Canadian Visitor's Visa

[Godfrey]

My 2nd cousin wants to apply for a Canadian visitor's visa. He'd like to come this summer. Does anyone here would like to share their experience in applying for the visitor's visa? Where to apply, how much did it cost, how long did it take, any tips in the visa interview? What sort of questions did they ask?

Thanks very much.

[ozzie]

Godfrey, tell your cousin to go online, read and follow the process on the Canada Embassy Manila website.

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/manila/visas/visitingcanada-en.asp

I remember following all the steps written on this website and I never had any problems. My mom did the same and she never had a problem either.

I also remember going to the embassy to ask questions, but they gave me a piece of paper. The small piece of paper simply has the Canada Embassy Manila website address. Even the security guard tells me, "pumunta lang kayo sa website, nandun na lahat yung dapat ninyong malaman at gawin."

[Godfrey]

Godfrey, tell your cousin to go online, read and follow the process on the Canada Embassy Manila website.

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/manila/visas/visitingcanada-en.asp

I remember following all the steps written on this website and I never had any problems. My mom did the same and she never had a problem either.

I also remember going to the embassy to ask questions, but they gave me a piece of paper. The small piece of paper simply has the Canada Embassy Manila website address. Even the security guard tells me, "pumunta lang kayo sa website, nandun na lahat yung dapat ninyong malaman at gawin."
Thanks Ozzie for the website address. It is quite complete na. I passed it on to my cousin and hopefully they (him and his family) will be able to come for a visit.

[florching]

Lahat yata ng Embassy e ganun. Meron kasi isang pinoy OFW sa Taiwan nagtatanong din sa CTOT ng information, binigay isang papel lang na may website (pumila pa naman siya). Sabi nung prospective applicant nagday off pa naman ako, wala rin pala sasagot sa tanong ko. Natawa tuloy ako....

Before 2006 mabilis kumuha ng tourist visa ang mga pinoy OFW sa Taiwan pati na rin sa US Embassy kaso ngayon hindi na sila nagbibigay kasi ang daming nagTNT. Kahit hired pa ng malaking company ang isang pinoy OFW hirap na lumusot. Ang mabilis mabigyan ng tourist visa e yung mga Taiwan passport holder na may mga Taiwan ID.

[ozzie]

Ok. I have a question here that I may already know the answer, but I could be wrong. I've sponsored my mom to become a permanent resident of Canada. She now has a file number. Does that mean, when she applies for a visitor visa, she will be denied to visit due to this pending application?

When my application was in process (before 2003) I was still able to visit Canada. But just heard from my cousin that his son was denied because they had a pending immigrant application (family class).

So is there really a definite answer to this question? Will they allow you to visit or not?

[Godfrey]

Ok. I have a question here that I may already know the answer, but I could be wrong. I've sponsored my mom to become a permanent resident of Canada. She now has a file number. Does that mean, when she applies for a visitor visa, she will be denied to visit due to this pending application?

When my application was in process (before 2003) I was still able to visit Canada. But just heard from my cousin that his son was denied because they had a pending immigrant application (family class).

So is there really a definite answer to this question? Will they allow you to visit or not?


Ozzie, I think it all depends on the discretion of the Canadian consul. In my own personal experience, I was in the US waiting for my immigrant visa to come out. I applied for a visitor's visa and I was approved. In Vancouer on the visitor's visa, I asked for an extension but the Canadian consul in Vancouver denied my request for an extension of stay. The reason given was that I have a pending application for permanent residence. I had to go back to the US and wait for my immigrant visa.

[dingo]

Oz, depends on how imminent the permanent visa will come out. Did they give you an estimate of how long the processing will be? If it's within six months (or the validity of a tourist visa), then most probably she will be denied.

Actually, what you could have done, is get her a tourist visa first, bring her here and then apply a permanent resident visa for her while she is here.

[achi56]

The following Q an A from the website provided by Ozzie looks promising to people who want to enter Canada as visitors ... even though they have a pending immigration application:

" I have a pending immigrant application. Can I apply for a temporary resident visa?
Yes, you may submit an application for a temporary resident visa. Your visa application will be assessed independently of your immigrant application and in accordance with the Regulations in force. An intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming a temporary resident if the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay ...."