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Who to write visitor visa invitation letter from?

Fizzybe

Star Member
Feb 23, 2019
123
41
Toronto, ON
Hi everyone,

I am a Canadian citizen married to my non-Canadian spouse who I am sponsoring inland. We are currently expecting our first baby at the end of July. Naturally, my husband's parents want to visit us for about two weeks during this time.

We need to write a letter of invitation, but my husband, who is their son, currently holds a work permit. I am a citizen but not their daughter per se. As direct family, it'll be their granddaughter who will have the Canadian citizen status.

My question is, who should the invitation come from? Myself, my husband, or both of us?

Also do we address the invite to them or to the Canada Visa Application Centre in their country of residence?

Thanks everyone :)
 

Bryanna

VIP Member
Sep 8, 2014
14,137
3,121
Hi everyone,

I am a Canadian citizen married to my non-Canadian spouse who I am sponsoring inland. We are currently expecting our first baby at the end of July. Naturally, my husband's parents want to visit us for about two weeks during this time.

We need to write a letter of invitation, but my husband, who is their son, currently holds a work permit. I am a citizen but not their daughter per se. As direct family, it'll be their granddaughter who will have the Canadian citizen status.

My question is, who should the invitation come from? Myself, my husband, or both of us?

Also do we address the invite to them or to the Canada Visa Application Centre in their country of residence?

Thanks everyone :)
It's not necessary for the invitation letter to be written by a citizen/PR.... nor by a 'direct' relative.

Your husband can invite them on his own (and include copies of his work permit, passport + bank statements, NOA, etc if he wishes). Or it can be a letter co-signed by both of you + supporting documents from both of you.

The letter must be addressed to the visa officer.... formal tone, not emotional.... point-format as far as possible instead of long sentences.

BTW stating you are pregnant/ need their help to take care of you or your baby/ including a doctor's note.... are huge no's because it equates to working illegally as visitors
 

Fizzybe

Star Member
Feb 23, 2019
123
41
Toronto, ON
It's not necessary for the invitation letter to be written by a citizen/PR.... nor by a 'direct' relative.

Your husband can invite them on his own (and include copies of his work permit, passport + bank statements, NOA, etc if he wishes). Or it can be a letter co-signed by both of you + supporting documents from both of you.

The letter must be addressed to the visa officer.... formal tone, not emotional.... point-format as far as possible instead of long sentences.

BTW stating you are pregnant/ need their help to take care of you or your baby/ including a doctor's note.... are huge no's because it equates to working illegally as visitors
Thanks for your response. Wouldn't it be helpful to provide evidence that I am pregnant and am expecting a baby at the end of July? I mean, they do want to see their granddaughter.
 

k.h.p.

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2019
8,810
2,249
Canada
Thanks for your response. Wouldn't it be helpful to provide evidence that I am pregnant and am expecting a baby at the end of July? I mean, they do want to see their granddaughter.
Seeing grandkids is one thing that makes sense on one level, but because so many people have come to Canada as visitors and ended up taking care of babies for their families - which is illegal work without a work permit - it is now a red flag. Canada more or less expects you to take your baby to see their grandparents.
 

Bryanna

VIP Member
Sep 8, 2014
14,137
3,121
Thanks for your response. Wouldn't it be helpful to provide evidence that I am pregnant and am expecting a baby at the end of July? I mean, they do want to see their granddaughter.
No, it would seem like they are visiting to take care of you/the baby or your daughter which is considered as working illegally.... and can result in visa refusals
 

Fizzybe

Star Member
Feb 23, 2019
123
41
Toronto, ON
Hey folks, I know this issue was resolved but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it. My mother and father in law really want to see us and really want to see their first newborn grandchild. They've been buying clothes and toys and making plans and are super excited. My husband is their first son who got married too. It's custom in our culture to have grandparents visit new parents - definitely not the other way around. I am very confused as to why the government would see this as working illegally, it just doesn't make sense to me. We're obviously not paying them to look after the baby or me, their stay is only for a couple of weeks, both of them are actually still in school in their country of residence, and this is purely a loving family relationship. Also, wouldn't I be hiding information if I say they're just coming to visit us and not the baby? Do you guys have any sources to confirm what you've told me, because I couldn't find anything online. Thanks a lot.
 

Immigration_guru

Champion Member
Apr 26, 2019
1,523
444
India
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
0601
Hey folks, I know this issue was resolved but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it. My mother and father in law really want to see us and really want to see their first newborn grandchild. They've been buying clothes and toys and making plans and are super excited. My husband is their first son who got married too. It's custom in our culture to have grandparents visit new parents - definitely not the other way around. I am very confused as to why the government would see this as working illegally, it just doesn't make sense to me. We're obviously not paying them to look after the baby or me, their stay is only for a couple of weeks, both of them are actually still in school in their country of residence, and this is purely a loving family relationship. Also, wouldn't I be hiding information if I say they're just coming to visit us and not the baby? Do you guys have any sources to confirm what you've told me, because I couldn't find anything online. Thanks a lot.
So basically how this will work it.
1. You send a letter to them but addressing it to IRCC that your husband's parents are visiting. Do not mention that they will be taking care of our kid. (That states that they are coming as a caretaker which is an illegal work).
2. You have to show the fund that you will be bearing all expenses.

These are the few things you have to take care off. and if you have already applied once and got the rejection, please apply your gcms notes before reapplying to understand the reason for the refusal.
For help order your notes
 

Bryanna

VIP Member
Sep 8, 2014
14,137
3,121
Hey folks, I know this issue was resolved but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it. My mother and father in law really want to see us and really want to see their first newborn grandchild. They've been buying clothes and toys and making plans and are super excited. My husband is their first son who got married too. It's custom in our culture to have grandparents visit new parents - definitely not the other way around. I am very confused as to why the government would see this as working illegally, it just doesn't make sense to me. We're obviously not paying them to look after the baby or me, their stay is only for a couple of weeks, both of them are actually still in school in their country of residence, and this is purely a loving family relationship. Also, wouldn't I be hiding information if I say they're just coming to visit us and not the baby? Do you guys have any sources to confirm what you've told me, because I couldn't find anything online. Thanks a lot.
Your parents need to prove they can afford every component of their visit. Your financial support is only supplementary.

The greater their financial dependence on you, the lesser their reasons to return to their home country.

Almost every culture in this world has this thing of grandparents wanting to meet their new grandchild/the new parents. Even if it is not a cultural thing, it is part of human bonding
 
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Bryanna

VIP Member
Sep 8, 2014
14,137
3,121
Hey folks, I know this issue was resolved but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it. My mother and father in law really want to see us and really want to see their first newborn grandchild. They've been buying clothes and toys and making plans and are super excited. My husband is their first son who got married too. It's custom in our culture to have grandparents visit new parents - definitely not the other way around. I am very confused as to why the government would see this as working illegally, it just doesn't make sense to me. We're obviously not paying them to look after the baby or me, their stay is only for a couple of weeks, both of them are actually still in school in their country of residence, and this is purely a loving family relationship. Also, wouldn't I be hiding information if I say they're just coming to visit us and not the baby? Do you guys have any sources to confirm what you've told me, because I couldn't find anything online. Thanks a lot.
You may want to search for refusal cases for the same reason. Not every aspect is explicitly stated by IRCC
 

Fizzybe

Star Member
Feb 23, 2019
123
41
Toronto, ON
Thanks everyone. How can we prove that they will have enough funds? Have them print out their bank statements? They're going to language school, so they are technically not employed, the government is offering them support (kind of like OSAP grants in Ontario).
 

Bryanna

VIP Member
Sep 8, 2014
14,137
3,121
Thanks everyone. How can we prove that they will have enough funds? Have them print out their bank statements? They're going to language school, so they are technically not employed, the government is offering them support (kind of like OSAP grants in Ontario).
Their bank statements, financial investments, rental income or income from other sources, etc.

How will the language school program help them? What kind or government support can they expect post-these language skills? They can include these evidence as some of the reasons to return home
 

Fizzybe

Star Member
Feb 23, 2019
123
41
Toronto, ON
Last year they moved to Germany, and they're registered with the Job Centre there. They are completing German language requirements to be able to find a job in their field. Their son and daughter are already in university since they finished the language requirements. They used to live there many years ago and the city councillor at the city in which they live knows them well actually. Perhaps the city councillor could also write a letter confirming their reliability and trustworthiness?
 

Bryanna

VIP Member
Sep 8, 2014
14,137
3,121
Last year they moved to Germany, and they're registered with the Job Centre there. They are completing German language requirements to be able to find a job in their field. Their son and daughter are already in university since they finished the language requirements. They used to live there many years ago and the city councillor at the city in which they live knows them well actually. Perhaps the city councillor could also write a letter confirming their reliability and trustworthiness?
How did they move to Germany? Are they refugees?

What's their current immigration status there?
 

Fizzybe

Star Member
Feb 23, 2019
123
41
Toronto, ON
How did they move to Germany? Are they refugees?

What's their current immigration status there?
Yes, they have been accepted with their refugee status. They were asylum seekers. They're already more familiar with Germany and German language/culture and have no interest in moving to Canada.