Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Temporary Resident Visa vs. Temporary Resident Permit

Canada has over 35 million temporary residents enter Canada each year; and unless you are from a visa-exempt country such as the United States, you will need to apply for and be granted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) whether it be for tourism, study, or work.

Although Temporary Resident Visa and Temporary Resident Permit sound like they are the same thing, they are in fact very different! Applying for the wrong document could delay your entry to Canada, therefore its important to know which one is right for you.

Canadian Visitor Visa- Multiple Entry

Over 35 million come to Canada on a Temporary basis each year, with that number only projected to increase. If you are from a visa exempt country such as the United states, you are entitled to remain in Canada for up to 6 months at a time, as long as you meet the ‘admissibility requirements’ to enter Canada (it is important to note that if you are a visa exempt individual residing anywhere other than the US or Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as of the fall of 2016 you will required to obtain an electronic travel authorization document before entering Canada via air). If you are not from a visa exempt country, you are required to apply for, and be granted a visitor visa (also known as a temporary resident visa) before you can enter Canada.

What is a Visitor Visa?

A visitor visa is a document issued by a Canadian visa office that provides proof that you have met the requirements to enter Canada for a temporary period as a visitor. This documents is placed in your passport, to be shown to the Border Officer at the port of entry when you arrive in Canada.

What is the Express Entry Program?

Express Entry is a new system for managing visa applications for Canadian permanent residence. The Express Entry system is an online portal where applicants can submit their forms and other documentation electronically and receive updates through their online profile. The electronic system was launched in January, 2015.

The Express Entry system has replaced the old paper based application system for the following economic immigration programs:

Business Class – Self-Employed

It is possible to apply under the Business Class category for Permanent Resident status in Canada in the following streams: Start-Up Visa (Entrepreneur), Immigrant Investor, and Self-Employed. This article will focus on the latter. Read on to find information on eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and financial qualifications for the Self-Employed stream.

Canada Business Class Eligibility Requirements

Occupations

First and perhaps most important, there is a list of eligible occupations for the Business Class Self-Employed stream taken from the National Occupational Classification (NOC). If you are planning to apply under this stream, you will have to have experience in one of the following occupations. Each occupation listed in the chart also states the NOC number:

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.

What is Temporary Resident Visa?

Travelling to Canada can be a fun and exciting experience. However, in order to visit Canada, you need to retain a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Starting March 15, 2016 Canada has introduced the eTA for visa exempt countries. This is only required for travels coming to Canada via air. US citizens are exempt from this requirement.

An eTA is a big shift in how Canadian immigration works and it is going to change the way people apply to visit Canada. The eTA is for visa-exempt individuals who fly to Canada. Before people could visit Canada without needing to get a visa, but now, these individuals are required to get an eTA.

What is a TRV?

A TRV is a Temporary Resident Visa which is also known as a visitor’s visa. A Temporary Resident Visa is a permit that allows you to enter and stay in Canada for a certain period of time. It is what you would apply for if you are visiting Canada. In other words, you are only entering for a temporary period of time.

The Temporary Resident Visa can be cancelled by an officer at any time and once you leave Canada, the permit is no longer valid unless you have been allowed to leave and re-enter. There are different kinds of TRV’s, some allow you to re-enter Canada and others only allow single entry into Canada.

What is a visitor visa?

A Temporary Resident (visitor) Visa is a travelling document which allows you to enter into Canada whether it is as a tourist, for visiting family and friends, or for business purposes. To enter Canada you may need a visitor’s visa depending on your citizenship.

What do I need to apply?

To qualify for a visitor visa you must have the following:

No, not everyone needs a Temporary Visa to visit Canada, some countries are exempt from needing a visa to travel to Canada. You must research and ask the immigration officer in the country that you reside in, if a visa is necessary. While some countries are exempt others are not, if the country requires a visa to visit Canada then you must apply to do so with all necessary documentation that is needed to apply for a Temporary Visa to visit Canada.

What types of documents do I need to show the immigration officer?

While you do not need a visa to visit transit Canada, you will need to show the immigration officer required documentation which will permit you to travel to Canada. You will need to show the immigration officer proof that you meet all the requirements that are needed to enter Canada, and they must be satisfied with the documentation that you are presenting them with. Further, a medical exam or police clearances may be required.

When you reach a Canadian Port of Entry, a Canadian Border Services Agent officer will ask you some questions regarding your reasons for coming to Canada. You might be wondering what sorts of concerns they may have and how they determine who will be allowed entrance and who may be denied.

Depending upon whether you are coming to Canada as a visitor, a permanent resident, or through the live in caregiver program, there will be certain conditions on your status and so you will have to show the officer that you have met these requirements.

If you are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you,

• Do not wish to come to Canada permanently
• Do not want to go through the process of applying for a visitor’s visa (if not from a visa-exempt country)
• Want to stay in Canada for more than six months at a time

then making an application for a Super Visa may be preferable to you. In addition to the above reasons, applying for a Super Visa is also less expensive.

You are at the end of this lengthy and extensive temporary resident visa application but soon to be a fulfilling and enjoyable stay in. You have completed all the information to the best of your knowledge, paid your fees and submitted your application for processing.

The processing times for a temporary resident visa application will vary depending on a number of factors including