Invitation Letter For Canadian Immigration Process Visitor Visa Parents Sponsorship
There are many different steps to the Canadian immigration process. It is important to understand these steps so that you can properly complete all requirements and increase your chances of a successful immigration application. A Letter of Invitation is one such step that can make or break your prospects for obtaining a visa. It is important to have the advice of an immigration lawyer if you are asked to provide this document. Call Nanda and Associates at (905) 405-0199. Our experienced Mississauga immigration lawyers have helped many foreign nationals obtain lawful immigration status in Canada. Our staff speaks fifteen different languages, including English, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bangla, Chinese, Telugu, and Tamil. We have the legal experience and language support to help you navigate the complicated immigration process.
What is a Letter of Invitation?
A Letter of Invitation is sometimes requested as part of the visitor visa application process. Not all visas require a letter of invitation. If the Immigration Division requests the letter, it must be provided by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Obtaining this letter does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa. Rather, it is one more piece of information that the visa officer will use to determine whether you are eligible to obtain a visa.
What a Letter of Invitation Includes
The Immigration Division requires a Letter of Invitation to include the following information about the person being invited into Canada:
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number
- Writer’s relationship to the invited person
- The purpose of the trip
- How long the person plans to stay in Canada
- Where the person will stay, and how he or she will pay for things, and
- When the person plans to leave Canada.
The writer must also include the following information about him- or herself:
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number in Canada
- Job title
- A photocopy of a document proving the writer’s Canadian status, such as:
- A Canadian birth certificate (if born in Canada)
- A Canadian citizenship card (if a naturalized citizen), or
- A copy of permanent residency card (if a permanent resident)
If the invited person is applying for a parent and grandparent super visa, the writer must also include:
- Details of the family, such as names and dates of birth of spouse and dependents
- Total number of people living in the household, including persons whose immigration sponsorship is still in effect
- A written and signed promise of financial support for the parents or grandparents for their entire stay in Canada, and
- Proof that the writer’s income meets or is above the low-income cut-off (LICO) for the total number of people, including the visiting parents or grandparents.
Do I Need a Letter of Invitation?
A Letter of Invitation is not always required for a visitor’s visa – especially if the visit to Canada will be short. In many cases, the applicant must file the application and wait to see if a Letter is requested by the Immigration Division. There are, however, certain cases when a Letter of Invitation is required. A parent or grandparent super visa is one. Business visitors are another.
According to the Immigration Division, Canadian companies must issue a Letter of Invitation when they are hosting business visitors from other countries. The letter must include the following information about the person being invited:
- Complete name
- Date of birth, if known
- The company represented and the person’s position
- The person’s address and telephone number (both work and home)
- Your company’s relationship to the invitee and your business history together
- Whether you know the visitor personally, and if you are related
- The purpose of the trip (if part of a longer-term project, please provide context)
- The length of time the person will be visiting your company in Canada
- Accommodation and living expenses that your company will cover and
- The date the person intends to leave Canada, if known.
It must also include basic information about the person and company extending the invitation. By working with an experienced immigration lawyer, you can write an effective Letter of Invitation that will improve the chances of your business visitor being issued a visa.
Experienced Mississauga immigration Lawyers for All Canadian Immigration Cases
As you can see, there are many steps toward obtaining lawful immigration status in Canada. There are also different provisions that apply in different cases. This is why it is so important to hire a knowledgeable immigration lawyer at the start of your case. The sooner an experienced lawyer is involved in your case, the better chances you will have of achieving a favourable outcome. Call (905) 405-0199 to schedule a consultation at Nanda and Associates.
