Transit Visa in Toronto

[canadiangirl15]

Hi,
My fiance and I want to travel to Samana in the Dominican for 2 weeks. I'm a Canadian citizen and my fiance is Nigerian. I spoke with a travel agent who suggested that my fiance fly to Toronto first, and then travel together to the resort, as it was easier and cheaper. However, my fiance needs a transit visa while at the airport, which I assumed would not be difficult, but after reading some posts, I'm nervous.
We have best intentions of flying together to the resort, spend 12-13 nights together, and return to our own home and country. I was going to plan it so that we could spend the first night at a airport hotel, and fly out the next day, and stay the night again when we return from DR so he can rest before going back to Nigeria as it's a long flight back. We just want to spend time together and enjoy each other's company. We have known eachother for 2 years, and are in contact everyday. We traveled to Dubai last year for 2 weeks and had a wonderful vacation. I wanted our next vacation to be someplace different and to an all-inclusive so that we didn't have to worry about anything.
I understand in the visa application, they request flight schedule, hotel/resort information, itinerary, travel insurance, etc., but how can this be done without having to book it, and then paying a penalty fee, or lose money?
And what are the odds of him receiving a transit visa? There are other ways to get to DR from Nigeria, but it's double the cost and flight time, which I didn't want him to go through.
Thanks.

 

[k.h.p.]

If he intends to leave the airport's customs security area, he needs a tourist visa, not a transit visa, unfortunately. You may want to look into alternate routings or alternate vacation locations if you apply for a tourist visa and get denied.

If he applies for a transit visa with a proposed itinerary stopping over in Toronto, with less than 48 hours between flights, and without a visit to Canada at all, then he may be eligible for a transit visa. He can just submit a sample itinerary from airline websites. Some travel agents are able to do a temporary booking without payment that can be cancelled at any time.

I'm not entirely certain about a transit visa that may require a terminal change at Pearson - ie, if you flew into T1 and had to switch to T3. People who can transit Canada without a visa must have a visa to change terminals at Pearson.

 

[scylla]

Hi,
My fiance and I want to travel to Samana in the Dominican for 2 weeks. I'm a Canadian citizen and my fiance is Nigerian. I spoke with a travel agent who suggested that my fiance fly to Toronto first, and then travel together to the resort, as it was easier and cheaper. However, my fiance needs a transit visa while at the airport, which I assumed would not be difficult, but after reading some posts, I'm nervous.
We have best intentions of flying together to the resort, spend 12-13 nights together, and return to our own home and country. I was going to plan it so that we could spend the first night at a airport hotel, and fly out the next day, and stay the night again when we return from DR so he can rest before going back to Nigeria as it's a long flight back. We just want to spend time together and enjoy each other's company. We have known eachother for 2 years, and are in contact everyday. We traveled to Dubai last year for 2 weeks and had a wonderful vacation. I wanted our next vacation to be someplace different and to an all-inclusive so that we didn't have to worry about anything.
I understand in the visa application, they request flight schedule, hotel/resort information, itinerary, travel insurance, etc., but how can this be done without having to book it, and then paying a penalty fee, or lose money?
And what are the odds of him receiving a transit visa? There are other ways to get to DR from Nigeria, but it's double the cost and flight time, which I didn't want him to go through.
Thanks.

Whether he gets a transit visa or tourist visa will depend on the strength of his profile and whether he can show strong ties to his home country to prove he has no plans on remaining in Canada long term. Ties are things such as proof of employment, proof of property ownership and other assets, proof of sufficient saving to pay for the vacation. IRCC will also look to see if he has previous travel to countries requiring visas such as the UK, US, etc.

As said above, if he wants to leave the airport so that you can spend the night at an airport hotel, he needs a TRV (tourist visa).

 

[canadiangirl15]

If he intends to leave the airport's customs security area, he needs a tourist visa, not a transit visa, unfortunately. You may want to look into alternate routings or alternate vacation locations if you apply for a tourist visa and get denied.

I'm confused as what I looked up the information, it said that if it's less than 48 hours, he would need a transit visa. As an example, he would be arriving in Toronto on a Tuesday at 4pm, stay in the airport hotel without leaving the airport, and fly out at 7am the following day. And on the way back from DR, there is a flight arriving at 6:10pm in Toronto, we stay at the same airport hotel, and he departs the following morning at 10am. This is less than 48 hours, so why would he need a tourist visa? I assumed that as long as you are in the airport, then one would be safe with a transit visa, or is this not the case?

We will look at other vacation locations, but if he does get denied for a transit visa, will this be used against him in the future?

If he applies for a transit visa with a proposed itinerary stopping over in Toronto, with less than 48 hours between flights, and without a visit to Canada at all, then he may be eligible for a transit visa. He can just submit a sample itinerary from airline websites. Some travel agents are able to do a temporary booking without payment that can be cancelled at any time.

With regards to a proposed itinerary, do they want to know what one is doing everyday, because we were planning to stay at the resort for the two weeks. Or do they just want dates, times, name and address of resort, etc.?
With regards to a sample itinerary from the airline website, are you referring to the date, time, airline name and number, and cost? Would they not need to see that it is booked and paid for with our names on it?


I'm not entirely certain about a transit visa that may require a terminal change at Pearson - ie, if you flew into T1 and had to switch to T3. People who can transit Canada without a visa must have a visa to change terminals at Pearson.

It's confusing. I just assumed that one transit visa covered you while you are in the airport, even if it specifies the terminal on your visa. This seems easier.

Thank you.

 

[scylla]

It's confusing. I just assumed that one transit visa covered you while you are in the airport, even if it specifies the terminal on your visa. This seems easier.

Thank you.

If he's remaining in the actual airport and not leaving - then the transit visa will be OK - although he will need to have a multiple entry since he needs one on the way in and one on the way out.

The key question is whether he can demonstrate strong enough ties to be approved for the transit visa. That's the hard part.

 

[canadiangirl15]

Whether he gets a transit visa or tourist visa will depend on the strength of his profile and whether he can show strong ties to his home country to prove he has no plans on remaining in Canada long term. Ties are things such as proof of employment, proof of property ownership and other assets, proof of sufficient saving to pay for the vacation. IRCC will also look to see if he has previous travel to countries requiring visas such as the UK, US, etc.

As said above, if he wants to leave the airport so that you can spend the night at an airport hotel, he needs a TRV (tourist visa).

He does have employment (engineer), owns property, and has sufficient savings, but hasn't applied to US or UK before. He has been to Dubai several times, and other countries in Africa. He was considering traveling to the US for a vacation, but was concerned that if he got denied, it would affect his chances of visiting me here one day, so he didn't want to risk it. We also considered going to Europe, but realize that there are immigration problems in certain countries and assumed that his chances would be low. It's very frustrating and stressful especially since he's genuine, and not trying to take advantage of the system. This is why we are trying to spend more time together, but we are limited in the countries that we can visit without him being denied. I know that Nigerians are not favoured when applying for a visa, due to the mistakes and stupidity of others in the past, but not everyone is like this. I wish that they would give people a chance.
I also want to mention that he has dual citizenship with the Republic of Benin, but not sure if this will make a difference.

Thanks.

 

[scylla]

He does have employment (he's an engineer), owns property, and has sufficient savings, but hasn't applied to US or UK before. He has been to Dubai several times, and other countries in Africa. He was considering traveling to the US for a vacation, but was concerned that if he got denied, it would his chances of visiting me here one day, so didn't want to risk it. We also considered going to Europe, but realize that there are immigration problems in certain countries and assumed that his chances would be low. It's very frustrating and stressful especially since he's genuine and not trying to take advantage of the system. This is why we are trying to spend more time together, but it's so limited in the countries that we can visit without him being denied. I know that Nigerians are not favoured when applying for a visa, due to the mistakes and stupidity of others in the past, but not everyone is like this. I wish that they would give people a chance.

Thanks.

The honest truth is that it is a dice roll and none of us can tell you if he will be approved. There is a faily high rate of refusals for those from Nigeria due to visa abuses (as you've said). The fact he has a fiancee in Canada unfortunately won't work in his favour. I would certainly try to apply - but definitely do not book any part of your vacation until he has an approved visa.

 

[canadiangirl15]

If he's remaining in the actual airport and not leaving - then the transit visa will be OK - although he will need to have a multiple entry since he needs one on the way in and one on the way out.

Okay. Thank you.

The key question is whether he can demonstrate strong enough ties to be approved for the transit visa. That's the hard part.

I know. We're sincere in our intentions. We want to do everything right and by the book. We just want to enjoy a trip to an all-inclusive in DR, and then go back to our own countries. He has no intention of staying in Canada and I would never want him to, or encourage him to do anything that will affect our chances of being together in the future.

 

[canadiangirl15]

The honest truth is that it is a dice roll and none of us can tell you if he will be approved. There is a faily high rate of refusals for those from Nigeria due to visa abuses (as you've said). The fact he has a fiancee in Canada unfortunately won't work in his favour. I would certainly try to apply - but definitely do not book any part of your vacation until he has an approved visa.

Okay. I understand. Just to clarify, would he need to apply for a transit visa or tourist visa? I gave a sample above of what our itinerary would like look, with staying one night in the airport hotel before leaving for DR, I believe it's The Sheraton, and stay there one night at the end of our trip before he flies back home to Nigeria.

 

[21Goose]

Okay. I understand. Just to clarify, would he need to apply for a transit visa or tourist visa? I gave a sample above of what our itinerary would like look, with staying one night in the airport hotel before leaving for DR, I believe it's The Sheraton, and stay there one night at the end of our trip before he flies back home to Nigeria.

He'll need a visitor visa if he's staying overnight at a hotel.

 

[k.h.p.]

Okay. I understand. Just to clarify, would he need to apply for a transit visa or tourist visa? I gave a sample above of what our itinerary would like look, with staying one night in the airport hotel before leaving for DR, I believe it's The Sheraton, and stay there one night at the end of our trip before he flies back home to Nigeria.

Because you are leaving the sterile customs area of the airport he would require a tourist visa.

You can't leave the area behind the glass walls at Pearson as a transit visa holder.

 

[scylla]

You only need a transit visa.

IMO showing an itinerary where he says a night at the airport hotel will weaken the application and make it more likely that IRCC will be concerned he has plans on remaining longer.

 

[scylla]

He'll need a visitor visa if he's staying overnight at a hotel.

Not the Sheraton at Pearson. It's in the international terminal.

EDIT: My bad. Looks like you have to leave security. So a TRV is definitely required.

 

[k.h.p.]

Not the Sheraton at Pearson. It's in the international terminal.

EDIT: My bad. Looks like you have to leave security. So a TRV is definitely required.

There are no hotels in the customs secure area aside from CBSA holding cells. Those ones have poor TripAdvisor ratings.

 

[canadiangirl15]

There are no hotels in the customs secure area aside from CBSA holding cells. Those ones have poor TripAdvisor ratings.

I was planning for us to stay in the hotel, that is attached to the airport without leaving the airport, but I didn't realize that you would be required to stay in the customs area. So why is the transit visa valid for 48 hours, and where would this apply as most layovers are several hours or up to 12 hours at most?