TRV (the number of entries into the country might be limited depending on the passport). Persons of different nationalities will require different documents to enter Canada such as an eTA or visitor’s visa.

Who needs eTA and who needs a Visitor Visa?

Persons of different nationalities are required to present different documents in order to enter Canada. Citizens of the United States are exempt from applying for an eTA or a visitor’s visa or even bringing a passport to the border crossing – though it is highly recommended you do so as to facilitate a streamlined and hassle free movement. Citizens of most other nationalities that are Green Card holders of the United States only require an eTA to enter Canada; however, citizens of most other nationalities that are not Green Card Holder of the United States do require a visa to enter Canada. British citizens also require an eTA to enter Canada, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth II.

Travelling to Canada as a Tourist

If you wish to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, usually referred to as a Visitor Visa, there are a number of factors that should be considered before applying. This article will give you some useful information on applying for Temporary Resident Visas in the following sections: What is a Temporary Resident Visa? Do I need a Temporary Resident Visa? Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), and What are the Main Requirements?

What is a Temporary Resident Visa?

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is most often called a tourist visa or visitor visa, as it name implies it is only for temporary stay in Canada, therefore issued for a limited period of time. A TRV is most often applied by foreign nationals who wish to stay in Canada for a limited period of time that come to Canada for the most common reasons tourism, conducting business or visiting family or friends in Canada.

Canadian Citizenship

Are you permanent resident of Canada and like to apply for Canadian citizenship? Well there are many benefits to obtaining your Canadian citizenship such as not having to renew your PR Card, getting involved in politics, not limited to certain jobs, you don’t have to be afraid of getting deported, not having to worry about meeting residency requirements, your children will be Canadian, being able to vote, continuing social benefits and most importantly travel easily. This article will discuss who qualifies for the Canadian citizenship and how you can prepare yourself taking the citizenship test.

Do I qualify for Canadian citizenship?

To be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship you have to meet certain requirements such as being 18 years of age, being a permanent resident of Canada, able to speak and write in English or French, not have any criminal inadmissibility issues, or being on a removal order, meeting tax requirements, showing that your intentions are to remain in Canada, demonstrating how well you know Canada and most importantly meeting the residency requirements. You have to have been living as a Permanent Resident (PR) at least four years out of the six (1,460 days). This means that you have to be inside Canada for 183 days per year in four out of the six years. Also, you can include your children in your citizenship application only if you meet the age requirements (18 years of age). If you are under the age of 18 you cannot apply for Canadian citizenship but your parent or guardian has to apply on your behalf. Once you have determined you meet the Canadian citizenship requirements you can apply and include all your supporting documents with your Canadian citizenship application. Once the immigration officer determines that you have met all the requirements you will be invited to write the test.

I am from India do I need a Visitor Visa to Canada?

It is no secrete that India appreciates all that Canada has to offer; with over 1.3 million East Indians living in Canada, and Canada’s third official language being Punjabi, India’s roots run deep in the great white north. There are many reasons why someone from India may want to visit Canada; maybe you would like to experience Canada’s beauty and landmarks, visit a relative or friend, or determine if you would like to settle in Canada permanently by visiting first. Whatever the reason, because India is not a visa exempt country, you will first have to obtain a Canadian Visitor Visa before entering Coming.

What is a Visitor Visa?

A Visitor Visa is a document that allows individuals from non-visa exempt countries (such as India) to enter and remain in Canada legally for up to 6 months at a time.