Easy Steps To Follow When Applying For A Canadian Visa
Canada is a beautiful country to live in. There are so many amazing things in the country that will interest you, from beautiful landscapes to outstanding infrastructures put in place to meet the needs of the people.
The country has a
stable economy with excellent healthcare and educational system that lure
millions of people from all over the world to it. Several immigration programs
have been put in place by the Canadian government to assist foreigners from
across the world with competent skills and qualifications to come into the
country.
Canada is renowned for
being very accommodating. Every year, the country welcomes thousands of people
who have immigrated to the country for one reason or the other. Places like
Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver are mostly occupied by immigrants. You will
find it very easy to get along in these areas.
The process of
immigrating to a foreign country can be a bit stressful, especially if you
don’t know your way around the process. Canada has a lot of immigration
programs to suit different people depending on your skills, qualifications, and
intent of going to the country. There are certain steps you need to follow to
avoid complications during your visa application. The below steps will guide
you to get your Canadian visa easily.
Steps To Get A Canadian Visa
- Identify Your Visa Type
The first steps to
getting your Canadian Visa are to understand the visa type that suits you and
to check if you are eligible. This can be done by visiting the IRCC website.
Also, you will need to know the relevant documents needed for the application,
the duration of the visa application, and possible fees to pay.
For more detailed guidelines always visit the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada’s(IRCC) website.
- Start Your Application
There are two basic
ways to follow when applying for a Canadian visa. You can go with the offline
method where you will need to download the visa application form, fill it out,
print it, and take it to the Visa Application Centre for submission or you can
simply go with the online application where you have to fill out the form and
submit it directly to IRCC website.
Ensure to provide all
the documents relevant to your category of application. In cases where any
needed document is not available, you will have to fill out a waiver form, sign
it, and attach it to your visa application form. For a more efficient
application process, carefully study the details of the form, read the privacy
policy, and fill out the consent form. This will hasten the application process.
- Schedule An Appointment
The next step after
you have applied for a visa is to book an appointment with a Visa Application
Centre to collect your biometric details. This usually involves taking your
fingerprints and a photo of your face.
A confirmation message
will be sent to your email once you have booked your appointment. This message
contains details regarding the date and venue of the appointment. Please study
every detail carefully for optimum results. Families or groups of persons who
have applied for Canadian Visas will have to book individual appointments with
the Visa Application Centre.
Note that if you are
not required to submit your biometrics, you do not need to book an appointment
with a Visa Application Centre. Just provide all the relevant documents as
listed on the IRCC website for your category, passport photographs, and the completed forms to the Visa Application Centre.
- Pay Necessary Fees
There are certain fees
to be paid when applying for a Canadian visa. Fees like visa application fees and
biometric fees are required.
You will have to pay
the visa application fee upon completion of your visa application. If you did
an offline application, you can pay the fees when you go for your scheduled
appointment with the Visa Application Centre.
Biometric fees are not
always required especially if you weren’t required to provide one by IRCC.
Again, you might be required to pay the Government of Canada Fee during your
application.
See Also: 9 Steps To Land Jobs In Canada
- Visit The Visa Application Centre
Make out time to visit the
Visa Application Centre, especially if you are yet to complete or submit your
visa application. Provide your biometrics if you have been required to do
so.
A tracking number will
be issued to you to monitor your application progress once you pay the Visa
Application Centre service charge. Please adhere to every instruction given to
you during your application.
- Track Your Application
The next step is to
monitor the progress of your visa application. An email will be sent regarding
the decision reached on your application which you can collect from the Visa
Application Centre. In cases where you can’t access your email easily, you can
enquire from the Visa Application Centre when visiting to proffer an
alternative to the situation.
- Collect Your Passport
Once a decision has been
reached regarding your visa application, you will be required to visit the Visa
Application Centre to pick up your documents. You can use the courier if it is
an available service in the Visa Application Centre.
The following will be
required from you before you can pick up your decision letter from the
Visa Application Centre.
- A
stamped copy of your passport’s biographic page
- Original
receipt of the Visa Application Centre service charge bearing your visa
tracking number
- A
verifiable government identification
You might also send someone to pick up your decision letter for you. Apart from the requirements stated above, the representative must provide a signed copy of the Visa Application Centre consent form bearing the name of the representative and relationship with the applicant.
Note: Endeavour to check the
validity of the visa issued to you. Make sure it corresponds with the proposed
date of your entry to Canada, the permitted number of entries, and the purpose
of the trip.
Read Also:
All You Need To Know About The Canadian Federal Skilled Workers Program
