How to Get a Visit Visa to Canada (Temporary Resident Visa – TRV)
Issouf, a Burkina Faso citizen, wants to travel to Canada to attend a three-day professional seminar. Of course, Issouf, a civil engineer for the municipality of Bobo-Dioulasso, knows he needs a visitor’s visa to travel to Canada. Regardless, he is not quite sure if he could get one. Issouf doesn’t know what a TRV or Temporary Resident Visa is and if it is the same as a visit visa to Canada.
Table of contents
Some visitors to Canada are exempt from visas because of any of the following reasons:
Many people, however, need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada.
Does everyone receive a visit visa to Canada?
The obvious answer to this question is, no. When you intend to travel to Canada, you must apply first. Of course, you need to convince an immigration officer you meet the following requirements before they issue a TRV.
- A valid reason for visiting Canada
- Enough financial resources to cover the expenses of your visit
- Returning to your country of residence before the expiry date of your visa
- Not being inadmissible to Canada
Visit visa to Canada: a valid reason
Some valid reasons for visiting Canada include visiting relatives and friends, attending seminars or exhibitions, attending concerts and other public performances, and receiving medical treatment. Of course, when you submit your TRV application, you must provide some documents to explain why you are visiting Canada. Nonetheless, if the purpose of your visit is unclear or shows you intend to study, work, or illegally stay in Canada, the officer will refuse your application.
Visit visa to Canada: Financial Resources.
Financial resources refer to the money available to you or the person willing to invite you to Canada. Of course, you may verify the amount via your bank statements, salary slips, or other financial documents. Regardless, research the potential expenses you incur during the visit. Then, make sure the documents you present verify that you have enough money to cover those expenses. Of course, purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Canada is reasonable.
There is no minimum requirement for financial resources. However, I recommend showing at least readily available funds equivalent to at least six months of the Canadian poverty line or LICO.
Visit visa to Canada: ties to home country.
The main reason for TRV refusal is when an officer believes you won’t return to your home country or country of residence before the expiry of your visa. Therefore, you must show that you have enough ties to your country of residence and no reason to overstay in Canada. Of course, emotional, familial, and financial ties are among the most convincing ties. Consequently, make sure to offer credible documents. For example, if your company provides you with a three-week leave and they may fire you if you do not go back to work promptly, get an official letter from them on their letterhead. Include all these documents in your package.
Travel History
According to immigration officers, a rich history of travelling to other countries is a good indication that you do not want to stay in Canada illegally. Consequently, to show that you have travelled to other countries recently, make sure to present convincing documents to the immigration officer (e.g., visa counterfoils, entry and exit stamps, etc.).
Visit visa to Canada: inadmissibility.
The officer may refuse the application because the applicant is inadmissible to Canada due to medical reasons, criminality, security or terrorism, and organized crime. Of course, if you are in doubt that you may be inadmissible to Canada contact a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or a Canadian immigration lawyer for advice.
Dealing with Refusals
Officers know how to process the applications fairly. However, there is a considerable degree of subjectivity in assessing TRV applications. In other words, depending on how the officer views your application, they decide whether or not to issue the visa. Of course, if they refuse your visa on inadmissibility grounds, it is challenging to get a visa in the future. Consult with a professional about this matter. If they reject the application on other grounds, you may submit another application with more convincing documents. You may also read the following article for more information about your potential options:
Some relevant articles
- Replacement of Temporary Resident Visa | Lost or damaged TRV stickers
- Lost, stolen, or destroyed visas and other Canadian immigration documents
- Valid visas in expired passports when travelling to Canada
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Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
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