Visitor Visa/eTA or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
A Visitor Visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to and enter Canada. A Visitor Visa shows that you meet the requirements needed to visit Canada. However, if you are from a visa-exempt country, you don’t need a Visitor Visa.
You will need a visitor visa to enter Canada whether you are coming as a student, temporary worker, or simply to visit. Contact us
There are two kinds of Canadian Visitor Visas:
- Single Entry Visa
- Multiple Entry Visa
A single entry visa allows foreign nationals to enter Canada for one-time only.
A multiple entry visa allows foreign nationals to enter and leave Canada as often as they want as long as the visa is valid.
It is not for you to choose with kind of these two visas you should apply for. There is an automatic consideration of the applicants for multiple entry visas and the applicants are only issued single entry visas under unique circumstances. Multiple entry visitor visas allow the visa holder to travel to Canada for six months at a time and as often as they want, given that their visa remains valid. The validity of a multiple entry visa can be for up to 10 years. However, the exact validity period for your visa will be at the discretion of the visa officer issuing it. If you have a study permit or a work permit, and are not coming from a visa-exempt country, you will automatically be issued a visitor visa allowing you to enter Canada to receive your permit. Usually, this is a multiple entry visa. If, under any circumstances, you happen to leave Canada temporarily during the course of your studies or temporary work, there will be no need for you to apply for a new visitor visa to re-enter Canada. However, your visa and permit should still be valid at the time of re-entering Canada.
A multiple entry visa allows foreign nationals to enter and leave Canada as often as they want as long as the visa is valid.
It is not for you to choose with kind of these two visas you should apply for. There is an automatic consideration of the applicants for multiple entry visas and the applicants are only issued single entry visas under unique circumstances. Multiple entry visitor visas allow the visa holder to travel to Canada for six months at a time and as often as they want, given that their visa remains valid. The validity of a multiple entry visa can be for up to 10 years. However, the exact validity period for your visa will be at the discretion of the visa officer issuing it. If you have a study permit or a work permit, and are not coming from a visa-exempt country, you will automatically be issued a visitor visa allowing you to enter Canada to receive your permit. Usually, this is a multiple entry visa. If, under any circumstances, you happen to leave Canada temporarily during the course of your studies or temporary work, there will be no need for you to apply for a new visitor visa to re-enter Canada. However, your visa and permit should still be valid at the time of re-entering Canada.
Who Needs a Visitor Visa
Anyone and everyone who wishes to Canada but one who is not a Canadian citizen or holds a permanent residency, or coming to Canada from a visa-exempt country requires a visitor visa. People who are permanent residents of Canada are not allowed to apply for a visitor visa, even if their permanent resident card has expired. Instead, they must apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). People with Canadian or dual citizenship are also not permitted to apply for a visitor visa. They are supposed to travel on a valid Canadian passport. If you are coming to Canada for business purpose and not as a temporary foreign worker, you may need a business visitor visa.
Visa-Exempt Countries and eTA Requirements
Canada has accords with many countries in the world that exempt their citizens from requiring a visa to visit Canada for a period of up to six months. People from the nations are the only people, other than Canadian citizens and holders of permanent residency who are exempt from applying for a visitor visa. Foreign nationals who wish to enter Canada by air, however, are required to hold a valid electronic Travel Authorization or eTA.
If you have entered Canada and you wish to apply for an extension of your stay, you must apply 30 days before your status expires.
Extending Your Stay in Canada as a Visitor
You must have entered Canada either on an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) document or on a visitor visa. If you want to extend your stay in Canada beyond the period allowed according to your documents, you need to apply for a visitor record.
A Visitor Record is a document allowing you to stay in Canada on a legal basis. Also, it gives you a status in the country. A visitor record has an expiry date, which means that once that period is over; you must either leave the country at this point or apply for another extension to stay in Canada.
If you choose to leave the country, a visitor record may not necessarily let you re-enter. If you plan to extend your stay in Canada it is important that you apply for visitor record before your status expires. Applicants of visitor record are permitted to stay in Canada for a period of up to six months.
Extending Your Stay in Canada as a Temporary Worker
You can renew your status being temporary worker or a student. Here are the eligibility requirements for extending your stay in Canada as a temporary worker –
- The application for extension should be submitted before the status expires.
- It is important to meet the initial requirements of your stay
- You must, at all costs, follow all the conditions and requirements of your status. For example, if your status does not permit you to work or study without authorization, you must NOT do that.
- You must provide the required personal documents and complete an application form.
- If your family members also wish to apply for an extension in Canada, they all must apply individually and separately.
The time to process online applications for extension of stay in Canada is 103 days (on an average) and that for paper application processing is 111 days (on an average). One your application is granted, you will receive an immigration documents allowing your status with a new expiry date
Contact Hopewell Immigration today if you are in Canada but your visitor or temporary resident status has expired or nearing expiry date and you wish to have an extension on your stay in Canada. Hopewell will help you through the process of legally staying in Canada.