If your family or friends want to visit you in Canada for either your convocation or just a vacation, they will need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This application can be completed at the Canadian Embassy, Consulate, Visa Office or High commission office closest to where they live (if they are from a country which requires a TRV to enter Canada). For a printable version of this information, and for some sample letters, click here.
Countries whose citizens require a TRV to enter Canada can be found on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Students must complete 6 months of studies in Canada to invite family or friends. Applications are typically denied by Canadian officials when students are unable to prove that they have been registered for 6 months of studies.
You may send the following documents to the family/friends you wish to invite; they can use these as supporting documents when applying for a TRV at the Canadian Consulate back home.
1. Photocopy of your passport
2a. If you are currently enrolled in school
Photocopy of your study permit AND a current Confirmation of Registration letter. Your study permit should be valid for the duration of the time that your family/friends intend to stay in Canada.
You will also need to include your official transcript.
or
2b. If you have completed degree requirements
Photocopy of your post-graduation work permit and/or study permit AND current Confirmation of Registration letter. At least one of your immigration documents should be valid for the duration of the time that your family/friends intend to stay in Canada.
You will also need to include your official transcript.
3. Letter of invitation written by you
Note: The International Office does not provide letters of invitation; you must write the letter of invitation yourself. The following are guidelines taken from the CIC website. For more information, refer to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/letter.asp
Some visa offices may require that your letter be notarized by a Notary Public. Please note that a letter of invitation does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. Visa officers assess the applicant to determine whether they meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Your letter must include all of the following information:
About the person being invited:
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- The person’s address and telephone number
- Your relationship to the person being invited
- The purpose of the trip (If you are inviting your parents for Convocation, you must include the dates of your convocation ceremony.)
- How long the person you are inviting intends to stay in Canada
- Details on accommodation and living expenses
- The date the person you are inviting intends to leave Canada
About yourself:
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number in Canada
- Occupation
- Status in Canada (e.g. student, worker, Canadian citizen, permanent resident)*
Your parents/friends will have to provide proof of economic and social ties to their home country as part of their application. The stronger the ties to their home country, the greater the chance that they could successfully prove to an Immigration Officer that they will return to their home country after visiting Canada.
Economic ties include: Bank statements, proof of financial investments, letters of employment, proof of business ownership, proof of property ownership, etc.
Social ties include: Evidence that family members back home depend on them for financial /social support and that they must return home after their visit in order to meet these social obligations.
If you state that you will be supporting your family and friends during their visit to Canada you will need to show proof of financial support using documents such as a bank statement and/or pay stubs or a letter of employment. |
