Invitation letter required for tourists?

[mamadiev]

I am not a U.S. citizen. This May I am finishing my master's degree in the U.S. I want to pursue PhD in Canada, so I am planning to visit the University of Alberta for one or two weeks with my family just to see my prospective school before I leave for my home country.

1. Am I required to provide support/invitation letter from the school, where I am going to during my stay in Canada?

2. Should I show air ticket itinerary to my home country in advance? How logical is this since I am not assured to get my visa?

3. In my case, will they issue a transit visa or an ordinary visitor visa?

Thank you all,
Mamadiev.

 

[Baloo]

I am not a U.S. citizen. This May I am finishing my master's degree in the U.S. I want to pursue PhD in Canada, so I am planning to visit the University of Alberta for one or two weeks with my family just to see my prospective school before I leave for my home country.

1. Am I required to provide support/invitation letter from the school, where I am going to during my stay in Canada?

2. Should I show air ticket itinerary to my home country in advance? How logical is this since I am not assured to get my visa?

3. In my case, will they issue a transit visa or an ordinary visitor visa?

Thank you all,
Mamadiev.

There seem to be two parts to this:
1) you want to visit.
2) you want to study.

Have you already arranged the study visa, do you have it now?

 

[mamadiev]

There seem to be two parts to this:
1) you want to visit.
2) you want to study.

Have you already arranged the study visa, do you have it now?

I did not apply to the university yet. I am just going to see my school. Does this sound not a good reason to apply to a visitor visa?

 

[Baloo]

I did not apply to the university yet. I am just going to see my school. Does this sound not a good reason to apply to a visitor visa?

When you apply for the visa your reasons should be the truth.

You do not have to show a return ticket when you apply for a visa to visit.

You need to follow the guidelines for visitors.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp

How long is the visit planned for?
What country are you a citizen of?

 

[mamadiev]

When you apply for the visa your reasons should be the truth.

You do not have to show a return ticket when you apply for a visa to visit.

You need to follow the guidelines for visitors.

How long is the visit planned for?
What country are you a citizen of?

Thank you, Baloo, for your responses.
I am a citizen of Uzbekistan, and I am in the U.S. with J-1 visa. My planned trip to Canada will be two or three weeks long. I am planning to leave for Uzbekistan right from Canada not returning back to the U.S.
So, won't I need to show a letter of invitation and return ticket in my visa application?
Another thing I want to add is I am not alone in this trip. Both I and my wife will apply to visitor visa. We also have a daughter to accompany us, who is a U.S. citizen.

 

[Baloo]

Thank you, Baloo, for your responses.
I am a citizen of Uzbekistan, and I am in the U.S. with J-1 visa. My planned trip to Canada will be two or three weeks long. I am planning to leave for Uzbekistan right from Canada not returning back to the U.S.
So, won't I need to show a letter of invitation and return ticket in my visa application?
Another thing I want to add is I am not alone in this trip. Both I and my wife will apply to visitor visa. We also have a daughter to accompany us, who is a U.S. citizen.

If you buy a set of tickets and are not granted the visa, it would be a problem.

If you have someone that can write a letter of invitation then that may help.
Do you have family in Canada?
I would certainly provide a full itinerary of the intended trip (including what you will do in Canada) and plenty of proof that you will leave Canada.

To be honest, with your whole family making the trip, you may have a hard time getting the visa. It may be OK, no doubt others will comment.
Canadian immigration need to be convinced that you will not try and stay.
What can you provide Canadian immigration as proof that you will return to Uzbekistan?

 

[mamadiev]

If you buy a set of tickets and are not granted the visa, it would be a problem.

If you have someone that can write a letter of invitation then that may help.
Do you have family in Canada?
I would certainly provide a full itinerary of the intended trip (including what you will do in Canada) and plenty of proof that you will leave Canada.

To be honest, with your whole family making the trip, you may have a hard time getting the visa. It may be OK, no doubt others will comment.
Canadian immigration need to be convinced that you will not try and stay.
What can you provide Canadian immigration as proof that you will return to Uzbekistan?

I don't have a family member in Canada. I also do not know any Canadian citizen who could issue invitation letter for me. The proof for me to return to Uzbekistan will be my itinerary. Can I get flight itinerary without paying in advance?

Well, it is interesting that developed nations like the U.S. and Canada strictly scrutinize the visa applications that come from the citizens of developing nations, and can even reject such applications without explanation even though all documents are ready and correct. Sometimes this seems a bit discriminating.

I did my master's degree in one of the top three public universities of the U.S. Would I exchange my prosperous future career to illegal living in Canada always fearing of being caught and deported? Once I provide everything that they require in the application package, I have every right to expect my visitor visa to be issued as any decent human being does.

Respects,
Mamadiev.

 

[Baloo]

I don't have a family member in Canada. I also do not know any Canadian citizen who could issue invitation letter for me. The proof for me to return to Uzbekistan will be my itinerary. Can I get flight itinerary without paying in advance?

You could, but it is not likely to help.

Well, it is interesting that developed nations like the U.S. and Canada strictly scrutinize the visa applications that come from the citizens of developing nations, and can even reject such applications without explanation even though all documents are ready and correct. Sometimes this seems a bit discriminating.

Some people agree with your view.

I did my master's degree in one of the top three public universities of the U.S. Would I exchange my prosperous future career to illegal living in Canada always fearing of being caught and deported? Once I provide everything that they require in the application package, I have every right to expect my visitor visa to be issued as any decent human being does.



There are people who do the strangest things, in the end, immigration make the choice no matter where we come from.

Actually, there are no "rights" to a visa.

All you can do is gather as much information as you can, then apply.

Good luck.