Inviting Family Members Who are you inviting?

Inviting Family Members
Updated July 2013
Who are you inviting?
o
o
Dependent family members (example: spouse or
children)
Other family members (example: parents,
siblings) – who will not depend on you
financially.
Do you have enough money to support
them?
CIC guidelines for determining minimum financial
resources for one year are:
Student Living Expenses:
+expenses for the first dependent
+each additional dependant
+student’s tuition fees
Total
$10,000
$ 4,000
$ 3,000
+ ______
______
How long will they stay?
Dependent family members - If you are inviting your
spouse and/or children, you should consider the length
of time for their visit and provide proof of funds for their
entire stay.
Non-dependent family members - the length of the
stay should be clearly indicated, along with evidence of
the ties to their home country which would require them
to return at the end of the short visit.
Is a visa required?
If your family member is a citizen of a country or territory
which requires a visa to enter Canada, your family
member will submit an application for a temporary
resident visa (TRV) to the nearest Canadian visa office.
For list of countries and territories requiring a visa:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Is an Immigration Medical Examination
Required?
Depending upon which country your family member is
currently living in, how long they intend to stay here, and
whether or not they wish to work in an occupation in
which protection of public health is essential, an
Immigration Medical Examination may be required. See
the following web page for more information:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexa
ms-temp.asp
Does your family member wish to work or
study in Canada?
Work Permit – The spouse of a full-time international
student is eligible for an open work permit. The work
permit will be restricted from certain fields (health
services, child care, education) unless they had an
immigration medical examination. The work permit
application is normally submitted in Canada.
Study Permit – Your spouse can apply for this before or
after arrival (if admitted to a program of study). If your
child will attend school (grade 1 or higher) upon arrival to
Canada, a study permit application should be submitted
for the child prior to entry to Canada. Once in Canada, a
study permit is no longer required to attend primary or
secondary school (for dependent children of long-term
study permit and work permit holders). A study permit is
required for post-secondary studies.
Application Forms:
Temporary Resident Visa - Download the TRV
application forms, checklist and instruction guide from:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa
.asp
 Each family member (adults and children) must
complete the Application for Temporary
Resident Visa (IMM 5257)
 Family Information form (IMM 5645)
 Schedule 1—Application for Temporary
Resident Visa (IMM 5257—Schedule 1) The
principal applicant, his or her spouse or
common-law partner, if applicable, and all
dependent children aged 18 years or older listed
in the application for temporary residence must
complete their own copy of this form.
Preparing the Application
You and your family member should carefully review the
instructions on the website of the Canadian visa office at
which the application will be submitted. Procedures vary
among visa offices. To find the nearest visa office, see:
o
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/index.as
p#international.
Supporting Documents – to be included
with your family’s visa application:




Completed TRV document checklist (IMM 5484)
and all supporting documents listed on the
checklist
All supporting documents listed on the visa
office’s web site – some visa offices provide an
additional checklist
A letter of Invitation from you to your Family
Member(s), including the following information
about the person(s) being invited:
o Complete name and date of birth.
o The person’s address and telephone
number.
o Your relationship to the person being
invited.
o The purpose of the trip.
o How long the person you are inviting
intends to stay in Canada.
o Details on accommodation and living
expenses.
o The date the person you are inviting
intends to leave Canada.
Your letter must also include the following
information about yourself:
o Complete name and date of birth.
o Address, telephone number and email
address in Canada.
o A photocopy of a document proving your
status in Canada (your study permit or
work permit).
o A certificate of registration or letter from
your department – confirming your
current enrolment status at the
University of Alberta.
o A letter from your employer if you are
currently working under post-graduate
employment.
o
o
o
Proof of your income - letter
from your employer or graduate
department, including length of
your contract and your salary.
Bank statement (showing
detailed transactions on your
account for 6 months)
T-4 slip (Canadian tax slip
showing your total income for
the past year) – if applicable
Other financial resources
(example: letter from a family
member who is providing
financial support)

Proof of your family member’s own financial
resources (if applicable)

Evidence of your family member’s ties to their
home country
o Letter from current employer – indicating
the length of employment and approved
leave (if visit is short term) or the
probability that the employer would rehire the person upon their return from
Canada.
o Letter from past employers (if
applicable) – to demonstrate
employment history.
o Proof of ownership of property
o Evidence of travel history – if the
applicant has previously travelled
abroad and returned to the home
country.
See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/letter.asp for
more information about Letters of Invitation.
Note: Temporary resident applications made outside
Canada can now be completed online. To determine
your family member’s eligibility to complete their
application online use the assessment wizard found at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/cometocanada.asp
For more information visit:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.as
p?q=421&t=16
Check latest processing times online at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/temp.asp
Disclaimer
This tip sheet contains general information and is not intended to act as legal advice. If you have any questions about your situation
please contact a lawyer or registered immigration consultant, or refer to the below Government of Canada websites.
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this tip sheet, the requirements relating to students’
immigration status in Canada are complex and change frequently. Students are bound by the regulations created by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. We cannot accept responsibility for changes to these rules. Verification
 Proof contained
of your finances
youcan
arebe obtained through the following websites:
for any of the information
in this tip (if
sheet
inviting dependent
family members).
Citizenship and Immigration
Canada- http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-can.asp
Canada Border Services Agency- http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html