| A visitor is a person who is legally in Canada for a | | | | family ties, one's employment in the home country, |
| temporary purpose, and who is not a Canadian | | | | and financial independence, immigration officers have |
| Citizen or Permanent Resident. Visitors to Canada, like | | | | to be satisfied that the visitor is merely seeking |
| students and workers, fall under the category of | | | | temporary entry to Canada. At the border, one can |
| temporary resident, and receive a "temporary | | | | be found inadmissible on various grounds, such as |
| resident visa". This visa can allow for multiple entries, | | | | security, criminality, lack of financial resources, |
| or may be of the single-entry variety. Citizens of | | | | misrepresentation, or other. A visitor would be |
| some countries do not require a visa to visit Canada. | | | | deemed inadmissible either at the port of entry, or |
| These are generally countries in the developed world. | | | | would be referred to the Immigration Division for an |
| What to Expect When Applying | | | | inquiry. |
| Applying to visit Canada is a two step process: one | | | | Time Limitations |
| must obtain a visitor's visa at the consular office | | | | A multiple entry visitor visa is valid for up to five |
| abroad, and then be granted admissibility by the | | | | years, or one month prior to the expiry date on the |
| immigration officer at the border. Various | | | | visitor's passport (or document that allows for |
| documentation and processing fees are involved in | | | | re-entry to the visitor's home country), whichever is |
| the application process. During the visa application, the | | | | earlier. A single entry visa can be issued up to six |
| prospective visitor has to satisfy the visa officer that | | | | months before the expected date of travel. |
| he or she does not have immigrant intent with the | | | | Remember that a "visa" is merely a "preliminary |
| application. There may be an interview to verify the | | | | determination of eligibility", not a right to enter |
| reasons for the visit, the willingness to leave Canada, | | | | Canada. Also note that the length of the stay itself is |
| and to address questions of overall admissibility. At | | | | a condition that is imposed by the immigration officer |
| the border, the visitor must have a passport with a | | | | at the port of entry, and is typically six months, |
| valid date, since a document is needed which allows | | | | unless affected by circumstances such as means of |
| re-entry to the visitor's original country. The | | | | support, passport expiry, etc. |
| examination at the border ends when the visitor has | | | | Extending the Length of a Visit |
| been authorized to leave the port of entry and does | | | | A Canadian visitor can apply for a six-month |
| so. In certain cases, a visitor could be let in (on the | | | | extension up to 30 days before the expiry of the |
| condition that he or she will report back at a future | | | | temporary visitor status. |
| point in time) if the examination has not been | | | | Turning a Visit to Canada into a Permanent Stay |
| completed. | | | | A visitor comes to Canada and is issued a temporary |
| A temporary resident application is given as much | | | | resident visa on the understanding that the visit is |
| priority as is possible. Done in person, it may be | | | | temporary, and that he or she will leave the country |
| completed that same day. While applicants are | | | | at the end of the stay. As with the United States, |
| required to answer questions truthfully and to | | | | applying for entry to Canada under the guise of being |
| provide relevant evidence and documentation, certain | | | | a visitor and then applying or permanent resident |
| requirements are also placed on immigration officials. | | | | status can lead to questions of fraud on the original |
| For instance, officers must wait for an interpreter | | | | visa application. Generally speaking, converting visitor's |
| before interviewing or refusing an applicant. | | | | status to permanent status is not possible except for |
| Additionally, as governed by the Canadian Human | | | | spouses of Canadian citizens and residents, or |
| Rights Act, a refusal should be based specifically on | | | | extraordinary humanitarian circumstances. Those who |
| the characteristics of the individual rather than | | | | have already applied for permanent resident status |
| generalities. The reasons provided for a refusal should | | | | and who wish to visit Canada while their applications |
| be complete, and an applicant can seek redress at | | | | are pending may experience difficulty due to the |
| the Federal Court or Canadian Human Rights | | | | suspicion that they will refuse to leave. This is not a |
| Commission. | | | | ground to refuse to issue a visitor visa, although the |
| Qualifying to Visit | | | | onus is on the visitor to demonstrate his or her |
| | | | validity to the visa officer. Generally speaking, an |
| The principles behind admission to Canada are similar | | | | immigration official will look at factors such as the |
| to those of the United States. A visitor has to | | | | length of stay, ties in Canada, ties with the home |
| satisfy similar criteria to be issued a visa, and must | | | | country, financial independence, and so on, to make a |
| satisfy the immigration officials at the port of entry | | | | determination. |
| to the country. Based on various factors such as | | | | |