Visitor Visa for Parents -- requirement for flight tickets??

[merger]

Help please...

I am trying to apply for a visitor visa for my parents.. The online form generated an application checklist which includes the requirement below..

How did you guys deal with this??

Do I really need to purchase airline tickets now without a guarantee of a visa? I have read somewhere not to buy tickets without a visa but then CIC lists it as a supporting document for an application..

I don't think this will be required for a paper application...


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"You must submit proof that you are coming to Canada for a temporary visit.

Examples of what you can provide as proof:

A scanned copy of:

Your flight ticket departing Canada,
Your travel itinerary (e.g. places you will visit or stay, such as hotel booking),
Proof of a medical appointment."

 

[bellaluna]

It's a *suggestion*, not a requirement, for both the online and paper applications.

You don't HAVE to purchase plane tickets for your visa application, and you shouldn't. For one, even if you submit it, it's no guarantee the TRVs will be approved. On the flip side, you can purchase plane tickets for the visa application, as long as they are rebookable or refundable, in the event the TRV is rejected. Another way to get around it is to ask a travel agent to provide a reservation.

So, what can you do if you can't provide a plane ticket? Look at the second item: provide the daily travel itinerary of places you'll visit. You can write this yourself, and for free.