LETTERS OF INVITATION FOR A VISA

Every year, the world gets a little smaller. When Canada was initially settled, those who first arrived in this land of ours had no idea if they would ever see their cherished family back home again. Now that air travel has made it possible to span the globe in a matter of hours instead of months, families are reuniting at a faster pace than ever. If you have family abroad that you would like to come to Canada for a visit, it all starts with a Letter of Invitation.

Letter of Invitation
Visitors from some countries may need a Letter of Invitation to be considered for a visitor’s visa. With the exception of the parent and grandparent super visa, issuing an invitation DOES NOT mean that you are legally or financially responsible for your visitor upon their arrival. However, you must intend to keep any promises of assistance you make in the letter. This letter is a lot more detailed than your standard invite to a backyard barbeque, but the basic principles are the same. It must include personal information about you and about the person you are inviting to Canada.

In nearly all cases, the visa office will require that the Letter of Invitation be notarized by a Notary Public. The Letter of Invitation does not guarantee that your visitor will be granted a visa, but taking the time to complete it accurately and honestly will go a long way to ensure that the visa process isn’t hindered by missing information in the invitation.