Immigration Corner | What does this new visa change mean for me?

Dear Ms Powell,

Is it true that Canada will no longer issue 10-year visitor visas? I have a 10-year visa that expires next year, and I was planning to apply to renew it. What does this mean for me? Does that mean every time I want to travel to Canada to visit my family I have to reapply even though I have had over 20 years of travelling to Canada and the USA without any trouble? I look forward to your response. Thank you.

KN

Dear KN,

On November 6, 2024, the Government of Canada announced that they have ended the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple entry visa. This means that the immigration officers now have more authority to decide whether to issue a single or multiple entry visa, and they have the discretion to decide the duration of the visa based on certain key factors.

Since you have a considerable history of complying with the visa requirements of Canada and the USA, then your biggest challenge would be to provide the required documents to demonstrate that you can continue to satisfy the requirements so that an immigration officer will be motivated to grant you the maximum possible time for a multiple entry visa.

CRITERIA FOR VISA

The visa officer will now have the authority to review the application to ensure that you are eligible for a multiple entry visa. The officers will now review the validity of the passport and the validity of your biometrics. Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not issue a visa longer than 10 years from the last date that biometrics were given or beyond the validity of your passport. Therefore, even if your biometrics are valid at the time of reapplying, you may want to pay for new biometrics to be done if you want your visa for a longer time.

Purpose of visit: You are required to clearly state the purpose of your visit to Canada. If you are visiting family or friends, you should ensure that you provide a notarised letter of invitation from your family member or friend. Similarly, individuals who are planning to visit for sightseeing, attending a conference or a business meeting should provide a detailed itinerary, hotel reservation, or proof of planned activities.

Proof of financial stability: You must demonstrate that you are able to afford the cost of flight, accommodations, travel expenses, and at the same time continue to handle your own personal expenses in your home country. That means that you will need to show that you will not become bankrupt after taking the trip. To demonstrate financial stability, you will need to provide a letter from your bank outlining your savings, investments, and your bank statements for the past six months.

Ties to your home country: One of the key ways to show financial stability and ties to your home country is by providing proof of employment. This can be in the form of a letter from your employer outlining your position, length of service, salary, and the vacation time. If you are self-employed, you should provide proof of viable business with evidence of your business registration, tax returns, letters of recommendation, contracts, and other business records.

If you own residential or commercial properties, then you should provide a copy of the title or other proof of common-law title. If you own other significant assets such as a motor vehicle, heavy duty equipment, then you should provide proof of ownership.

You should also demonstrate social ties to your home country by providing evidence of the family members that are dependent on you. You may provide documents such as a marriage certificate, a birth certificate, an adoption or guardianship order. If you serve as an executive of an organisation or significant group, you may also include this information.

Travel history: Your travel history is one of the most important factors that will be evaluated. IRCC will need to see evidence that you have previously travelled to other countries with similar immigration policies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, or Europe and that you complied with their immigration rules and have not stayed in those countries longer than the time authorised to stay.

Medical and criminal admissibility: You must be admissible to Canada. That means that you must be healthy and have a clean criminal record. This means that you may be required to undergo a medical examination, especially if you are travelling from a country with health risks. You may need to provide a police clearance certificate from your home country or from a country in which you have spent more than six months.

Finally, you are required to accurately complete the required application forms, provide photos to specification, the required f, and a valid passport. Applying for a multiple entry visitor visa to Canada requires thorough preparation and documentation. If you require further assistance, I recommend that you contact a Canadian immigration lawyer to assist you.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator and notary public in Canada. Send your questions or comments via WhatsApp or Tel: 613.695.8777. You may request a Zoom/telephone consultation via Facebook or Instagram.