"Visit a Friend" VS "Tourism"

[Nany.35]

Hello,

I am planning to apply for a visitor visa to Canada from UAE, I have a friend there who can provide me with an Invitation Letter. My friend is on a work visa there, and she can provide proof of her rental lease (Ending November 2023).

I am hesitating between whether I should go with a normal hotel booking and go for “Tourism” option, or to submit an invitation letter and go for “Visit a friend”.

The reason behind my hesitation is that I have been told that it might take longer time to study the visa request as they must do background check for the person inviting. Also, when I choose "Visit a friend" I am asked the question "Do you have proof of relationship?" which I obviously don't.

Please advise.

 

[andrews17]

I know people that have used the "tourism option" and then just attached a letter explaining that they were visiting a friend, along with an invitation letter from that friend.

I also know of someone else that used the "visit a friend" option and attached letter several pictures of them as "proof of relationship".

 

[Naturgrl]

Doesn’t matter but it will not take longer with a letter of invitation. IRCC doesn’t do a background check for the person in Canada. They will do a background check on you. If your friend’s work permit ends in November then no point in providing invitation as permit expires within 6 months.

 

[Nany.35]

I know people that have used the "tourism option" and then just attached a letter explaining that they were visiting a friend, along with an invitation letter from that friend.

I also know of someone else that used the "visit a friend" option and attached letter several pictures of them as "proof of relationship".

For this person that used the "tourism option", did they do the hotel booking then? So hotel booking + Letter explaining that they're visiting a friend ?

Did these two people both got their visas?

 

[Nany.35]

Doesn’t matter but it will not take longer with a letter of invitation. IRCC doesn’t do a background check for the person in Canada. They will do a background check on you. If your friend’s work permit ends in November then no point in providing invitation as permit expires within 6 months.

It is her current rental lease that will be ending in November 2023, she has a permanent employment contract.

 

[andrews17]

For this person that used the "tourism option", did they do the hotel booking then? So hotel booking + Letter explaining that they're visiting a friend ?

No, they both used letter of invitation and lease agreement.

Did these two people both got their visas?

Yes. It obviously depends on a lot of factors, but for these two cases they used the letter of invitation + lease agreement and both got approval. My point is that it doesn't matter which option they choose, the process is basically the same.