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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Deep
Hello Pawan Ji
Detailed itinerary and purpose of visit.
cover letter supporting your application
These two are the deciders! Could you hide out your personal details likes names etc. and share document[s]?
Also, money in bank accounts, must it be in savings account or can be mix of savings and fixed deposits?
Many Thanks
Pawan Bahuguna
Thanks for checking this article where I have shared my experience. This article is old but can be referenced.
You can check the supporting document format in this post > https://www.pawanbahuguna.com/letter-formats-canada-tourist-visa-trv/
Navdeep
HI Pawan Sir,
My Wife and son is planning to visit and attend my sister-in-laws daughter birthday party for two weeks only. I am not accompanying them. Kindly guide me what to include in their application form and how much assets (individual or shared) need to be shown with their application. Two years back our TRV application was refused.
Thanking you in advance,
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Navdeep,
A birthday party alone is not a good reason to visit. Add more activities like sightseeing. They will have to show strong ties to their home country and also enough money.
There are no max criteria for assets, but more is the better and you can also write a letter stating you are taking care of all the expenses. Do not forget to include an invitation letter too.
Check refusal reason from your past application and try to fix those.
JASVINDER SINGH
Hi Navdeep,
As you said, you have been refused for TRV 2 years ago, you have need to work on refusal reasons given by officer you need to solve those reasons before apply for visa if the situation is same then your application would be refused again however you have family contacts in the Canada Its good sign, you give them guarantee of return to India through strong ties with India, you can add fixed deposits in the banks, property documents, vehicle registration certificates, your employment evidence and variety of the documents from your sister-in-law who lives in Canada, attached pcc of your wife and her medical reports attached as proofs of good health and character, you can get a letter from your son’s school and covering letter trying to convince them this is the case.
Good luck
Akhil
Hy pawan sir meine tourist apply kia tha meri refusal aayi hai aaj mei reapply krna chahta hoon mere funds 4 lakh hai mera khud ka business hai or home ties property valuations hai covering letter kuch strong ho skti hai ? Unhone reason dia hai ki apki travel history nahi hai or ties nahi hai home country se or air ticket nahi mention ki is that effective to grant visa or dummy ticket bhi chalegi?
Pawan Bahuguna
If your situation has not changed, please don’t re-apply now.
Re-check your documents, write cover letter showing strong ties. I don’t know what is dummy ticket. I think you have to book your flights and afterwords you can cancel. Moreover, you should have a strong motive to visit Canada.
JASVINDER SINGH
Akhil,
Advise for you, you have need to make some travel history before reapply for Canada visa, you can go to easily to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and later Dubai for tourism activity and after 6 months you can reapply for Canada visa and don’t forget to attach missile document like pcc and medical health reports with your next TRV application.
Good Luck
Deepak kumar
Sir what Does mean you application is being prosessed at canada visa office delhi i applied vistor visa on 16 september
Pawan Bahuguna
Means they are processing your application at the embassy.
Harsimran Singh
Thank you for the sample letters. These are helping me in drafting my own letter. I don’t have much savings in my bank account as its always fluctuating from Rs.100.00 to Rs.2,00,000.00. Recently I liquidate my FDs amounting to Rs.2 Lakh into my saving account. If I have a total of Rs.3 Lakh in my account. Chances of getting TRV are?
Pawan Bahuguna
Money depends upon your length of stay. So, plan accordingly.
Harsimran Singh
Thank you. Length of my stay is 3 weeks and I will be staying with my cousin. Also Can you help me in travel itinerary? I can’t buy return tickets, refundable ones are too costly, non refundable ones means losing a good chunk of money. Is travel itinerary sufficient to get TRV for about 3 weeks?
JASVINDER SINGH
Hi,
you have less funds in your bank account without strong travel history It would hard for you to get TRV rest up to you how you can represent your case at Embassy.
gagandeep singh
hello sir,
i recently applied for canada visitor visa, but unfortunately got refusal. now i want to reapply and i have all documents ready like salary slips, bank statement, employment letter, leave from employer etc. but my only confusion is about air ticket, are there any type of fully refundable tickets available. because this time i do not a huge loss.
please help me out asap
Pawan Bahuguna
You will have to check with websites like MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, etc. Some of them offer a full refund for certain tickets if you pay extra.
JASVINDER SINGH
Hi Gagandeep,
You have been refused for TRV in the past and you are planning for re-apply, if you have new information/documents or your circumstances has been changed since last refusal then you can reapply for TRV, you can add confirmed travel tickets / hotel booking from any travel agent at nominal cost, you have no need to buy tickets until visa approved there are so many factors behind for issuing a visa to someone Travel history is one of them If you have valid US visa or you did traveled to couple of schenegen countries then it will help you to get TRV.
palwasha
hello Pawan. hope you are doing fine can you share your itenary for canada i dont know how to make it. i mean the day to day plan im applying from dubai. plus im from pakistan and we have property there and my mother and siblings my husband has stepy siblings but never met them or seen them. since his mother passed away after his birth so we have no information of them. and his father is also abroad he hasnt met him jn years so alot of confusion if u can help. but most important is the itinerary please if u can send a sample and ill edit my hotels in it. thank you looking fwd to your reply.
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Palwasha,
Please use below link to see different formats. Please edit as per your need and plan.
https://www.pawanbahuguna.com/letter-formats-canada-tourist-visa-trv/
Mandeep
Hi Pawan, my brother’s visitor visa application got refused back in july 2018, it was whole family application. Me and My sister are both here in Canada and both PR and would like to invite my brother for my niece b’day. For my brother he is not doing an job and has no travel history. So what are his chances for getting TRV or what documents should we show for financial stability ?
JASVINDER SINGH
Hi Mandeep,
First of all, you have need to consider that the visa officer is not your enemy he is doing his duty only. Although, Canada TRV is tough visa so you should apply with all the documentation, if your brother has no travel history in the past then It would be very hard for your brother to get TRV.
However, you are PR of Canada but it will help a little bit in your family application rest depends on your brother’s circumstances in India. Officer want to see something strong ties with country of origin in your visa application for believe, after the visit your brother/family leave to Canada. I advise you don’t apply TRV again and again with same documents you should re-apply until your brother’s situation has not changed.
Amandeep singh
Hello pawan ji ,my visa refused by Canadian ambessey in September 2018,reason mentioned that you not mentioned your previous USA refusal,but I not apply ever for USA, can I reapply for Canada tourist visa
Pawan Bahuguna
Yes, you can reapply. If you have not applied for USA visa, you can send them an email that you have not applied for it.
But, please make sure to provide the correct information.
JASVINDER SINGH
Hi Amandeep singh,
Kindly forward your refusal letter at [email protected] if you don’t mind.
jun
Hello Sir Pawan could you kindly please help or send me if you have a sample letter for PERSONAL STUDY PLAN in Canada? Thank you
Pawan Bahuguna
Sorry Jun, I don’t have that.
Raja
Hi Pawan,
I have applied canada visitor visa on 1 November 2018. And received the refusal mail on November 16th 2018. Ground of Refusal mentioned as
1) Purpose of Visit : Submitted the Cover letter with Itinerary of pure Tourism with no intention of staying Back already submitted 2) Travel history. Visited Dubai in May 2018.
Please guide me. Thank you for your valuable effect
Pawan Bahuguna
It depends upon many factors, like money you showed, strong ties with the home country, etc.
Raja sanmugam
Thank you for the reply.
Yes, i Had submitted my 6 month bank balance statement of about 5.5 lakhs in account as well i have showed my family members staying in india. But still iam not sure where am lacking. So is it possible for me to reapply, if yes then do we have any time limit.
Regards,
Raja S
Pawan Bahuguna
You can re-apply, but make sure your condition has changed.
Can I know for how many days you applied for your visa, and did you showed round-trip tickets and hotel bookings?
Also, did you showed itinerary?
Rimpaljit Sekhon
Good Evening Sir, we had apply canada visiting visa on 13 June 2018 .subbmitted file in VFS jalandhar , but till date in embassy site show our file is in processed till date .
I had subbmitted letter for required my passport on 11 th Oct 2018 in VFS jalandhar but till date we have not received my passport. Know 5 months have completed. Please suggest us for further step.
Pawan Bahuguna
This is not usual. Try to contact them with your application number.
Gurmeet singh
Hello pawan ji..sir main canada visitor visa apply kita hai…te ajj near about 50 day ho ge ne..te vfs te check karda ha te being processed likheya aaunda hai.sir tusi dass sakde ho hor kinna time lagega ..pls help
Pawan Bahuguna
Hi Gurmeet,
It is taking time these days. Out of 50 how many working days?
MANOJ
dear covering letter visitor visa canada deatils
Pawan Bahuguna
Please check https://www.pawanbahuguna.com/letter-formats-canada-tourist-visa-trv/
Joy
Hi pls I applied since July 9 2018 till now no deviation yet applied from Nigeria for it take long pls help out
Pawan Bahuguna
For Nigeria, processing time is 42 days and looks it already past.
Try to call them or send an email. If you applied via VFS try to reach them.
Neeraj
Hello Pawan! How do you? May I know your direct phone number?
Pawan Bahuguna
Sorry, I don’t provide my personal number.
Can I know what is your query? All can see and help you.
ifeoma
Good evening Pawan,
Please i have been trying to open the family information form(IMM5645) and the application form but the pages are just blank and its not opening. Please is there any other way to open the forms? Thanks for all your assistance.
Pawan Bahuguna
If you are not able to see then its error with your PDF reader. Try to update it.
JASVINDER SINGH
Hi everyone,
This is the following link where you can download the visa application form
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp?countrySelect=IN#applications
visa application form and family form has been updated by CIC so fill up well as per requirements.