I hold a valid multiple-entry B1 visa for Canada, which I have used in the past for business related travel. I am planning a tourist visit to the United States soon, and would like to transit via a Canadian airport on my way back. Would I need to obtain a separate transit visa for this purpose, or can I use my currently valid B1 visa to transit Canada?
Canada visitor visa holder - do I also need a transit visa?
- Thread starter infraredgirl
- Start date
Thanks for your reply! Can you provide any sources for this answer? I tried searching online (including detailed search of the CIC webiste) but could not find anything.
I also emailed my local consulate and they replied that I do need a transit visa. The answer they provided was very generic ("yes you need a transit visa unless you are a visa-exempt national") so I wonder if they in fact read my question correctly. It just does not make much sense that I am allowed to visit Canada, but not to transit through it.
I suggest you email another visa office, preferably one in Asia (which processes higher volumes of TRVs and Transit Visas as compared to a Europe visa office). Do post the source of the answers that the visa office provides to you if the IRCC website does not have this information.
A multiple-entry TRV and a Transit visa are in a way similar to a US B1/B2 or a C1 visa
A multiple-entry TRV and a Transit visa are in a way similar to a US B1/B2 or a C1 visa
They (the consulate in Vienna) didn't provide any source, they just wrote that I do need a transit visa and provided links to apply. I'll try emailing another visa office, thanks for the suggestion!
Yeah, the CIC website does not offer any explicit instructions, but I agree with Bryanna. I was able to transit through the US on my B1/B2 visa, so Canada should operate similarly. A TRV should be able to supersede a transit visa. The language is also implied:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=420&top=16
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/types/three.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=420&top=16
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/types/three.asp