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Can I apply for visitor visa while I wait for my PR?

samsho39

Full Member
Jun 13, 2015
47
1
Surrey, BC
App. Filed.......
11/20/2015
Doc's Request.
4/4/2016
AOR Received.
1/19/2016
Med's Done....
9/7/2015
Hello! It has been 6 months since I've applied for my spousal visa and it's becoming extremely difficult for me and my husband to live separately. Is it considered acceptable to apply for a visitor visa so that the husband and wife can live together in Canada while they wait for the PR?
 

CDNPR2014

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2016
3,180
187
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
2014
yes, it's possible and it won't affect your pr application. while it's difficult to get, it is not impossible. there are threads on this forum about what to put in the application to help get a successful outcome.
 

Sous02

Hero Member
Jul 25, 2015
972
59
Category........
Visa Office......
warsaw
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
18-04-16
Doc's Request.
22-08-2016
AOR Received.
06-05-16
File Transfer...
28-05-16
Med's Done....
Up front/passed
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
10-10-2016
VISA ISSUED...
17-10-2016
LANDED..........
02-11-2016
samsho39 said:
Hello! It has been 6 months since I've applied for my spousal visa and it's becoming extremely difficult for me and my husband to live separately. Is it considered acceptable to apply for a visitor visa so that the husband and wife can live together in Canada while they wait for the PR?
Not to live together but to visit. That is a very important difference you need to remember as you apply.
 

amipocha

Member
Jan 11, 2016
16
0
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Singapore
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Oct 3, 2015
AOR Received.
Nov 24, 2015
File Transfer...
Dec 29, 2015
Med's Done....
upfront
Passport Req..
Jun 6, 2016
VISA ISSUED...
waiting.....
samsho39 said:
Hello! It has been 6 months since I've applied for my spousal visa and it's becoming extremely difficult for me and my husband to live separately. Is it considered acceptable to apply for a visitor visa so that the husband and wife can live together in Canada while they wait for the PR?

I was thinking of doing that, I have been waiting about 8 months and I just got Passport request today. Which visa office do you belong to?
 
M

mikeymyke

Guest
CDNPR2014 said:
while it's difficult to get, it is not impossible.
Thank you thank you. I'm glad more and more people are saying this instead.

Yes you can apply for visitor visa, it is a bit difficult to be approved since you are married, however just submit as much documents as you can, provide as much family ties, finances, travel history, etc as you can to strengthen your chances of approval.
 

CanUkrz

Star Member
Dec 11, 2014
54
0
Category........
Visa Office......
Warsaw
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
07-01-2016
AOR Received.
08-03-2016
File Transfer...
08-03-2016
Med's Done....
01-09-2015
Passport Req..
19-05-2016
Sadly there is no guarantees. I've read success stories and failures.

My wife was researching lots, and because she is Russian, lots of people got rejected and she was not expecting a positive result but I encouraged her to try anyhow. My wife was able to get a seven year visitor visa with multi entry after we got married on the basis we would get a PR application started once she arrived. She was surprised to get the seven year visitor visa with multi-entry as we hoped for just a three month visa single entry.

I think it really depends on who is approving... A lot of profiling happens for many countries and it makes it very hard for the average person to get approved. The worst they can say is no, so just apply and provide a good letter as to the purpose of the visa.

I wish you the best!
 

screech339

VIP Member
Apr 2, 2013
7,887
552
Category........
Visa Office......
Vegreville
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
14-08-2012
AOR Received.
20-11-2012
Med's Done....
18-07-2012
Interview........
17-06-2013
LANDED..........
17-06-2013
CanUkrz said:
Sadly there is no guarantees. I've read success stories and failures.

My wife was researching lots, and because she is Russian, lots of people got rejected and she was not expecting a positive result but I encouraged her to try anyhow. My wife was able to get a seven year visitor visa with multi entry after we got married on the basis we would get a PR application started once she arrived. She was surprised to get the seven year visitor visa with multi-entry as we hoped for just a three month visa single entry.

I think it really depends on who is approving... A lot of profiling happens for many countries and it makes it very hard for the average person to get approved. The worst they can say is no, so just apply and provide a good letter as to the purpose of the visa.

I wish you the best!
Congrats on your wife getting a TRV. I am surprised that it is a 7 year visa. I thought TRV were 5 years max or when passport expires, whichever comes first.
 

CanUkrz

Star Member
Dec 11, 2014
54
0
Category........
Visa Office......
Warsaw
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
07-01-2016
AOR Received.
08-03-2016
File Transfer...
08-03-2016
Med's Done....
01-09-2015
Passport Req..
19-05-2016
Not sure on the rules for he visa, but her passport expires in 2022. Was an exciting moment for sure! Now I just gotta land her in July. I'm not sure on VISA types, but all I know is that the VISA Expires in 2022, and is a Multi-Entry.

Her VISA shows:

Issued by Moscow - Expires in 2022. Category V-1 (VISITOR) - No picture on the VISA.

Looked online:
A multiple entry visa allows visitors to come and go from Canada for six months at a time, without having to reapply each time. It can be valid for up to 10 years, or one month before your passport expires, whichever is earlier. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=417&top=16
 

samsho39

Full Member
Jun 13, 2015
47
1
Surrey, BC
App. Filed.......
11/20/2015
Doc's Request.
4/4/2016
AOR Received.
1/19/2016
Med's Done....
9/7/2015
Thanks everybody for your replies -- they were very helpful and now I'm considering applying for a visitor visa. Do you recommend applying online?

I hope I get my PR or any good news from the VO before this as many November applicants like myself are getting DM on their ECAS.

amipocha said:
I was thinking of doing that, I have been waiting about 8 months and I just got Passport request today. Which visa office do you belong to?
The Colombo Visa office -- they're very slow! I'm looking at the Sri Lanka forums and people all the way back from July 2015 haven't received any news yet.
 

screech339

VIP Member
Apr 2, 2013
7,887
552
Category........
Visa Office......
Vegreville
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
14-08-2012
AOR Received.
20-11-2012
Med's Done....
18-07-2012
Interview........
17-06-2013
LANDED..........
17-06-2013
CanUkrz said:
Not sure on the rules for he visa, but her passport expires in 2022. Was an exciting moment for sure! Now I just gotta land her in July. I'm not sure on VISA types, but all I know is that the VISA Expires in 2022, and is a Multi-Entry.

Her VISA shows:

Issued by Moscow - Expires in 2022. Category V-1 (VISITOR) - No picture on the VISA.

Looked online:
A multiple entry visa allows visitors to come and go from Canada for six months at a time, without having to reapply each time. It can be valid for up to 10 years, or one month before your passport expires, whichever is earlier. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=417&top=16
Thanks for letting me know about the visa length. I see that it is 10 years now. Not sure when that got changed. Anyhow, congrats on getting TRV visa.
 

aliaix

Star Member
Sep 8, 2015
64
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Bucharest,RO
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
17-12-2015
AOR Received.
09-02-2016
File Transfer...
19-02-2016
Med's Request
extended
Med's Done....
12-06-2015
Passport Req..
18-07-2016
VISA ISSUED...
25-07-2016
LANDED..........
03-08-2016
Hello,
I am form Romania and I have applied for PR via Outland Spouse Sponsorship (Common-Law) in Dec. 2015. I had a Visitor Visa for 3 years (2013-2016) and been to Canada 5 times and never overstaid my status. My last visit I stayed in Canada for 1 year (6 months, and extended for another 6 months). My passport has expired June 2016 and so did my Visa. I would like to apply for a new Visa since I'm not sure how long the PR process is going to be.
I don't really have any ties to home country to show (no property, no job). I do have a 10 years USA Visa that is still valid and lots of travel history.
Besides that I have: form my partner - letter of invitation, SA ( sponsor approval), T4 form, letter of employment, bank statement, common-law declaration (IMM5409), copy of his passport, copy of his birth certificate (Canadian citizen by birth). My documents are: passport old and new, travel history, previous visas (Canada and USA), police clearance, letter of explanation, return flight tickets.
Do I have any chances of getting a new visa in this conditions?? I can register a car on my name. Would that carry any weight as for ties to Romania??
Whats your experience/opinion??
Thanks for replying! and good luck everyone!