Temporary Visitor Visa - Length of stay in invitation letter VS tickets

[ilya.can.visa]

Hi,

If a temporary visitor visa has been granted where the host's invitation letter has a length of stay specified as X number of days. Can the return ticket by the visitor be for a longer period of time (than stated in invitation letter), would that be an issue when at the port of entry to Canada, where CBSA officer may inquire about the discrepancy? Or it doesn't matter, as long as return ticket exists and is less than 6 months and within the visa validity period? The dates in the letter are no longer applicable anyway, since the granting of visa took longer than expected.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bryanna]

If a temporary visitor visa has been granted where the host's invitation letter has a length of stay specified as X number of days. Can the return ticket by the visitor be for a longer period of time (than stated in invitation letter), would that be an issue when at the port of entry to Canada, where CBSA officer may inquire about the discrepancy?

The CBSA officer won't have access to the specific details stated in the application.

Or it doesn't matter, as long as return ticket exists and is less than 6 months and within the visa validity period? The dates in the letter are no longer applicable anyway, since the granting of visa took longer than expected.

How long someone is allowed to stay will depend the officer at the POE.

It is advisable to buy refundable tickets/fare conditions that allow for the return flight dates to be changed. Also, these return tickets should be for 3-4 weeks after initial entry. Two reasons for this: Just in case s/he is questioned at the POE + the person would need to prove s/he has adequate finances to pay for the visit, if questioned

 

[ilya.can.visa]

Hi Bryanna,

Thanks for the response, appreciate it very much. I have a few follow up questions based on your response:

1. While the CBSA officer doesn't have access to the details stated in the application, he/she may request the invitation letter, as far as I have been told. In the invitation letter he/she may see that the originally mentioned length of stay is X number of days. Would that raise concerns and questions?
2. Is the CBSA officer more likely to limit the length of stay to the return ticket's 3-4 weeks' duration, which would make it not possible to change the return flight to later? I obviously do not expect you to know for certain, but perhaps you know of some statistics on this
3. If the CBSA officer marks the date by which the visitor must leave Canada to let's say 3 weeks from date of entry, can the person re-enter Canada at a later date while the visa is still valid, or is the stamp and date limit set by CBSA officer renders the visa completely invalid after the stamped date, requiring to apply for one again?
4. If the officer does ask for proof of financial means for the length of stay, i.e. 2 months, what would constitute as such proof? Print out of bank statement translated to English such as submitted with application for visa, cash on hand, traveler's cheques, etc? Would mentioning that the host in Canada will provide for food and lodging be sufficient? The host will be meeting the visitor in person at the airport and be available on phone as specified in the invitation letter.

Thank you very much.

 

[Hammer]

1. While the CBSA officer doesn't have access to the details stated in the application, he/she may request the invitation letter, as far as I have been told. In the invitation letter he/she may see that the originally mentioned length of stay is X number of days. Would that raise concerns and questions?
   

   Hi Bryanna,
   
   Thanks for the response, appreciate it very much. I have a few follow up questions based on your response:
   
   

   1. While the CBSA officer doesn't have access to the details stated in the application, he/she may request the invitation letter, as far as I have been told. In the invitation letter he/she may see that the originally mentioned length of stay is X number of days. Would that raise concerns and questions? - You are ask your sponsor to send you updated invitation letter with revised dates and you can provide it if it gets asked by CBSA.
   2. Is the CBSA officer more likely to limit the length of stay to the return ticket's 3-4 weeks' duration, which would make it not possible to change the return flight to later? I obviously do not expect you to know for certain, but perhaps you know of some statistics on this -- It happens rare that they limit someone stay with specifics unless there are red flags with that traveler.
   3. If the CBSA officer marks the date by which the visitor must leave Canada to let's say 3 weeks from date of entry, can the person re-enter Canada at a later date while the visa is still valid, or is the stamp and date limit set by CBSA officer renders the visa completely invalid after the stamped date, requiring to apply for one again? - Yes, they can re enter Canada anytime. They do not need to re apply.
   4. If the officer does ask for proof of financial means for the length of stay, i.e. 2 months, what would constitute as such proof? Print out of bank statement translated to English such as submitted with application for visa, cash on hand, traveler's cheques, etc? Would mentioning that the host in Canada will provide for food and lodging be sufficient? The host will be meeting the visitor in person at the airport and be available on phone as specified in the invitation letter. - Those proofs will be same which you provided when you applied for TRV. Note: One person can bring maximum of CAD $10,000 cash into the Canada

   Thank you very much.

 

[ilya.can.visa]

You are ask your sponsor to send you updated invitation letter with revised dates and you can provide it if it gets asked by CBSA.

Thank you for the reply. Last question: does the date of the updated invitation letter (e.g. when the letter was written) needs to remain the same as on the first version of the letter or can it be updated to when the updated version of the invitation letter was written?

Thank you very much in advance

 

[Hammer]

Thank you for the reply. Last question: does the date of the updated invitation letter (e.g. when the letter was written) needs to remain the same as on the first version of the letter or can it be updated to when the updated version of the invitation letter was written?

Thank you very much in advance

You can update it to revised date.

 

[Buletruck]

Note: One person can bring maximum of CAD $10,000 cash into the Canada

Incorrect. There is no limit on how much currency you can bring into Canada, only that anything over $10K CDN (or equivalent foreign currency/funds) needs to be reported to CBSA on entry.