The Basic of TRVs and Invitattion Letters
Visitors to Canada from certain countries require what is known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in order to enter Canada as a visitor. Usually a person applying for a TRV to visit Canada will be asked by the Canadian government to provide a letter of invitation from someone in Canada. Some visa offices may also require the notarization of the invitation letter by a Notary Public. The TRV invitation letter should contain truthful information and should be written in good faith.
The person providing the invitation letter should write their letters keeping in mind that in order to qualify for a TRV the visitor must demonstrate that they have the capacity and willingness to leave Canada at the end of the authorized temporary period. The visitor must successfully show that the ties to their home country are strong enough to ensure that they are motivated to return home after their visit to Canada.
For a complete list of countries whose citizens require a TRV to enter Canada, visit the Citizen and Immigration Canada website located here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp. Citizens from the Philippines require a TRV to enter Canada and information specific to Filipino applicants can be found on the Canadian Government website here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/philippines/visas/index.aspx?lang=eng and as well Filipino specific TRV information can be found here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/philippines/visas/visiting-visiter.aspx?lang=eng
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/philippines/assets/pdfs/temporary-visa-en.pdf
The second part of this article will explain in detail the required information needed in an invitation letter.
TRV Invitation Letter Contents
This section of the article describes the specific information needed in a TRV invitation letter.
The TRV letter of invitation should include the following information about the visitor:
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number
- The inviter’s relationship to the person being invited
- The purpose of the trip
- The intended duration of the visitor’s stay
- The visitor’s accommodation and living expense details
- The date the visitor intends to leave Canada
The TRV letter of invitation should include the following information about the inviter:
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number in Canada
- Occupation
- Whether the inviter is a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
- A photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada (eg. Canadian birth certificate, citizenship card, proof of permanent
resident status such as a copy of your PR card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing)
Beyond this, immigration officers are especially concerned with the purpose of the visitor’s trip to Canada, the visitor’s duration in Canada, the visitor’s ties to Canada and ties to their country of residence, whether the person can support himself/herself while in Canada and whether the visitor will be able to leave from Canada. TRV letters should address questions such as:
- What will the person be doing in Canada? Are their plans well thought out or frivolous?
- What is the duration of the visit and the time requested? Is the duration definitive or indeterminate?
- Considering the applicant’s situation in their home country and the purpose of the trip; is the time requested reasonable,
plausible, and practical?
- Is the visitor employed in their country of residence? If yes, at what salary and in what position? Has the visitor’s employer
approved a request for leave?
- What family does the visitor have in their country of residence and where were they at the time of this application?
- Does the visitor have financial obligations he/she is leaving behind? Does the visitor have financial means to support him/herself
while in Canada? Does the person have the financial ability to return to their country of residence such as an airplane ticket,
money or a statement of bank assets?
- Does the visitor have a valid passport or travel document? When does the passport or travel document expire? Will the visitor be
able to re-enter their country of residence or enter a third country?
It is extremely important to remember that the specific details about the visit are better than general statements and that the more proof of a visitor has of their plans to return to their country of origin the better. Filipinos intending to visit their relatives in Canada should provide a letter of invitation from their relative in Canada while business visit applicants should provide a letter of invitation from the company they are visiting. Filipino specific TRV and invitation letter information can be found here:
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/philippines/visas/visiting-visiter.aspx?lang=eng
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/philippines/assets/pdfs/temporary-visa-en.pdf
