Visiting Canada
Do you have the desire to visit Canada or any close family members or friends that live in Canada, but you yourself live in another country? Well, there is no need to worry. Thirty-five million people visit Canada each year and there are many reasons why people would want a temporary resident visa. Reasons such as travel or leisure, or even to visit family members. Any of these reasons can also be applicable to you and now is the time to start your process in obtaining your own visitor visa. Continue to read this blog where we will tell you the step by step processes and qualifications needed to qualify for a temporary resident visa (TRV) or a visitor visa.
What is a Temporary Resident Visa
First let’s discuss the basis of a temporary resident visa and what it means. A temporary resident visa (TRV) or visitor visa is a document issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada. This document shows that the person holding this has satisfied the qualifications and requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. TRV’s can be used for single entry or multiple entry depending on what the applicant applied for. There is a specific amount of authorized time for your stay depending on the reason. For tourists, they are allowed to be admitted for a six-month period. The time for temporary workers and international students vary for each person and their specific circumstances. Any extensions to your stay can be administered from within Canada.
How do I Qualify for a Temporary Resident Visa
To qualify for a Canadian Visitor visa, you must be able to demonstrate a list of things that are highly important for you as an applicant to follow. Firstly, you must agree upon and convince the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay. This is a major reason why the process in getting a temporary resident visa is extremely complicated and difficult. Many people who have received a temporary resident visa, tend to overstay their visit past their visa’s expiration date. Due to the number of unwanted visitors in Canada, officials are required to be more stringent on issues dealing with these types of applications. Another qualification that is necessary to qualify for a Canadian visitor visa is that you must be able to show that you have enough money to support your family in Canada and yourself while on this stay and to return home after your stay time has finished. There must be no intent of working or studying in Canada, if you are applying for a TRV, unless you are authorized to do so. You also must prove that you will not be a risk to the security of Canada in any way, as there should be no criminal record and the applicant must abide the laws. Good health is another condition required to qualify for a TRV. The applicant will need to get medical examinations done, which will later be submitted to the visa office. Finally, you must be able to provide any further documents requested by the officer, to further establish your inadmissibility.
Coming back to the qualification mentioned earlier on in the blog, officers need you to prove beyond unreasonable doubt that you have strong ties to your home country. You must lay down reasons and support to indicate and establish the idea that you will return to your country once your authorized period for your visit in Canada has ended. Some examples of proof that can strongly justify your ties to your home country would be items such as return tickets, proof of current employment in your home country, property, and family ties. Try to put in as much information as you can into this part of the application to support your case as it will help strengthen your case. You will also need to highlight the main purpose of your stay and the reasons behind the temporary visit to Canada for that specific amount of time, throughout your application.
If you meet all requirements for the TRV, but fail to properly indicate that you will exit the country once your visa has expired, a Citizen or immigration officer dealing with your form will most likely refuse your application.
Is My Country a Visa-Exempt Country
Applying for entry as a visitor to Canada as mentioned is no easy task and as an applicant, it is your responsibility to research and ensure that the country you are currently living in is considered visa exempt. Only certain countries have a status while the other countries require that you obtain a temporary resident visa for entry. If you are in a country where the temporary resident visa is considered visa-exempt, travelers will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to board their flight to Canada. Countries including Australia, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, United States, Portugal, Germany, France, etc. are included under visa-exempt. If travelers are entering by land or sea, they do not require an ETA. ETA exemptions apply where there are foreign nationals with Canadian documents, foreign nationals with certain situations, and travel and official representatives such as flight crews. Places where visas are required to enter Canada include Afghanistan, Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, India, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, etc. Full list for visa-exempt countries and visa required countries will be accessible on Government of Canada website.
Contact Akrami and Associates
Throughout this blog, we have discussed the entirety of what a temporary resident visa is, how to qualify, what requirements are required, and countries that are visa-exempt and those who need a visa. Although applying for a TRV may seem easy, it is a very tedious and long process. With a trusted and experienced team of lawyers at Akrami and Associates, we can help you deal with problems related to such a document. 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!