Visa Requirements for Entering Canada
Please review the information below carefully. Prior to applying for the visa you require in order to visit Canada, formally known as your temporary resident visa, you should request a letter of invitation from the ICCB 2010 Conference Management Coordinator, by emailing Mara Erickson at m.erickson@ualberta.ca.
Your letter of invitation should be emailed to you within a week of your request. The link for the visa application process appears at the end of this information.
Please note that you must register for the Congress and pay your registration fee prior to requesting the letter of invitation. Congress registration commences on-line on March 1st, 2010. Proof of payment is one of the requirements to apply for a visa. We discourage any illegal immigrants from using our congress to try to obtain a visa to enter Canada.
What travel documents will you require, as a delegate, in order to travel to Canada?
Depending on your citizenship, a temporary resident visa may be required, except for citizens of countries where an exemption has been granted. Visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp for a list of countries that do not require a visa to visit Canada. Please review these visa requirements. It is very important to apply for your visa as early as possible.
Even if you are a citizen of a country where you do not require a visa to visit Canada, you must still have a valid passport. All U.S. citizens are required to present a valid passport when entering or re-entering the United States.
If you are already in the United States on a visa, please ensure that you have a multiple-entry visa prior to travelling to Canada. Otherwise, they will not be able to return to the US without re-applying for a US visa
Please request a letter of invitation to the Congress from the ICCB 2010 Conference Management Coordinator by emailing Mara Erickson at m.erickson@ualberta.ca prior to applying for your visa. You should submit the letter of invitation along with your visa application.
How much does it cost to apply for a visa?
Each applicant for a temporary resident visa must pay a $75 non-refundable application processing fee for a single-entry visa.
How do you apply for a visa?
To find out how to apply for a temporary resident visa, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/index.asp. All applicants for a temporary resident visa must satisfy CIC that they are genuine visitors and that they will be participating in the event or meeting. The applicants must demonstrate that they:
- are in good health (in some cases, a medical exam may be required);
- do not have a criminal record;
- do not pose a threat to Canada's security;
- have a valid passport or travel document;
- have enough money to support themselves and their dependants while in Canada; and
- will leave Canada voluntarily at the end of their stay.
A visa officer makes decisions on a case-by-case basis, and the burden of proof lies with the applicant. While the majority of visa applications are accepted, CIC cannot guarantee that every applicant will receive a visa. Applicants may be required to attend an interview with a visa officer before a final decision is made.
How long will it take for a visa application to be processed?
You must review the visa requirements and apply early. To allow adequate time for processing, applications for temporary resident visas must be filed at a visa office abroad well in advance of the intended visit. In some instances, the visa office may not be in the applicant's country. A list of visa offices abroad can be found at
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp
How can you check the status of your visa application?
If you wish to find out the status of your temporary resident visa application, you may contact the nearest Canadian visa office: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp
You may also verify the status of an application on-line, by visiting
https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en
What if your application for a visa is refused?
The final decision to grant a visa lies with the visa officer. Once an application has been refused, we cannot overturn the officer's decision. If a visa application is refused, fees are not refunded, as they cover the administrative costs of processing the application.
Where do I find more information on the visa application process?
For information on the procedure for applying for a visa, a listing of exempt countries and other pertinent information, please go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp.
