CANADA VISA WITHOUT TEARS

By OPE DR BANWO

 A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport which allows you to enter the country of Canada. It is a permission for you to travel to the country and legally be able to stay either temporarily or permanently. Getting a visa to Canada means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you are eligible and fulfill th

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr Ope Banwo
• Release date: Feb 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869209443

Book preview

Legal Notice And Disclaimer

This Handbook is a compilation of publicly available information from different official sites of the governments concerned. We have only spent the time and resources to compile the basic information needed for the reader to have a summary idea of what is required for each visa from available information without providing any Legal Comments or advice.

Most of the information contained in this Handbook have been compiled from publicly disseminated information from the Canadian government and Canadian immigration related Departments for the sole purpose of providing brief information on different alternative visas available to specific class of foreigners interested in coming to Canada.

What This Handbook Is Not About

This book is not intended to be used as professional legal advice from me, and neither is the content intended to be a comprehensive compilation of the nuances and intricacies of the Canadian visas and immigration options discussed. This handbooks is NOT intended or meant to be construed as professional advice or legal advice on immigration into Canada.

Immigration to Canada, like most other countries, is often a complex process requiring expert legal advice from Attorneys licensed to practice immigration in that country. I encourage you to make sure you get the right professional advice on any of the visas you choose to pursue after reading this guide.

CANADA VISA HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 What is a Canada Visa?

A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport which allows you to enter the country of Canada.

It is a permission for you to travel to the country and legally be able to stay either temporarily or permanently. Getting a visa to Canada means that the Canadian Consulate or Embassy in your home country decided that you are eligible and fulfill the requirements for entry. However, once you are at the Canadian border and customs, it is up to the officers at the border to evaluate whether you are fit to enter.

If you answer the Canadian Border Services Officer (BSO) questions honestly and correctly, they will allow you to enter. Otherwise, if they suspect that you are not eligible to enter, they can deny you and ask you to go back to your home country even if you have a Canada visa.

1.1  Who Needs a Canadian Visa?

People from countries that do not have a visa exemption or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) agreement with Canada will need a visa to enter the country. More specifically, people from around 148 countries need a visa to visit, work, or immigrate to Canada.

If you are one of these applicants and you need a visa for Canada, you must apply for one. Depending on the type of visa you want, you will have a method of applying, but there are a few general steps you must take.

1.2  What are the Canada Visa Types?

Before you apply for a Canadian visa, you must first know which visa you want to apply for. Here are the types of Canada visas:

Visitor visas.

Student visas.

Work visas.

Permanent Residence visas.

Business Immigrant visas.

Express Entry Program visas.

You must pick the one that fits the motive of why you want to go to Canada.

1.3  Temporary Canada Visas

The temporary Canada visas allow the person to stay in Canada for a specific period of time which is determined by the Canadian Consulate or the Border Services Officers (BSO). This time is usually up to 6 months. However, the temporary visa can be single entry or multiple entry vis

Single entry visa allows the person to only enter Canada once, stay for 6 months and then return to their home country. A multiple entry visa allows the person to enter Canada multiple times until their visa expires and stay temporarily.

2.0  Here are the types of Canadian Temporary Visas:

Canada Visitor Visa for Tourism and Visits

2.1  What is a Canada Visitor Visa?

The Canada Visitor Visa is a Temporary Resident Visa for Canada which allows the holder to go to Canada for purposes such as:

Tourism or holidays in Canada.

Visiting family.

The Canada Tourist Visa allows you to go to a Canadian port of entry and ask for permission to enter the country. The Border Patrol Officers are the ones who are allowed to grant or deny you entry based on your documents and your situation.

If you have been issued a visa Visitor visa to Canada and the officers find that you do not have any criminal intentions, you will be allowed to pass the port of entry and begin your holiday or family visit in Canada.

Do I Need to Apply for a Canada Visitor Visa?

Most travelers will need a Visitor visa which grants them entry to Canada, although there are nationals of countries which will only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or they are completely exempt and can enter freely with their passports without needing a visa.

2.2  What are the Canada Tourist Visa Eligibility Criteria?

To be eligible for a Canada Tourist Visa, the applicant must fulfill some criteria. These requirements determine whether someone is allowed to apply for the visa and hold it.

If you cannot prove that you are eligible for the Canada Visitor visa, then they will reject you based on the fact that you are inadmissible in Canada. If you are proven to be inadmissible, then your only way of getting into the country is to get a Temporary Resident Permit.

2.3  Canada Tourist Visa Requirements

To apply for a Tourist Visa for Canada, you will also have to submit some documents, as follows:

Standard requirements for Canada visa.

Canada Tourist Visa Application Form.

Your bank or other financial statements to prove you have enough funds for the trip to Canada.

A travel itinerary if you have already booked your air tickets, or just a description of what you plan to do once in Canada.

ACanada visa letter of invitation from your family or friendsif you are visiting them.

Proof of the relationship if you are visiting your family.

The immigration statuses of your family or friends if you are visiting them.

Bank statements or other financial statements of your friends or family if you are visiting them.

A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canadawhere you explain why they should give you a Tourist visa.

Two photos that meet the Canada Photo Requirements.

Your employment or education status through a resume or diplomas, as well as a letter from your employer stating that you have contractual obligations to fulfill and you must return to your home country.

Proof that your stay in Canada is temporary and that you will return to your home country once your visit is over, such asa lease, property deed, and so on.

Proof that you do not plan to work or study in Canada.

Court documents that prove you have a clean criminal history.

All the documents that you have that are in another language other than English or French should be translated.

2.4  How to Apply for the Canadian Visitor Visa?

To start the application for the Canada Visitor Visa, there are several forms and steps that you as the applicant must go through. The steps for applying for a Canada visitor visa are explained below:

Confirm your eligibility for the Canada visitor visa.

Complete the documents required for a Canada tourist visa.

Submit the Canada Tourist Visa Application form.

Wait for processing and respond to additional requests for information.

Send your passport for stamping.

2.5  What are the Canada Visitor Visa fees?

The application fee per person for a Canada Visitor Visa is CAD$100. If you also have to submit the biometrics, that will cost you an additional CAD$85. So together, the whole cost of just applying for this visa is CAD$185.

In addition to this, you will also have to pay for the passport processing which will cost around CAD$45.

2.6  What is the Canada Visitor Visa Processing time?

The Canada visitor visa processing time ranges from 8 to 40 days. However, the processing time is different depending on the country you live in.  So, you will have to wait around 1 month for your Visitor Visa to be processed.

2.7  How long is the Canada Tourist Visa valid?

The Canadian Consulate decides for how long to give you the Tourist Visa for Canada on a case by case basis. There are cases when they only give the visa for that timeframe that you want to visit Canada, and then there are also cases when they give you the visa until your passport expires. This all depends on whether they believe you will return to your home country or not.

Despite how long your Canada Tourist Visa is valid, you are not allowed to stay there for more than 6 months at a time. So, after 6 months you must return to your home country, stay for some time and then you can return to Canada again for 6 months.

2.8  What Am I Allowed to do With a Canada Tourist Visa?

With the Canadian Tourist visa, you are allowed to travel around Canada for less than 6 months as long as you are in good financial standing. You are not allowed to get Canadian documents or stay in the country permanently. You are also not allowed to work or study, and you will not be allowed to file for health care or other governmental benefits.

2.9  Can I bring my dependents to Canada with a Tourist Visa?

Your dependents, such as your