If you are planning to come to Canada on vacation, to meet friends or family, to shop, etc. then you most probably need a visitor visa. A visitor visa is a Temporary Resident Visa, which is an official document issued by the Government of Canada that permits a foreign national to travel to Canada, apply to enter Canada at the Port of Entry and if approved allows the foreign national to stay in Canada as a temporary resident for the period of stay authorised by the border officers at the port of entry.

What are the basic requirements to apply for a visitor visa?

•       You should have a valid travel document such as a valid passport.
•       You should have enough money to support your stay in Canada.
•       You should have enough connections back home like a job, property, family, etc. so that you can convince the visa officer that you would leave Canada after your stay.
•       You should be in good health.
•       You should not have any criminal charges or criminal history.

How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor?

You can usually stay up to six months in Canada on a visitor visa. If your passport is stamped with an exit date by an officer when you come to Canada, then you need to leave by that date. You can apply for an extension to stay if you want to stay longer in Canada.

How can I extend my stay as a visitor in Canada?

You can apply for an extension of stay. You need to apply for it at least 30 days before your current status expires. You can stay in Canada on implied status till a decision is made on your application. When your application is successful then you get a visitor record which would have your new exit date. If your application is declined then you have 90 days to apply for a restoration of status.

What documents would I need for a Canadian TRV?

The exact documents required would depend on the case. But the following documents are needed in general:

• An identification document such as a passport.
• Proof that you have ties in your home country and you would not overstay in Canada.
• Proof of funds for your stay in Canada.
• A letter of invitation from the person who is inviting you to Canada, an itinerary, hotel bookings, etc.
• Proof that you would stay in Canada only on a temporary basis.

Who needs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to travel to Canada?

Visitors from visa exempt countries need an eTA to travel to Canada. An eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and it is linked to your passport. 

What are the different types of Temporary Resident Visas?

• Visitor/Tourist Visa
• Student Visa
• Work Visa
• Temporary Resident visa

Do I need to apply for a new visa each time I enter Canada?

It depends on the kind of visa you have. The visa may be either a single-entry visa, which means it can be used just once to enter Canada or it may be a multiple entry visa, which means it can be used to enter Canada multiple times till the expiry of the visa.

Does everyone need a visa to enter Canada?

Most of the travellers coming to Canada require a visa to enter Canada. If you are from a visa exempt country then you need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization. Once you enter Canada, you can stay in Canada up to six months or for any period of stay authorised by the border officer.

Who does not need a visa to come to Canada?

Passport holders of the following countries do not require a TRV to come to Canada:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City.

Permanent residents of the United States do not require a TRV, but they would need to get an eTA if traveling to Canada by air.

https://canada-eta.co.uk/visa-exempt-countries/

Who needs a visa to come to Canada?

Pretty much everyone else who is not mentioned in the above list would need a TRV to enter Canada. 

How long will it take to process my visitor visa?

The actual processing time would depend on the current conditions and from which country you are applying for the visa. But we would suggest you at least apply two months in advance from the date of your planned departure to avoid any delays.

Reasons for delay in processing of TRV are:

• The application is not complete.
• A medical exam is required.
• A background or security check is required.
• An interview is required.
• There is a criminal record.
• Verification of documents is required.

Which form should I fill to extend my stay in Canada?

The form IMM 5708, Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Visitor or Temporary Resident Permit Holder, is a form which can be filled out in order to change the conditions of a person’s stay in Canada. 

When your application gets approved then you would get a visitor record. It contains details such as:

• How long you can stay in Canada.
• It contains an expiry date, which is the date by which you need to leave Canada.

You can use this form to extend your stay multiples times as long as:

• You are currently present in Canada.
• You have a passport that is valid for the period of your stay.
• You fill out the form IMM 5708 and pay the associated fees.
• All the other permits you hold, such as study and work permits, are valid and they would not affect your visitor record.

Fees: $100.

Canada is a country where a lot of people desire to come to. Hence when you apply for a TRV, a very high standard of processing is set by the government. A small mistake is enough for your application to get rejected. So avoid costly mistakes and delays by letting SAM Law help you with your TRV applications. Let our professional team deal with the government red tape and your application, while you can relax.