Visitor Visas Lawyers
Travelling to Canada for tourism, to visit family, or to explore new opportunities is an exciting goal for many international visitors each year. Seeing as the number of electronic travel authorizations (eTA) and temporary resident visas (TRV) issued in 2022 exceeded nearly 5,000,000, Canada offers a variety of visitor visa options to travellers. These might include short-term vacations, family reunions, business meetings, and other temporary visits. If you are considering a trip to Vancouver or elsewhere in Canada, understanding the visitor visa process is important.
Navigating Canadian immigration requirements can be complex. This is especially true considering policies, eligibility, and documentation requirements are evolving all the time. By working with an experienced Vancouver immigration lawyer, you can make sure that you meet all conditions for entry and reduce your risk of complications upon arrival.
For Canadian immigration support, contact our team at Border Solutions Law Group today. With offices in both Vancouver and the United States, we are ready to help individuals who wish to visit Canada, no matter where they’re coming from.
What is a Visitor Visa?
A Canadian visitor visa, also sometimes known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an official document that allows you to travel to and enter Canada for a set amount of time.
Typically, visitor visas grant stays of up to six months and are meant for temporary, non-work purposes, such as:
- Tourism or vacations
- Visiting family and friends
- Attending short-term business meetings, conferences, or conventions
- Exploring educational opportunities (short, informal courses that do not offer credits)
- Attending cultural events
- And more
If your visitor visa is approved, the Canadian immigration authorities have determined that you meet the basic requirements for entry and that you will respect all legal conditions of your stay. For the most part, they must feel certain that you genuinely intend to leave Canada before your authorized period expires. A visitor visa does not allow you to work or study for extended periods of time in the country. If you wish to do so, you will need to obtain a specific permit like a work permit or study permit.
Eligibility Requirements for Visitor Visas
To qualify for a Canadian visitor visa, applicants must meet several requirements. These normally indicate that their intent to stay in the country is genuinely temporary, that they are financially stable, and that they have the ability to leave Canada when they are supposed to.
Key eligibility factors include:
- Proof of Temporary Intent: Immigration officers must believe that you genuinely intend to leave Canada before your authorized stay ends. To do so, you can demonstrate strong ties to your home country, such as:
- Stable employment
- Family connections
- Ongoing educational programs or other commitments
- Property ownership
- And more
- Sufficient Financial Resources: You must show that you can support yourself financially during your time in Canada without needing public assistance. You should be ready to show:
- Bank statements
- Proof of savings
- Proof of income
- Sponsorship letters from your Canadian host (if applicable)
- Or other proof of financial viability you have available
- Clear Purpose of Visit: The purpose of your visit should be transparent to Canadian immigration officers. Documents that can demonstrate your intent might include:
- Invitation letters
- Itineraries
- Hotel bookings
- Event confirmations
- Return flight tickets
- And more
- No Prior Criminal or Immigration Violations: As a visitor visa applicant, you will need a clear criminal record and no history of significant immigration violations. If you have previously overstayed a visa or have been accused of misrepresentation, you may face inadmissibility issues. In certain cases, a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) may be a remedy required before you enter Canada.
- Medical Fitness (in certain circumstances): In some cases, you may need to complete a medical examination to ensure you are not medically inadmissible. This requirement is not as common for short-term visitors, but it may be needed depending on where you’re coming from or how long you intend to stay in Canada.
Because the assessment of your eligibility is holistic, it’s important that you present a well-prepared application package to the Canadian immigration authorities. Any missing documents or unclear evidence of your intent can lead to a refusal or delays. Working with a Canadian immigration lawyer can help you ensure that every aspect of your application is completed correctly. Contact our Vancouver immigration lawyers at Border Solutions Law Group today to schedule a consultation.
Types of Visitor Visas Available in Canada
Canada offers a few different types of visitor visas. Depending on your nationality and travel history, one of the following may be most appropriate for your visit:
Single Entry Visa
A single-entry visitor visa allows you to enter Canada one time. Once you leave the country, you’ll need a new visa to re-enter, unless you are travelling directly to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon and returning to Canada while your visa is still valid.
Key information you should know about single-entry visas:
- They are ideal for individuals planning a one-time visit to the country (for example, a two-week vacation in Vancouver)
- They typically allow up to six months’ stay in the country on arrival, unless the border officer only authorizes a shorter period.
- Once you leave Canada (except for certain limited trips), you cannot re-enter without applying for and obtaining a new visa.
If you’re certain you will only enter Canada once and you do not plan on exiting at any point during your planned trip, a single-entry visitor visa might be your most straightforward option. However, if you need to take multiple trips or side visits during your stay, you may want to consider a multiple-entry option.
Multiple-Entry Visitor Visas
A multiple-entry visitor visa allows you to travel to and from Canada as many times as you want while your visa remains valid. Sometimes multiple-entry visitor visas can be valid for up to 10 years, so long as your passport also remains valid.
With a multiple-entry visitor visa, you receive:
- More flexibility if you are planning multiple visits to family, recurring business meetings, or frequent vacations in Canada.
- Up to six months of authorized stay with each entry, in some cases. However, you must still ensure that the border officer believes your intent to stay in the country is temporary each time you enter.
The benefit of a multiple-entry visa is that you won’t need to reapply every time you leave and return to Canada. This can reduce the amount of administrative hassle you deal with and money you pay if you plan on entering the country multiple times over several years.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
If you are a traveller from a visa-exempt country (including many European nations, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and more), you may not need to obtain a visitor visa before your arrival in Canada. Instead, you may need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before you fly.
An eTA is:
- An online authorization that is linked to your passport.
- Typically approved within minutes of you applying online, which can be simpler than the formal visitor visa application process.
- Applicable for only air travel to Canada; arrivals by land or sea do not require an eTA.
The eTA application process is generally straightforward. However, you might still face complications if you have a past criminal record or prior immigration violations. In such cases, it can be helpful to seek advice from an immigration lawyer who understands the potential challenges you might encounter before you travel.
Can I Extend My Visitor Visa?
Once you arrive in Canada as a visitor, you’ll typically be allowed to stay in the country for up to six months (although you should remember the length of your stay will always be determined at the discretion of a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer). If you need more than six months, you can apply to extend your visitor status before your initial stay expires.
To extend your visitor visa, you must:
- Apply for the extension at least 30 days before your authorized stay elapses
- Still meet all initial eligibility criteria, including proof of ongoing ties to your home country and sufficient support funds.
- Provide a credible and convincing reason for your extension. This might include continuing medical treatment or wrapping up personal affairs, for example.
While waiting for a decision on your extension application, you will have maintained status. This means you can remain in Canada legally until a decision is made about your visa. If your extension is approved, you can enjoy your stay in Canada for longer. If it’s refused, you must leave the country immediately to maintain a good standing with immigration authorities.
Restoration of Status
If you overstay your validity period without applying for an extension, your legal status in Canada will elapse. Life happens–maybe you misunderstood how long you were allowed to stay or an emergency stopped you from extending on time. In these cases, you might be eligible to apply for Restoration of Status if you act quickly.
To apply for restoration of status, you must:
- Submit your application for restoration within 90 days of losing your initial status
- Meet the original conditions of your stay and provide a valid reason for your failure to extend on time
You are not guaranteed to receive restoration, even if you apply within the deadline. The immigration officer will assess whether you still meet all eligibility criteria for visitor status in Canada and whether your reasons for overstaying are sufficient.
Why Should I Work With a Vancouver Immigration Lawyer?
Although it’s not mandatory to hire an immigration lawyer for your visitor visa, working with a legal professional can help you feel confident about submitting an accurate and detailed application. At Border Solutions Law Group, our team of dedicated Vancouver immigration lawyers offer personalized assistance with every part of the visitor visa process:
- Initial Assessment: Our team will evaluate your personal circumstances, travel history, and itineraries to determine the best approach for your visitor visa application. We can advise you on the type of visa that’s best for you, and the type of documentation you’ll need to provide in your application.
- Document Preparation and Review: From bank statements and employment letters to invitation letters and proof of ties, we’ll make sure that you have all the documents you need to submit a successful application.
- Application Strategy: If you’re dealing with a more complicated situation, such as inadmissibility concerns, we can recommend appropriate solutions. For example, submitting applications for Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs) or addressing your inadmissibilities before you apply.
- Extension and Restoration Support: If you need to extend your time in Canada due to unexpected changes, or if you need to restore your status after overstaying, we can help. We’ll make sure you file your applications in a timely manner with strong supporting documentation.
- Ongoing Legal Advice: In Canada, immigration rules and authorities change a lot. Our experienced Vancouver immigration lawyers stay up-to-date on Canadian immigration law. We can advise you about any changes that might affect your travel plans throughout the application process.
Need a Visitor Visa For Your Trip to Canada? Speak With Our Vancouver Immigration Lawyers Today
Getting a Canadian visitor visa involves more than just filling out forms and paying fees. It requires carefully demonstrating your intent, financial stability, and more. If you’re looking for clarity and a streamlined experience, working with our Vancouver immigration lawyers can help. With our professional knowledge, we’ll make sure your documentation meets Canadian standards, your purpose of travel is clear, and any potential complications are addressed well in advance of your date of travel. To schedule a consultation with our team at Border Solutions Law today, you can call our Vancouver office toll-free at 877-341-6761, or fill out our online contact form.