Today, Canada is one of the most favourite countries to work, study or move to. Being one of the grand countries with good quality of life, cultural diversity and ample of opportunities, Canada is a good place to begin the immigration process.
However, the process of getting a Canadian visa can be a tedious practice if not planned for properly. If you are a tourist, scholar, employee, or a would-be immigrant in Canada, it is very important to know how to get a visa.
In this article, we’ll provide an explanation of a visa, the possible classification of visas, the conditions of visa eligibility, and overviews of common visas and their prerequisites and pointers to making a visa application effective.
The Visas Issued to Canadian Immigration Applicants
Canada has more than one visa based on the reasons of travelling or immigration to this country. If you plan to travel to Canada just for a short time, you may require a temporary resident visa (TRV). This visa is used by people who are visiting for tour, for business or people who will only be in the country for a short duration. On the other hand, those people who aspire to come to live in that country or work for long period they may apply for permanent residence visa.
There are some people who could be useful for the Express Entry program, which is advertised to be a processing system for the skilled personnel. This programme enables individuals possessing the right skills, education and experience to work and live in Canada. Also there is the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) for those who want to live only on the territory of a particular province or territory of Canada.
Canada also has study permit system which allows students from other countries to study in Canada in any DLI, which stands for designated learning institution. On the other hand, the working holiday visa permits young people form some countries to work when visiting Canada for tourism purpose. Such visas as these are beneficial because they put measures in place that guarantee that only deserving, relevant and beneficial people are allowed into Canada.
What are the Eligibility Conditions for the Canadian Visa Application?
How to get a Canadian visa depends on the type of visa that you are applying for in as much as there are certain conditions that are required before an applicant is qualified for a Canadian visa. Nonetheless there are general conditions that must be complied to for one to be considered for a visa: These include:
- Passport or Travel Document – At the time of applying all the applicants must possess a valid passport or travel document.
- Proof of Financial Support – Here you need to provide evidence that you can take care of yourself (and or your family) financially while in Canada. The fee may depend on the type of visa which you are required to get as well as the number of days you intend to spend in the country.
- Good Health – Sometimes, you may be asked to present certification to support your good health.
- Criminal Background Check – Applicants must not have a criminal record and must not pose a security threat to Canada. In some case a police clearance certificate may be necessary.
- Visa Purpose – For the purposively restricted visa classes such as the visitors or students visa, an applicant must establish the intention to leave the country after his/ her permitted stay. This usually include proving that you have close ties with your home country for instance a source of income, family or property.
- No Immigration Violations – You should not have violated any immigration laws of Canada or stayed illegal of a visa.
Common Visa Types and Requirements
Canadian visa application involves using different types of visa with their respective qualification criteria to qualify for the visa:
- Visitor Visa – To obtain a visa to visit you’ll need a valid passport, proof of reasonable income for the duration of stay, invitation letter if you are visiting friends/relatives. You may also have to produce travel history/itinerary for the period you plan to spend in Canada.
- Study Visa – Applicants must produce a letter of acceptance from a Canadian educational institution, evidence of funds to support their stay in Canada, and, in some cases, a study proposal outlining why the applicant wishes to study in Canada. If you are from an English-speaking country you may be exempted but otherwise you will be required to sit for a language proficiency test IELTS or TOEFL.
- Work Permit – To obtain a work permit one has to secure a job with a Canadian employer, secure an LMIA also known as a confirmatory letter and demonstrate qualification for the job post. Besides, you must provide evidence that you will depart Canada on expiry of your work permit or otherwise.
- Express Entry – In order to obtain an Express Entry visa you will have to meet the requirements for one of the immigration streams. Most often it includes the process of documenting work experience, language or educational background. Points are awarded using the CRS which takes into consideration of factors such as age, qualification and work experience among others.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – Applicant must meet the requirements set out by the province or territory that nominates him. This may concern such things as having a job offer or previous working experience on a highly sought field within that province.
Best Tips for Getting a Canadian Visa
Here are some essential tips to help you successfully apply for a Canadian visa:
- Check up All Documentation – Make sure that the document to be used is legible, clear, present and up to date. Lost or amiss paperwork slows down the process or leads to visa denial.
- Apply Strong and Effectively – Your application should be well supported to compel the consent of the authority and especially coming up with compensate and convincing reason for visiting and what the intention of leaving the country will be (for temporary visas).
- Be Honest – Do not present fake information or documents in the process of applying for a visa. Further, they may refuse your application which may decline your chances for the future Canadian visas applications.
- Check Processing times – The visa processing time depends on the type of visa and the country of the applicant. Look at the average of your files’ processing time and submit your file early enough of time to make sure that it will not take a long time for it to be processed.
If there is something that you have a question about or are not sure about do not hesitate to seek help from a licensed immigration consultant or a lawyer who will be able to assist you throughout the application process.
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In summary;
If you understand the full process of applying for a visa and the way of preparing a good application then you can increase the probability of obtaining a visa to Canada. That is why with proper planning, your dream of visiting, studying, or even working in Canada can be a reality.
We wish you all the best and hope you get approved!
