I have to apply for a visit visa for my parents. I am a PR and will be providing the letter of invitation along with my uncle who is a citizen and will invite them for their son's wedding. I want them to stay for atleast 2 months but was advised to apply for 2-3 weeks for a better chance of getting approval. I wanted to know if they applied for 2 weeks officially, the visa that will finally come will have a validity of 2 weeks visit or it is the same 6month one time stay for everyone? What is the average visa validity/stay period?
Validity of TRV- senior members please help
- Thread starter Nilyas
- Start date
These are two points: TRV validity and stay/visitor status.
TRV validity or the length of the visa issued will depend on the assessment made by the visa officer/IRCC. It could range from a visa validity of one month (as the other OP has posted) to a maximum validity until the expiry of the passport. If someone has a newly issued passport then validity could be up to 10 years (i.e. depending on when that passport is expiring).
How long someone is allowed to stay when s/he arrives depends on the CBSA officer whom s/he meets at the port of entry. If no date is handwritten below the entry stamp then the stay/visitor status is for 6 months (which can be extended). If a date is included then the person must leave Canada on/before that handwritten date
Thanks @Bryanna
My main purpose is to have my parents for the maximum time possible, atleast a couple of months, as I am expecting a baby. Can you please suggest which reason should I mention in their invitation letter, i have 2 options:
1) I am pregnant with my first child and want my parents to be here at the time of delivery and atleast 1.5-2 months after delivery to support me. So a total of 2-3 months. But my husband is a full time student and I am also not working right now. We landed 1 month ago. But we have good balance to show in our bank accounts (from our previous jobs)
2) My very close family friend, who is a citizen, is getting married. We are almost like family. They are ready to give an invitation letter too. But if we use this path, I think they can request for a maximum of 2-3 weeks as a visit duration.
3) I can give both reasons and 2 invitation letters, one from me and one from the family friend and ask for parents' stay for 2 months.
Which path will be the best? I am really confused. Please suggest.
Did you apply for exactly 1 month? Also does the visa mention the "valid from" date or is it valid from the day you receive your stamped passport and the month is counted from date of landing?
We normally do not advise stating that the parent is visiting to take care of their daughter/newborn grandchild because this is considered as working illegally on a TRV. Also, a visit of more than 3-4 weeks indicates weak ties to their home country or possibility of overstaying.
Your parents must prove they have the financial resources to afford their visit, including airfare + strong ties to return to. Your finances are secondary.
Although it's not mandatory, you may want to include an overseas travel medical insurance policy for the duration of their intended visit (refundable or allows for the dates to be changed).
The invitation letter from you/your documents would have a greater impact as compared to the documents from your family friend
Thanks@bryanna! I will do what you suggested.
One last question, my invitation letter will specify their exact dates of visit but let's say they get their visa approved with 6months validity, can they then come earlier than the previously specified dates? Will the CBSA officer look at the original invitation letter dates again and pose a problem at the port of entry?
They can travel anytime during the validity of their TRVs i.e. before or after the date which they had mentioned in their TRV applications.
The change in their travel plans won't create a problem at the port of entry