Temporary resident visas

1. What is a Temporary resident visa (also known as Visitor visa)


Every year more than 35 million people visit Canada. Persons who wish to come to Canada for tourism, for business, to study or to work may need to obtain a temporary resident visa before doing so. Citizens of some countries are exempt from this requirement but most are not. Briefly, a temporary resident is someone from a foreign country who is authorised to remain in Canada for a limited period of time and who will leave the country at the expiration of the temporary resident status unless that status is extended/renewed or a different status is granted. Therefore, a temporary resident visa is essentially the material evidence (usually a sticker to be affixed into one’s passport) that an official authorisation has been granted by the relevant authorities allowing a foreign person to enter and remain in Canada for a temporary period, conferring upon that person temporary resident status.

It is important to note that in some cases, a temporary resident service might be required to support an application for a temporary resident visa.

The different categories of temporary resident visas offered are described here below.
 

     i) Temporary resident visa to visit Canada (also known and referred hereafter as Tourist visa)

A tourist visa is an official temporary authorisation granted to a foreign citizen allowing him to enter the Canadian territory for a temporary purpose, such as tourism or visiting family and friends. In assessing whether to issue a tourist visa to an applicant, the visa officer will determine on a balance of probabilities, whether the potential visitor has a compelling reason for visiting, sufficient money to pay for the visit, and is liable to return to his home country at the end of the trip. Tourist visas may be extended from within Canada. They may be single or multiple entries. With a few exceptions, a visitor is barred from working and studying in Canada.

Do you have friends or relatives to visit in Canada? You always wanted to discover Niagara Falls, ski in Whistler or attend a live Montreal Canadiens hockey game? You just won VIP tickets for a rock concert in Edmonton or 2 grandstand passes for the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal? Then you need a tourist visa and we can help you get one quickly; please check below our Admissibility criteria for more details.
 

      ii) Study permit (also known as Student visa)

A study permit is an official temporary authorisation granted to a foreign citizen allowing him to enter the Canadian territory with the purpose of studying. Those who wish to study in Canada (college or university) must apply for a study permit which will allow them to remain in Canada as temporary residents for the period of their studies. It is advisable to apply early for your course of study in Canada; university and college students should apply a year before their study program starts. VisaPro.ca does not assist candidates in finding educational institutions or enrolling into study programs; professional assistance for obtaining a study permit is offered only to those who already have been officially admitted into a Canadian school. Once enrolment has been confirmed, our firm can assist in the application process for a study permit. To qualify for a study permit, the applicant must also be able to demonstrate that he has sufficient funds to pay for his studies and living expenses during the time he is in Canada. In assessing whether to issue a study permit to an applicant, the visa officer will primarily assess if the potential student is likely to return to his home country after the completion of his studies in Canada. It is important to note that if an applicant wishes to study in [the province of] Quebec, a certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ – Quebec acceptance certificate) is required to support his application for a study permit.

You always wanted to study at the Université de Laval and live in the most European-looking and charming of all North-American cities? You just have been accepted in the International student exchange program from Saint-Mary’s University in Halifax? Then you need a study permit and we can help you get one quickly; please check below our Admissibility criteria for more details.

      iii) Work permit (also known as Worker visa)

A work permit is an official temporary authorisation granted to a foreign citizen allowing him to enter the Canadian territory with the exclusive purpose of working. In the vast majority of cases, a work permit is required to legally work in Canada. Work permits are in general applied for at Canadian visa offices outside of Canada, or in some cases at ports of entry such as airports and some landborder offices. In most cases, it is a prerequisite to obtain a job offer from a Canadian company and to have that job offer approved by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada before a work permit can be issued by the Canadian immigration authorities. VisaPro.ca does not assist candidates in finding job offers; professional assistance for obtaining a work permit is offered only to those who already have an existing job offer. Once employment has been found, our firm can assist in the application process for a work permit. In assessing whether to issue a work permit to an applicant, the visa officer will primarily assess if the potential worker is qualified, admissible to Canada and likely to return to his home country after the completion of his employment/work contract. It is important to note that in some cases, a labour market opinion (LMO) might be required to support an application for a work permit. Moreover, if an applicant wishes to work in [the province of] Quebec, a certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ – Quebec acceptance certificate) is required to support his application for a work permit.

You always wanted to visit around and work up-North in Yukon where the Klondike gold rush took place? You already got your seasonal job offer from a major strawberry producer in Ontario and wish to start working as soon as possible? Then you need a work permit and we can help you get one quickly; please check below our Admissibility criteria for more details.

     iv) Transit visa

A transit visa is an official temporary authorisation granted to a foreign citizen who is travelling through Canada to another country and whose flight/voyage will stop in Canada for less than 48 hours. The transit visa will allow him to enter the Canadian territory for transiting purpose only. A person willing to transit Canada may not apply for a transit visa upon his arrival in Canada, and unless told otherwise, should not expect travel agents, cruise lines and airlines to take care of transit visas. It is the sole responsibility of the traveler to determine if he needs to obtain a transit visa and if so, to obtain one in advance from its own country of residence. In assessing whether to issue a transit visa to an applicant, the visa officer will determine on a balance of probabilities, whether the applicant is genuinely just transiting Canada, has as final destination another country than Canada and shows specific evidence of his travel arrangements from his transportation company or travel agent.

You’re going to fly from Shanghai to Mexico, your final destination, but you have a flight connection in Toronto, Canada? You’re departing Istanbul on a cruise ship with final destination in Cuba, but you’re going to harbour for couple of days in Halifax, Quebec, New-York and Miami? Then you might need a transit visa and we can help you get one quickly; please check below  our Admissibility criteria for more details.

     v) Temporary resident permit

A temporary resident permit is an official temporary authorisation granted to a foreign citizen who does not meet all legal requirements, but who is authorised to enter and stay in Canada. The temporary resident permit may be issued, at the discretion of the Canadian immigration authorities only, to individuals who would otherwise be inadmissible to Canada because of health or criminality issues, allowing them to enter or stay in Canada, when justified by compelling circumstance. In deciding whether or not to issue a temporary resident permit, the visa officer will weigh the inadmissible person's need to enter or remain in Canada against the health and security risks to the Canadian population. Temporary resident permits constitute a distinct and special category which is not applicable to most applicants.

Your personal situation is singular and you think you need special entry permission from the Canadian immigration authorities? Then you might need a temporary resident permit and we can help you get one quickly; please check below our Admissibility criteria for more details.

2. Admissibility criteria
 

© All individuals who wish to enter Canada, as permanent or temporary residents, must meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations. Canadian immigration authorities retain exclusive powers and rights to make the final decision on any application using existing admissibility criteria, including security, criminal, and medical factors.

These admissibility criteria are applicable without exception to all candidates who want to come to Canada. If any of the following examples apply to your case, it will constitute an inadmissibility factor that could render inadmissible your application:

• Inadmissible medical status
• Presence of criminal record or evidence of threat to Canada’s national security
• Insufficient funds to sustain living expenses and/or unavailability of adequate settlement funds
• Misrepresentation through withhold and/or distortion of facts and/or production and/or use of fake documents
• Non-compliance with the visa/immigration officers instructions
• Change in family composition and/or marital status, without noticing the Canadian immigration authorities in due time

Obviously, many more admissibility criteria may or may not apply depending on the type of status/document sought. In addition to the admissibility criteria, the eligibility criteria for each specific category of temporary or permanent residents must also be met. This is why it is vital to fully understand the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations in order to maximize your chances. VisaPro.ca, thanks to its extended experience in the domain and its competent team, can help you and make the difference between a successful application and a refusal.
 

3. What is the next step


Once you’ve chosen the category of services^* under which you wish to apply, your next step is to select one of our Solution packages. VisaPro.ca personalised approach gives you the choice between 4 different flat fee Solution packages; depending on what combination of professional service and Solution package you need, the flat fee will vary accordingly.




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