I want to share one good news with you all. Finally, my tourist visa for Canada got approved and I am back from Vacations. And in this article, I want to share my experience with you about how I got my Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). I will be sharing the complete process and what documents I submitted with the application. I submitted my application for the Canada tourist visa at the VFS New Delhi office and the experience was good.
If you are a first time visitor to Canada as a tourist, student, or for business, you may have a problem in filling your application form, collecting all the documents, and many other things. I too had many questions in my mind before filling the application for a Canadian tourist visa and do not want to hire any tourist or visa consultant but the internet helped me a lot in clearing my doubts. There are many good forums and websites which have valuable information for free.
I applied under “Visiting family or friends” category as I have to visit my brother who has a PR status in Canada and he gave me the invitation letter. An invitation letter is very important if someone is calling you to Canada.
So, if you have made your mind to visit Canada as a tourist then, first of all, determine your eligibility to visit Canada.You can visit CIC website for it.
If you found eligible to visit Canada as per the above eligibility test, you can apply for the visa.
You can apply for a Canadian tourist visa in 2 ways. First via online application and the second through an offline form by visiting embassy or VFS office in your area. VFS is the best option if you are applying offline and I haven’t found anyone going to the Canadian embassy themselves for a visa.
I applied for visitor visa through offline method via VFS Global as I don’t have enough time and online process generally takes a long time [that is what I have heard]. An offline process takes around 10 business days or 2 weeks. You can get full information about Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa – TRV) for Canada at CIC website.
Note: Current processing time from India is 44 days.
Don’t forget to include Niagara Falls in your day to day plan, as it is one of the most famous tourist places in Canada, and without seeing it your trip is incomplete. Check the below video and you would know yourself.
My Documents List for Canadian Tourist Visa
I included many documents along with the application form to make sure I am in a good position to get Canada visitor visa. Below are the documents which I included for your reference. You can include other documents too which are suitable and can make your application stronger.
1. Document Checklist [IMM 5558]
2. Application for Temporary Resident Visa [IMM 5257]
3. Family Information [IMM 5645]
4. A Bonafide letter from my company stating that they don’t have any problem and my leaves are approved. The letter should be on official letterhead and signed by your HR. Include an original letter not duplicate.
5. Income tax returns for the past 3 years, though 2 years ITR are sufficient as per the CIC website.
6. Bank statements for the past 6 months showing I have enough money for my stay in Canada and I have money to return back.
7. Letter of invitation from the person inviting you (from my brother) indicating the purpose and duration of the visit.
8. Family details of the person inviting you. Also include their passport number and citizenship.
9. My brother and his family PR card photocopy.
10. My brother’s job offer letter, Notice of Assessments (NOA) and pay slips.
11. I also included my marriage and my child’s birth certificate. This is for showing my strong relationship with my home country.
12. Detailed itinerary and purpose of visit.
13. Round trip air tickets.
14. Proof of previous travel. I included the photostat of my Japan visa and landing stamp.
15. My stocks (shares) statement.
16. Medical insurance for the period of my stay with $100,000 coverage. This I booked with an Indian insurance company as it is cheaper depending upon the number of days you stay in Canada.
17. Last but not the least, do write a cover letter supporting your application and submit it.
Check Different Letter Formats for Canada Tourist Visa (TRV)
I applied in June 2015 and since then, I can see there is a new form or instruction booklet added in the document list for Canadian tourist visa called Visa office instructions – Visit [IMM 5881], which has mainly documented checklist for Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). I am very glad to see that CIC has made a very good list of documents and removed all the confusion which the applicant can have. Do download it.
Note: I would like to thank my brother for helping me collecting the required documents and clearing my doubts wherever needed.
Tips for Canada Temporary Resident Visa – TRV
Below are few tips which I would like to share with you if you are thinking to apply for Canadian tourist visa.
1. Make a list of documents that you need for applying.
2. Collect all the information needed to fill in your application.
3. Fill out the required application forms as applicable to you.
4. Always give correct information on your application forms.
5. If possible, book your flight tickets in advance and include them with the application. It really makes a very big difference and make your application stronger.
6. Medical insurance is also good if you are going to Canada.
7. Do get your application checked by someone else [Very important]. I made one mistake in my main application and will share what I did to correct it in the next post.
8. Make visa officer believe that you are going to return back and have sufficient funds for stay by giving correct information. Don’t FAKE anything else you may be banned for a visa.
9. Do include your cover letter with the application stating why you want to go to Canada and in that letter show your strong relationship with the home country.
After submitting all the documents I got multiple entry Canada visitor visas till the validity of my passport which is 5 years.
Fees of Canada Temporary Resident Visa or Tourist visa
Current fees of Canadian temporary resident visa (TRV) is $100 (CAD). This fee is same for single entry and multiple entry visa. By default you will get multiple-entry Canadian visitor visa.
There is no option to select whether you are applying for a single entry or multiple entry visa now. Earlier the fees of a single entry and multiple entries were different and you also get the option to choose for what type of visa you are applying.
Hope you get some valuable information from my experience and would submit your tourist visa application with more confidence. If you have any doubts about filling your Canadian tourist visa application do let me know through comments or email and I will try to help in the best possible way but remember, I am not a tourist visa expert. Good Luck!!
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Brett
Hi Pawan,
Great article. The tips are much appreciated.
Do you have any tips about booking the flight in advance. Is this just a risk you must take?
The main concern being if the application is rejected, I also lost funds for the airfare (which are quite high for a trip to canada).
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Brett,
Book refundable tickets. Check different websites and their refund policies. You can also check some Indian airlines which provide refundable tickets. Plan your holidays in advance so you have enough time.
saru chopra
Hi,
Thanks for sharing good information.
Could you please let me know how much fund we need our account to apply for tourist visa without invitation letter. I want to explore Canada for few days as i like travelling alot. Please share funds needed for the same.
Regards,
Saru
Pawan Bahuguna
There is no exact figures, more money you have good for strengthening application.
After your hotel bookings and round trip tickets, I think you should have at least $1000/week per person.
Larry
Pawan,
How invitation letter can increase the chance of having tourist visa?
Pawan Bahuguna
The main thing is why you are visiting Canada. If someone has invited you, then invitation letter is needed. If you are going for holidays you need hotel bookings and round trips ticket mainly.
Akshay
What is the better chances for getting visa? Because I have a good Travel history with some developed countries like UK, Belgium, France, Dubai etc. So is it possible to get visitor visa without invitation letter?
Pawan Bahuguna
HI Akshay,
Depends why you want to visit Canada and what document you have to support your visit and stay. Yes, you have advantage if you have good travel history.
Larry
Hi Pawan,
When it’s comes to plan ticket, is that possible to just request for an air company or travel agency to provide kind of proforma showing travel Itinerary routes (traveling dates ) and showing this to CIC. Is this can work?
Pawan Bahuguna
Though Air ticket is not mandatory, but it helps in strengthening your application, so depends upon you. So, you mean to say without buying ticket you just want to show itinerary?
If that is so, I don’t have much information about it. We bought our ticket in advance. Even one of visitor has bought refundable tickets and after getting TRV, she returned the ticket as plan was to go after sometime.
Larry
Hi pawan,
Can you please answer when it comes to employment detail on IMM5257 , on current activity, for example some one had completed diferent position in certain period of time, can you mention all positions that you had assumed in the same current empleyment or you just need to mention the current ocupation or position?
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Larry,
If you are in same organisation mention your current position.
Larry
Hi Pawan,
where do you thing the compay ID can be attached? in support letter or in financial part?
Pawan Bahuguna
Company ID is not required, just get bonafide letter from company that you are employee of that company with date of joining and position held. And you have taken leaves can also be added.
Farhan
Good day.
Mr Pawan,
I have submitted mine file in VAC in Pakistan on 05th December 2016, and mine friend mention on his invitation letter, Affidavit, and Declaration letter with all these 3 papers Notarized, to call me there for New Year and also visit for Toronto and Quebec. So i attached all papers which you mention on your blog of mine property and bank statement of 6 months and mine travel travel history and health insurance and my visit was for Canada from 28th December to 12 January 2017 as per purchased air ticket.
But today is 2nd January 2017 and still the track application is showing that mine passport was submitted to Islamabad Consulate on 06th December 2016.
So, now i have loss in mine ticket that is canceled and also mine hotels confirm booking is canceled, now please tell me may I send an email to Canadian Consulate to review my dates of purpose of travel and send them also send them the hotel bookings dates again and air ticket information?
Please reply me, Because i am very fed up in this case.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Farhan,
Sorry to hear your story, but I think you didn’t researched will and checked processing time for your country. For Pakistan it’s 38 days, which does not include transit time between the VAC and IRCC office.
Please refer. http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/information/times/index.asp
I don’t think email will work as processing time has not been passed, but you can try.
Pavan
Hello all.
I have a query.
I completed my B.Tech with 61% with 11 backlogs. Will I get Canada Study Visa?
Pawan Bahuguna
HI Pavan,
For that first you will have to go to institute website and check what are there requirements and if they allow backlogs or not.
Sayed Haidar Ali Shah
Hi Pawan,
I have applied for a job there in Georgia Canada. Under their instructions, I filled and submitted the application Form. Then they referred my case to the immigration services for clearance. The immigration services referred it to the immigration lawyer for some necessary work and forwarding my case. But the immigration lawyer again referred it to the another party for obtaining TOURIST CLEARANCE VISA APPROVAL LETTER and they are now demanding for 375 USD as the processing fee.
As i have read the terms and conditions of the Canadian immigration I haven’t see any processing fee demand instead of Visa fee, therefore I have a doubt about their fakeness. Is it right or not…??
Please clarify if you have any idea.
Thanks with regards
Haidar
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Haidar,
I have not came across such recruitment process. Could you please let me know how you applied to this job?
Do they contacted you through email or phone? From which place you applied?
Generally if anywhere it is not written for any money they shouldn’t ask. May be they asking for their own fees. Also, did you call the company to check if any such hiring going ON?
Regards,
Pawan
Randa
Hi… Happy New Year 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing such invaluable info with us. I am in the process of applying for a visitor visa and have a few questions, if you don’t mind.
1- Did you staple each form separately? or you stapled all forms together? Also, did you staple your cover letter with the supporting documents?
2- When you submitted your application, did you also submit 2 paper passport-style photos even though you provided biometrics? Which photo did the Canadian Embassy put on your visa: the one you submitted or the one that was taken at VFS for biometrics?
3- When applying for the visitor visa, I know that I need to show that I booked my flights. I plan on booking the international round trip flights to/from Toronto (and in case the visa got rejected, I can pay a fee and get a refund). However, because I am planning on attending a conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, I will need to book domestic round trip flights from Toronto to Edmonton.
However, when I checked the prices of the domestic flights, they were outrageous and mostly non-refundable and will be returned as a credit (which means I am gonna lose a lot of money on flights that I might not even use if the visa got rejected). Do you think it will be enough to show that I booked the international flights and maybe explain to the Embassy that I didn’t book the domestic flights for the reasons mentioned above?
Thanks a lot, and I apologize for asking a lot of questions.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Randa,
1. I didn’t staple any paper, I used Paper clip.
2. I did not gave any Biometric and yes I submitted the photographs as per instructions. Photograph facility is also available at VFS office.
3. Yes, you can mentioned the reason for not booking domestic flight. Most important is international round trip tickets and do not forget to submit your plan date wise.
GOOD LUCK !
Randa
Thank you so much. I appreciate your help.
Poornima Shankar
Barging in the conversation to say that I too planned to attend some events in Toronto but my port of entry was Montreal. I booked tickets to and from Montreal. I did not book any tickets to Toronto nor did I explain why. I got my visa without any problems and nobody asked anything about Toronto trip. Like Pawan said, international tickets are most important. It is not necessary that you travel to Alberta in flight…you can go by train, bus or even drive down. So, I think you don’t have to worry too much about domestic tickets.
Pawan Bahuguna
Thanks Poornima for your advice.
Farhan
Dear,
I listen from mine friend that if they wanna to reject the file then they will take the decision within just short days as 10 to 15 days. And if they want to stamp the visa then they have take time, as in mine case. So please what is your opinion about this?
Pawan Bahuguna
I don’t think this is true.
Randa
Thank you so much, Poornima! I really appreciate your advice.
Larry
Hi pawan,
I am writing related to funds available in Canada, as you have previously mention that CAD 1000 is enough for one month, I am planning to spend 15 days and suggesting to mention CAD 8000 available while in Canada as this includes accommodation. And as I would like to buy souvenirs for myself my son and my wife that I will take home after my visit in Canada, and I will be visiting different sights and this will require private and public transportation. and will just have breakfast in the hotel, Lunch and dinner will be in my responsibility, I do not have relative in Canada. Please advise, or any one who already experienced this can also advise.
Pawan Bahuguna
$1000 CAD is only for 1 week not month. Show as much as possible apart from round trip tickets and hotel bookings.
Azim
I applied in SA on 19 dec and i got a message on the 28 that my processed passport is ready for collection… do you think i have been granted visa so fast in just 9 days of which 5 were holidays…. however i will be collecting my Passport tomorrow…
Pawan Bahuguna
That was quick, but it depends upon the processing time as per your country.
Muhammad Khalid Anwaar Khan
Hi Pawan
Nice to see your experiences and more importantly sharing the same to benefit others.
I want to know that I am planning to travel USA with my wife (we both already have B1/B2) visa) and also want to stay in Toronto for only 4 to 5 days before entering USA. My query is regarding do we have any advantage of having USA visas while applying for Canadian TRV?
Kindly guide us.
Regards….. Muhammad Khalid
Pawan Bahuguna
Yes Muhammad, you definitely have advantage of US visa. They see your previous travels.
Larry
Pawan, again still have a doubt about availeble funds while in canada, I would like to spend 15 days so do you thing if i mention CAD 2.000 or CAD 8000 including hotel booking as i will be paying in my arrival. in my bank account I have enough.
If i mention 2.000 CAD is this will be enough? As i will buy souvenires, toys for my kid and any interesting stuffs to take back home.
Please advise or any member who experienced this can also advise. I am thinking as CAD 2.000 will not be enough if I mention this in the form IMM5257E, and in my sumarize funds.
Please helpe
Pawan Bahuguna
2000 CAD will not be enough for 15 days stay. Give good numbers to them.
Larry
Thanks
Indrani
Hi Pawan, I want to travel to canada with my husband. He is travelling for 3 weeks to his canada office for business requirement. Can I travel with him. He has an invitation letter , but i dont have an invitation letter. What info should I put in that column while applying/filling the visa form.
Pawan Bahuguna
That is little tough. You may write in your letter that you are going for tourism and has good chance to see Canada as your husband is on business trip. Please make itinerary accordingly.
Most important part is hotel booking and round trip tickets along with finance.
Good Luck.
Iphiee
Good day, where u notify of d approval via email or text msg or you just picked up ur documents and saw that it was approved?
Pawan Bahuguna
No, email and message for me. I went to VFS office once they said to collect the passport.
Merry Christmas.
Larry
Again Hi Pawan,
when showing financial support is that allowed to attach in document visa or credit cards?
Pawan Bahuguna
Yes, putting credit card original statements will be beneficial as it shows your card limit and adds to your fund section also.
Larry
Pawan,
I am in Angola, and would like to use the translation service that you had used in order to translate my documents but, am hesitating as officer my say why did I get translated my document in Angola? Can you suggest?
Pawan Bahuguna
Yes, they may ask, but not sure. Try service in your area.
Merry Christmas.
Larry
Thanks
Pawan Bahuguna
You are welcome Larry.
Larry
Hi Pawan,
You have previously informed to not attached company ID, and i have check your support letter and you say the followed: Please find attached copies of my employment letter, company ID card, salary slips for last 3 months and my tax filing documents for the last two years.
Please advice regarding Compay ID, do I need to show it or not? Please advise.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Larry,
I don’t think I have written that anywhere. May be you have read it on some comments.
Even if you include your company ID card, there is no harm or compulsion. Important thing is letter from company stating you work their.
Poornima
I wrote that. Larry, fee of the documents were sent to Pawan by others and he posted them. So you saw it in my copy of invite letter and yeah i attached a copy of my company id. But like Pawan says, its not mandatory, company letter is more important. You are overthinking this….there are no rules regarding these additional documents, you just attach what makes sense to you. What matters is the overall picture you present.
Larry
Thanks dear
Larry
Pawan, I went trough your documents gard, can you please inform how financial support documents and attached should look like. What do you think if put funds summary and asset on top? Then others document as proof attached on the bottom of funds and assets summarize? Or should be contrary? First documents then summarize? Please advice.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Larry,
You can show any document which proof you have money, like bank statements, equity certificates, House or flat papers, etc. I think putting summary at the start would be beneficial as officer will get the idea.
Nani
Greetings of the day!
Hi, we have applied for “Expo” called “Construct Canada” which was held on Nov 30th in Toronto. Our trip duration was 6 days.We were two applied in individual application. We have provided every support document. But we got refused two times. In first time refusal letter they mentioned about Travel history, financial support and family tie ups in canada. In second letter they mentioned other reasons. Is there any chance to get visa again for canada to visit. Please suggest me. And can we apply for visit visa as a tourist ? If yes how many funds need to show for one month stay? We will plan it in March 2017. For this can we apply now for visa? Waiting for your reply. Thank you in advance. Have a great day.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Nani,
How much funds you showed. Did you showed your hotel bookings, round trip ticket, expo pass, etc.?
Larry
Pawan,
based on your experience do you think that if some one earning aproximatlly CAD1500 monthly and has some saving is TRV can be grant to some one with this condition?
Also how the photo must be reduced in order to meet the requirement?
Pawan Bahuguna
Didn’t got you clearly. Do you mean someone with CAD1500 per month is giving invitation to someone else to visit Canada.
Larry
I mean the applicant with a monthly salary of aproximately CAD1500 and this applicant got some saving. Is this applicant can have a chance to be grant a TRV?
Pawan Bahuguna
All have equal chances, applicant just need proper documents.
Larry
I again Pawan,
Hope you are doing well, I would like to inform that i am already joining my documents, and now, I would like to request for empleyment letter to my employer, i would like to provide them with necessary informstion as per CIC reqirements, so can you please share any employment letter sample format? What type of information should contain an employment letter?
Hope to hear again from you as soon as you can.
Pawan Bahuguna
Employment letter is given by company and I don’t have any format right now. For submitting letter to CIC ask your employer for bonafide certificate which state your joining date, designation etc.
Kofi Yesu
I am kofi. I applied for Canada visitor visa and after the submission of my application on 21 November 2016, I was told my passport would be dispatched to the visa office in two months time which will be in January 2017. And the purpose of visit is to visit my Aunt this upcoming Christmas starting from 20th December to 2nd January 2017, so my question is can I be granted the visitor visa if the purpose of my visit elapse?
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Kofi,
At what center you applied and why it’s taking 2 months to dispatch your passport?
Once your visa is approved before Christmas, I think it won’t matter if you receive passport after Christmas.
Raminder Singh
Hi
I have apply the TRV visa last month after 28 days my passport is come back I open the envelope but my visa is refused my forth time visa is refused please suggest me all Documents attached
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Raminder,
I have mentioned all the documents which I submitted in above post. Please go through it.
Ali
Hi
I m from Hyderbad India – I m applying soon for Canada Business visa ( Getting Invitation letter & I m going to canada from company side company expenses ) my question is canada business/visit visa is granted for how many years ? and Once I got visa and land in canada…. can i do odd jobs and earn money…….. and can i change my status to work permit if any one sponsor me from canada?
Plese reply bck
thanks
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Ali,
In visit visa or TRV, you can’t work and for one visit it’s valid for 6 months. Usually tourist visa is issued till the expiry of passport but can also depend upon case to case.
Faheem Ferozi
Am gonna apply for the temporary residency visa. This article got a lot of useful information. I wanna ask two questions hope you can help me out.
1: I’m looking after my father business and am doing almost all of the stuff as he is 65+. Should I add the letter from my father stating that am looking after his business? If yes then what kind of letter it should be and what to state in it with my father signature?
2: My father have doctor’s serious appointment after my visit to Canada if visa hopefully not get rejected and maybe doctor recommend for operation too, so should I put that appointment letter approved by doctor in my case?
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Faheem,
Are there any documents in your name showing any business or income? Also bank account in your name having money.
What is your purpose to visit Canada? Are you going for your fathers treatment there?
Samar kalra
Hello Mr. Pawan,
How are you? Actualy I dont have travel history. I have fresh passport it is can effect in visa process. One thing more flight ticket and hotel booking is compulsory for getting visa
Pawan Bahuguna
Hello Samar,
It has some advantage of you have travel history, but it doesn’t mean fresh passport don’t get Canadian tourist visa.
It is not mandatory to show you flight and hotel booking, but if you show it means a lot and give boost to your application. Also if you are going to Canada for vacation, hotel and flight are good way to show that you are genuinely going there and will return back.
Lourenco
Hi,
Do I need to translate my pay stubs if they are not in English or French?
Pawan Bahuguna
Yes, you need to get them translated if they are not in English.
CIC only have option for filling form in either English or French.
Larry
Hi Pawan,
in the form IMM5257E there is one question saying: Funds available for your stay, if some one wants to stay for 10 days, how much can you then mention? do you need to mention all the many you have no your bank stament?
hope to hear from you
Pawan Bahuguna
I think it is best to mention maximum amount in this section.
Usually, after the air fares, you should at least have $1000/week (This I have heard).
Srinu
Good Evening Pawan,
I get very useful information on this platform, Still want to share my problem with you for best advise.
I have applied for CANADA business visa /Visiting Visa through Thomas cook on 19th Oct,2016. I have attached invitation letter from Canadian Organization and all financials letters (IT Return and bank statement)”from my company and a letter mention that my company will look after all my expenses as i am attending training on behalf of my company in Canada schedule also attached.
Now i am feeling little anxious because I am seeing from last one week my status showing Application submitted. I also attached my bank statement and pay slip from my company. I need your useful feedback on my situation my date of training is 28th Nov 2016.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Srinu,
As it’s a business tour, I think you should get your Visa. You have plus point that company is taking care of everything. Do let us know about the final result.
Ramgarhia hunjan
Hi Pawan,
If you could guide and help in regard of this matter- I have already applied for Canadian family sponsor Visa and File is in process. But my medical is going to expire in end of Nov, 2016 and still haven’t got anything back from embassy. I was planning to visit to my wife in Canada on tourist visa on behalf of my application of Sponsor visa. Could you advice how it will work? and what I should do?
Many thanks
Pawan Bahuguna
I don’t have much idea about it, but If you are from medical exempted country, then you can go on tourist visa without any medical. Hope this is what you want to ask.
Deniece
Hello Pawan,
Thank you for taking the time to assist us all with your advice. Could i please check the following with you:
> Approximately how much should be in the bank account to motivate sufficient funds in account,
> Can the invitation letter be emailed or does it have to be hand written and posted and all sent to me
> How best can i motivate that i will be coming back. I am not married, i got no kids and i have no assets, basically just got out of school but i am working full time.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Deniece,
1. There is no such limit to bank account balance. More balance means, good chances. I have read the you should have at least $1000 CAD/week.
2. You can use scan copy of invitation letter.
3. As you don’t have any asset and is not married, the best option will be showing other family relation you have in home country. This can include your parents, grand parents, friends and other relatives. And also if you have other plans at your home town, do write them.
Samantha
Hi Pawan,
I do not have sufficient funds in my bank account, but I do have a small business. As well as my sister will take care of all of my expenses for the 2 wks I plan to visit, what should I do about insufficient funds.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Samantha,
Do you have good funds earlier on your bank accounts? Will you also book your round trip tickets? If I were in your position, I would wait and save some money for my trip.
Arushi
Hi Pavan
I am applying for TRV using online application and submitting at Chandigarh CVAC office. Pls help in understanding time it takes to process it as I will be travelling officially to another country next month (3 weeks after submitting the docs). Also when do we submit physical forms to CVAC after submitting online application.
Thanks
Pawan Bahuguna
I don’t have idea about online application. Usually it takes now more than a month for processing.
Please plan your travel accordingly.
Samantha
Hi Pawan, I have 3 sisters who are citizens in Canada, I am married with 6 Yr old son I am planning on applying for a visitor visa for myself and son , since he so young I dont want to leave him alone with my husband for 2 wks. do you think I should apply for myself alone or for both. I an concerned that if i apply for him too they might think we wont return
Pawan Bahuguna
I Samantha,
Yes, you can apply for both. You will also have to show strong attachment towards home land. Also, you will need your husband permission to take your son as per visa policy.
Hemanth
HI pawan,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Recently, I’ve applied for tourist visa and i have received couple of emails from VFS and Canada Visa mentioning my passport has been dispatched. Im wondering is there a chance that Visa officer would make decision in 3 days? Also, does we receive any visa approval/confirmation email from officer if our visa gets approved.
while my friend applied for study permit he did receive confirmation email then he received passport dispatch notification email.
Im bit worried about this. Could you please let me know have you received any confirmation email ?
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Hemanth,
Look like you applied online. I don’t have much idea about applying online, but they don’t tell in email that your visa is approved or not.
Bhavik
I have the same situation like Hemanth, Did you got Approved Visa??
Nidhi Ghildiyal
Dear Sir,
I want to apply for Canada Tourist Visa but I don’t have any friend , family member or any other relative who help me for invitation letter. I want to Know without sponsorship letter can i get tourist visa.
What is the percentage of Canada tourist Visa without Sponsorship letter.
Pawan Bahuguna
Tourist visa is not only to meet friends & Family. You can also go for vacation.
Visa approval depends upon your documents and money in bank accounts. 🙂
Clovis Areey
Hello Pawan Bahuguna,
I am happy to contact you, thank you for sharing your experience here as it has help a lot of people including me, from your experience I was able to gather all my documents and applied for a Canada tourist visa, though my visa was rejected today after 45 days for reasons of travel experience, purpose of travel, assets and financial status, I want to reapply immediately, I need your help with the purpose of travel as I am going to spend my 2 weeks vacation granted by my company.
I am Cameroonian national, but I have been living and working in UAE for 3 years, please here is my email : [email protected]. I will appreciate.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Clovis,
Sorry to hear that your visa got rejected.
As you want to go for spending your holidays, you should write in cover letter that why you want to spend your holidays in Canada, that you have booked your hotel for holidays and you have sufficient money for your stay (Do include proof).
Also, do mention your date wise schedule in travel plan like, which place you are going to visit on which date, etc. Also, if you are going for holidays, then do show proof of your hotel booking, round trip tickets. For financial show your salary slip, bank statements and evaluation of property which you have. This will make your case strong.
Do not forget to include letter from company that they don’t have any objection in visa and you have been granted leave.
Good Luck.
Clovis
Thanks you much bro, am gathering new documents again to reapply. Thanks for your help
Waqas
Hi,
Your forum is very helpful. I just want to know do they inform in email if visitors visa rejected or what kind of email you received after approval.
Thanks
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Waqas,
No, they don’t inform on email. When you go to collect your passport, there is a letter if your visa is rejected along with reason for rejection.
If approved you will get passport with visa. 🙂
Poornima
Hi Pawan,
I just received 10 years multiple entry visa.
Thank you so much for your help in the initial stages. This forum is really very helpful.
For others who might be in the process, I want to share a couple of things. First you can link you paper application to online application on CIC site. That will allow you to monitor it more closely online. As soon as the tracking status on vfs site says “passport dispatched“, you can check status on the linked application and see if it’s approved or rejected.
Also if there is any other problem they update it there. I don’t remember the website link as I am typing from mobile but if somebody wants it I will dig it out. Also, nowadays it seems to be taking close to 2 months at least for Bangalore. Mine took little more than 6 weeks but there are others for whom it has taken 8-9 weeks so don’t worry if you haven’t heard anything after the promised 33 days.
Finally if it’s getting too late you can mail cic and ask them and tell them the exact number of days it has been. I got my visa the day after I mailed them. Not sure if that’s a coincidence but it seems to have happened to few others as well so it’s worth a shot. But please do it only if it’s crossed the prescribed time (right now 33 days). I sent a strong cover letter and invite letter I think that helped a lot. All the best to everybody.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Poornima,
Glad to hear that your Canadian tourist visa is approved and it was a pleasure helping you and other members here.
Thanks for sharing all the valuable tips with all of us. I also didn’t know that we can link offline application to the online application. If possible, please provide steps also and If I will get change I will make one article over it and post it here for others.
Poornima
It is my pleasure Pawan. You can link your paper application on the CIC website. Here is the link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/link.asp
Scroll down and click on “Continue to GC Key”. Click on signup, enter your info and sign up, it wont take more than 5 minutes. Once you come to the home screen, you will see a section called “Link an existing application to this account”. Choose the “link application to this account” button, in the next page choose category as “Temporary residence”, subcategory as “temporary residence visa”.
Then it will ask you to enter your application details (I chose to enter family name, given name and dob). Then enter personal information, visa information etc. These details must exactly match what is there in your application. Once you enter everything that is valid, it will say your application details have been found. After this it will take you to home page and you can see your application under “View my submitted applications or profiles”. If you click on “check statuses and messages” button it will show you the status of your application. Mine was showing “open” till it was under process. After that it changed to “Closed” and status changed to “Approved”.
I have tried to recall the process as best as I can but it is possible that I may have missed a step or two somewhere. But overall it is pretty simple to figure out so people should not have problems. Hope it helps.
Once again thanks for all your help during the process.
Pawan Bahuguna
Thanks a lot Poornima for link and detail process. It will really help all the people looking to track their applications.
Anees
I applied trv on 26 october 2016 vsf South Africa says process is 13 to 30 working days. Visa office email me on 17 nov that they doing some verifications can take maximum 20 days both time have crossed 56 calendar and 37 working days still no reply I had my USA b1 b2 5 year visa and i showed my trip plan of both countries submitted all important documents. Any comments what i should id
Pawan Bahuguna
You can contact on their email id and can check the status.
Mohammad
Hi Poornima,
Congratulations on getting your visa approved. It would be nice if you could share your document list in detail like pawan did and also a sample copy of the invitation and cover letter, obviously you can have the names greyed out. It will help a lot of people in this thread.
Poornima
Thanks Mohammad. My document list was pretty much standard but I submitted whatever I could:
1) Application + family info form + document checklist
2) Cover letter
3) Invite letter from a friend
4) Passport + all my previous visas and work permits
5) Xerox copies of entry and exit stamps of my previous travel
6) Travel history
7) Detailed itinerary
8) Passport and PR copies of my friend who invited me + his employment letter (not attested, but original – he couriered it to me)
9) Return tickets (I booked refundable tickets and cancelled them – lost 3k in the process but I was ok with that)
10) Bank statement showing proof of funds
11) My IT returns for last 2 years
12) My proof of employment
13) Proof of assets (I have a flat in my name so I submitted the registration document for that + some FD copies + LIC)
14) Photo
15) Document checklist form from CIC website
I did not submit my friends NOA or payslips and I did not buy travel medical insurance but I did mention in the cover letter that I will purchase insurance before travelling.
Reg. letter formats, I just took a copy of some sample formats on the web and modified it. I don’t mind sharing it but I don’t think it will make sense posting it as a comment, it will be too long. Maybe if Pawan finds time to make a new post on it sometime in the future, I can share mine too there?
Pawan Bahuguna
Thanks again. You can email me your letter formats and I am happy to post them. I am sending you email for that. I am also thinking to add more sample cover letters.
Can I know, through which website you booked your refundable tickets. They are hard to find.
Irfan
Hi Pawan,
Hope u r doing grate.
Can u plz email me letter of invitation? As my friend have difficulty in writing it also plz mention which documents should he have to attach wid invitation letter. Thanks in advance.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Irfan,
I am working on post for all such letter formats. And will be posting it shortly. Also, I am sending you invite letter format on your email as post may take some time to publish.
Documents needed along with invitation letter is already written on this post. Please check post carefully.
Mohammad
Hi Poornima
Thanks a lot for your prompt reply,
The checklist will definitely help me and a lot of other people on this post with the visa application to canada in future.
I must say such detailed documents and your previous travel would have been the key to getting your visa approved.
Thanks again and do work with pawan on getting the sample letters posted on the site also like pawan said could you share the site where you booked your tickets from
Poornima
Sorry, been a bit busy, I will send the formats to Pawan soon. Regarding the refundable tickets, I booked it through makemytrip but not the website. I called their customer care and asked the lady to find me a ticket that would incur the least amount of cancellation penalty. I had to stay on line for about 15 mins with her to figure out details. She ultimately found one for British airways which was quite expensive but I didn’t care because I knew I would have to cancel it anyway. She said the cancellation penalty would be 5k but when I actually cancelled, British airways charged only 3200 rs so yaay.
Pawan Bahuguna
Thanks for details. Appreciate your contribution to this post.
Lourenco
Hi
I am appling online and would like to know which of the form should be print out and sign, before submiting, is that IMM5257E or IMM5707E? also do I need to submit my old or expired passport? and when submiting the passport do I need to write any thing on top either down the passport image?
Nafees Naz Bhatti
Hello Pawan,
I’m Nafees Bhatti, bro I wanna ask about my visitor visa for Canada. Bro I’ll apply for this in the start of January.
I’m serving as a Police Constable for 12 years at Prison’s department. I’m married having 3 kids, I’ve visited Rome, Italy in 2000 for world Youth Gathering program. My beloved friend who’s a Canadian citizen for 14 years, he’s married n have 1 daughter Sponsoring me. Beside this I’ve $ 8,000 for my bank statement.+ NOC, now problem is that my friend leave his job, which he was doing for 9 years,now he’s doing an IT course to get a another great job, in this situation can get sponsor me,even he has a good property.
Now according to your expert opinion, how much chances of getting my visitor visa, can he sponsor or not, please reply me soon, i’m too worried about it,Thanks.
God bless you.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Nafees,
If your friends has left job for course and was continuously paying TAX for last 9 years, then there is no problem. Just ask for his NOA along with invitation letter.
Nafees Naz Bhatti
Hello Pawan,
Thanks for your quick response, bro what’s the mean of NOA and according to you,how much chances of getting this visa towards my details? waiting for your good reply,
Regards, God Bless you, Amen!
Pawan Bahuguna
NOA is “notice of assessment” and it shows that you have paid your taxes. Visa approval depends upon your documents, financial proof for the period of stay including your travel ticket and total asset, your attachment to home land, etc.
Harpal singh
Hi Pawan sir,
I’m Harpal from Haryana . Can i apply for Canada study visa with my wife and 4 yrs baby.
Is it best to apply with them or not.
Plzz guide me.
Pawan Bahuguna
Yes, you can apply study visa and your family can come under tourist visa. Your spouse can also apply for open work permit.
It’s good to go with your family if you have enough money to sustain your life there.