Hello all,
There is less information available on the internet about how to apply Canadian Visitor visa for Indians via online way. Most of the information is about offline process through agents and visiting Visa Application centre(VAC) and submitting the documents.
I am just giving you a short outline about how to apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa.
Create an account on the below link:
Apply for Canadian Visa
Create account using GC key option.
There is a guide like which type of Visa you want to apply.
Based upon it, you have to answer a series of questionnaire. Please answer all question truthfully just like you fill DS160 form for USA B1/B2 visa.
Based upon answers, they will ask you to submit list of documents that are scanned and clear. Good news is there is no need to resize the documents as the size accepted is till 4 MB.
I had to submit following things:
1. Digitally filled Imm5257e form. Don't forget to generate scan code in this form.
2. My travel history. I scanned pages having Schengen visa and corresponding stamps.
3. Scanned passport.
4. Invitation letter sent by my uncle.
5. My scanned bank statement of 6 months.
6. Scanned digital photo.
7. Travel plan - a rough travel plan which coincided with dates mentioned in the invitation letter.
8. Digitally filled Imm5645 form where you need to provide information of your family members
9. Proof of relationship, I attached the scanned Canadian passport of my uncle.
As you can see in below pics, these are the documents I required to upload.
Pay the fees of 100 CAD online.
And then the long wait started. The official website showed 16 days processing required for Canadian visitor visa but for me, it took them around 21-25 working days. You can see the actual processing time.
Once you get request to submit passport, it should be done within 30 days. You have to visit the nearest VAC and pay some processing fees to VFS global. (IMHO, the VFS fees is a little bit high). No need to take appointments to visit the VAC.
Visitor visa get stamped only at two places in India. Bengaluru and Delhi. It took them four working days to stamp the passport. And lo, I got a visitor visa till the expiry date of my passport in 2020.
In cases on how you fill the questionnaire, the documents requested may change.
Pros:
1. It can be applied sitting at home.
2. No need to make puppy face and visit HR of your company asking for no objection certificate and holiday on company letter like Schengen visa.
3. No need to prebook air tickets and hotel. A simple travel plan helps.
Cons:
1. Processing times are huge.
As per the Government of Canada, Indians will have to give biometrics at VAC from 31st December 2018.
There is less information available on the internet about how to apply Canadian Visitor visa for Indians via online way. Most of the information is about offline process through agents and visiting Visa Application centre(VAC) and submitting the documents.
I am just giving you a short outline about how to apply for a Canadian Visitor Visa.
Create an account on the below link:
Apply for Canadian Visa
Create account using GC key option.
There is a guide like which type of Visa you want to apply.
Based upon it, you have to answer a series of questionnaire. Please answer all question truthfully just like you fill DS160 form for USA B1/B2 visa.
Based upon answers, they will ask you to submit list of documents that are scanned and clear. Good news is there is no need to resize the documents as the size accepted is till 4 MB.
I had to submit following things:
1. Digitally filled Imm5257e form. Don't forget to generate scan code in this form.
2. My travel history. I scanned pages having Schengen visa and corresponding stamps.
3. Scanned passport.
4. Invitation letter sent by my uncle.
5. My scanned bank statement of 6 months.
6. Scanned digital photo.
7. Travel plan - a rough travel plan which coincided with dates mentioned in the invitation letter.
8. Digitally filled Imm5645 form where you need to provide information of your family members
9. Proof of relationship, I attached the scanned Canadian passport of my uncle.
As you can see in below pics, these are the documents I required to upload.
Pay the fees of 100 CAD online.
And then the long wait started. The official website showed 16 days processing required for Canadian visitor visa but for me, it took them around 21-25 working days. You can see the actual processing time.
Once you get request to submit passport, it should be done within 30 days. You have to visit the nearest VAC and pay some processing fees to VFS global. (IMHO, the VFS fees is a little bit high). No need to take appointments to visit the VAC.
Visitor visa get stamped only at two places in India. Bengaluru and Delhi. It took them four working days to stamp the passport. And lo, I got a visitor visa till the expiry date of my passport in 2020.
In cases on how you fill the questionnaire, the documents requested may change.
Pros:
1. It can be applied sitting at home.
2. No need to make puppy face and visit HR of your company asking for no objection certificate and holiday on company letter like Schengen visa.
3. No need to prebook air tickets and hotel. A simple travel plan helps.
Cons:
As per the Government of Canada, Indians will have to give biometrics at VAC from 31st December 2018.
