Collecting all needed information and documents is part of the Canada visitor visa application procedure. This most important document comes from your host in Canada. This invitation will play a huge role in your application process because it will serve as proof that you have a legitimate reason to visit Canada and that someone here in Canada will support your stay. If you are to visit Canada-for tourism, business, or to see friends and family, then it is very much important that your ITA contains the right information. And here are the six things your ITA for a Canada visitor visa must contain.
1. Your Host’s Personal Information
The most and critically important section of an ITA is the host’s personal information, the person inviting you to use a Canada visitor visa. This section should contain the following details about your host:
- Official full name
- Date of birth
- Citizenship if he or she is a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
- Canadian address
- Occupation and employer details (if applicable)
- Relationship to the applicant (you)
These are very essential because they form the basis of your legitimized invitation. The more detailed and accurate the information, the more plausible your application will be to immigration officers when reviewing your case. Take the necessary steps to ensure these details match those on your host’s identification or legal documents.
2. Contact Details of Your Host
In addition to private details, your ITA must also reflect details on how to contact your host including, their:
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Residential address
It will help the Canadian immigration authorities to cross verify your relationship and that your host is willing to host you during your stay. In addition, your host should remain reachable at all times throughout the entire visa application process since he or she will be contacted by immigration officers to verify details. At times, failure to have correct contact information may sometimes delay your application or deny it.
3. Immigration Status of Your Host
A person hosting you should be a citizen of Canada or an immigrant in Canada. The ITA needs to have indicated that about your host, immigration status in Canada. This is for the reason that the Canada visitor visa would only be issued in case the host has the appropriate legal standing to invite guests into the country.
Your host’s status should be the one to come out boldly in the ITA and supported with documents like:
- Canadian passport if you happen to be a Canadian citizen
- Permanent Resident (PR) card if you happen to be a permanent resident
This will make the person hosting you eligible to invite you for a visit to Canada, and this is one of the major reasons that require your visiting a whole lot.
4. Link Between Yourself and Host
Another important element that should feature in the ITA is your relation with the host. Do you know your host? Perhaps your host happens to be your family member, friend, or business associate? If yes, you should indicate this in the invitation letter.
For example, if the host is a parent, sibling, or another close relative, then the letter must mention their specific family relationship. However, in cases where the host is one of your friends, a business associate, or even an acquaintance, the letter must state how you come to know each other and for how long you have been related.
The immigration officer would probably check whether or not your relationship was genuine so that the visit was not a ruse. They might even ask for extra proof, like:
- Photos of you both together
- Letters between you and your host
- Birth certificates, among other documents that would prove your relationship
Having clear paperwork on your relationship helps to prove that your visit was valid and gives a more genuine look at your reason for traveling.
5. How Much Financial Responsibility
Your Host Will Take Care Of the Expenses of Your Visit Ensuring financial responsibility is a must for Canada visitor visa application. Ideally, the ITA needs to be informed in no uncertain terms about how much financial responsibility your host will accept toward supporting you during your visit to Canada and taking care of related expenses such as traveling, accommodation, food, and other costs arising during your visit.
The invitation letter must also point out the following:
- The number of days, weeks, or even months that you will be staying
- The expenses that your host will be accountable for
- The amount of money your host is ready to invest in the trip
You will then be asked to make your host show proof of sufficient funds, either by bank statements, pay slips, or other sources to show that he or she has enough money to cater for your stay. The ITA should also show whether you would cover costs incurred or your host completely sponsor your trip. This is so since they would be seeking to know whether you will not become a burden financially while staying within the country.
6. Your Planned Travel Activities & Destination
The last critical section your ITA should contain is a statement about the types of activities you will be undertaking in Canada, and the specific destinations you will visit during your stay within the country. This gives the immigration officer a clear idea of what the purpose of the visit will be and will help establish that the travel plans are valid.
Your ITA should state:
- Purpose of visit (business, leisure, family visit, etc.)
- Places you will visit (cities, provinces, or attractions)
- Activities planned (like sightseeing, attending particular events, or visiting your relatives)
Be as explicit as possible in this regard so that there is no room for miscommunication. If the visit is to meet with relatives, then highlight any major family get-to-gather or event scheduled during the stay. Therefore, if you’re traveling for tourist purposes, you can enumerate the attractions you are interested in visiting and the cities you would like to pass through. With this kind of list, you will be able to credibly set up a clear and valid reason for visiting Canada, which happens to be one of the big factors for approval in visa applications.
Locking Up A Canada Visitor Visa requires a great deal of process. However, if you make sure your ITA has correct information, then it is guaranteed to reduce the chance of refusal. The six essential elements of your ITA are: providing your host’s personal and contact information, confirming their immigration status, explaining your relationship with your host, outlining the financial support your host will provide, and detailing your intended activities and locations in the visit. Addressing these would be able to give a more comprehensive invitation for supporting your visa application and be able to explain why you are visiting Canada for a legitimate temporary stay.
