Prepare for a Trip to Canada

The Basic Needs to Travel to Canada

Everyone’s situation is different, and this will affect how you apply for the necessary documents to come to Canada. We cannot possibly break down in one blog, all the possible things an individual may have to do before they are prepared to travel to Canada, because this is heavily dependent on your specific situation. What we CAN do is break down the most basic requirements an individual must adhere to, to properly prepare a trip to Canada, which has the chance of going forward without any unpleasant surprises. Unfortunately, failure to do proper research into what is required of an individual before travelling, could result in having to cancel your trop altogether. The Canadian government does not take their immigration requirements lightly at all. So, let us help you be prepared for a trip to Canada, and keep reading for general important information!

What is the FIRST Step?

The very first thing you must do is obtain a valid travel document from your country of citizenship. Without this, you will not be able to cross the Canadian border, absolutely. Once you have a valid travel document, you must determine whether or not you are from a non-visa exempt country, or a visa-exempt country. This will determine whether or not you require a temporary resident visa to travel to Canada. If you are from a non-visa exempt country, you will need to apply for a temporary resident visa before you are permitted to come to Canada. If you are from a visa-exempt country, you are not exempt of all requirements; you still must most likely apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). To be specific, you must apply for an eTA if you are boarding a flight which will land in Canada.

What if I Need to Apply for a Visitor Visa?

Now that you have completed the first step, you must actually apply for a visitor visa. Please note, this must be done before you attempt to cross a Canadian border, it cannot be done at a port of entry. To have a good chance of having your application for a temporary resident visa approved, you will need to submit a complete a compelling application. This should clearly show the following:

• Convince a Canadian immigration officer that you will return to your country of origin at the end of your authorized stay,
  • This can be done by showing you have strong ties to your country of origin,
  • or by providing your itinerary with proof of intent to return based on pre-purchased return tickets from a return flight ,
• explain your purpose of wanting to enter Canada, submit a letter of invitation,
• Prove that you are financially equipped to support your stay in Canada, as well as the stay of all dependents, and your trip home at the end of your stay,
• Convince a Canadian immigration officer that you will respect all the rules governing visitors to Canada, and you will not violate the conditions of your study permit.
• Depending on your country of origin, you may need to provide biometrics to Canadian immigration officers. This includes a passport picture and fingerprints,
• Show that you are an admissible traveler to Canada.

What Does a Visitor Visa Allow me to do?

As mentioned, depending on your specific situation, the steps you must take to travel to Canada could vary much from another applicant. Therefore, the following explanation serves as an example for where you may need to apply for additional documentation, depending on what you would like to do in Canada.

With a temporary resident visa usual you are allowed to stay in the country for 6 months. The length of time you are permitted to stay in Canada is determined by an immigration officer when you arrive at the port of entry. Though, if you leave Canada, you are generally not permitted to re-enter, unless you have a multiple entry visa.

While in Canada, individuals who have a visitor’s visa of at least 6 months can partake in study programs which are less than 6 months long. Should you wish to take part in a longer program or have a visitor visa which is valid for less than 6 months, you will then need to apply for a study permit.

In other circumstances, if you are seeking entry to Canada on business you may or may not need a work permit. Depending on the length of your visit and the activities you wish to participate in while in Canada, you may only need a temporary resident visa, sometimes referred to as a business visitor visa, for these purposes. If an immigration officer feels your visit is more of an opportunity to work in Canada, rather than partake in a simple business trip, you may need to apply for a work permit to be able to carry out business in Canada.

What if I DON’T need a Visitor Visa? What is an eTA?

Also known as an electronic travel authorization, an eTA is a simple document which can be applied for and granted in less than 72 hours, which permits an individual to board a flight to Canada. If you are visa-exempt, you will only need an eTA to be permitted to enter Canada. While in Canada without a visitor visa, but with an eTA, you are subject to all the same requirements of a visitor to Canada who has a visitor visa. Though, because you may not speak to an immigration officer regarding the length of your stay in Canada, the length of time you are permitted to stay is 6 months, unless otherwise instructed.

Contact Akrami and Associates

Oftentimes, individuals take advantage of temporary resident visas, and stay longer than they are permitted to be in Canada. Because of this, immigration officers are often more hesitant in granting temporary resident permits than most other applications they process. This can make going on a simple trip and seeing all the beauty Canada has to offer more difficult than many would expect. It is very important individuals submit a complete and compelling application for a temporary resident visa to best increase the chance you will be permitted to travel to Canada. Therefore, we recommend that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients enter Canada as Temporary Residents for tourism or other purposes. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!