Query: visitor visa online application

[Tara]

Hello Friends,

I am applying for Canadian visitor visa from New York office. It seems that they have started online applications recently. I have applied visitor visa few times in past and all of them were paper applications. I have few questions about online process:

1. There is no field for specifying whether I am applying for single entry or multiple. Where to specify that I need to apply for multiple entry visa?
2. Can i put NA in "Name, address and relationship to any person/institution I will visit" in form IMM5257E? I am not visiting any person and not decided which hotel to stay.
3. Supporting Document about "Itinerary, Travel" is marked as required in checklist, I never sent this document in my earlier paper applications. I usually drive to Canada, What can be sent in this case?
4. Supporting Document about "purpose of Travel - Other" is also marked as required, What can be sent here? Again, I never sent this document in my earlier paper applications. As already mentioned, No confirmed travel plans.
5. How many extra supporting documents can we add?
6. Did they drop the price to 100 CAD? Last time for a multiple entry visa i had to pay i think about 150 CAD. If they slashed the prices its a first in visa fee world i believe

Thank You in advance.

 

[Jalex23]

1. There is no field for specifying whether I am applying for single entry or multiple. Where to specify that I need to apply for multiple entry visa?

You don't. CIC will evaluate your application and will automatically give you the one you qualify for.

2. Can i put NA in "Name, address and relationship to any person/institution I will visit" in form IMM5257E? I am not visiting any person and not decided which hotel to stay.

You can, or you can leave it in blank. Be aware that not giving these details weakens your application.

3. Supporting Document about "Itinerary, Travel" is marked as required in checklist, I never sent this document in my earlier paper applications. I usually drive to Canada, What can be sent in this case?

You have to give your Itinerary. Detailed information on what you are going to do while you are visiting.

4. Supporting Document about "purpose of Travel - Other" is also marked as required, What can be sent here? Again, I never sent this document in my earlier paper applications. As already mentioned, No confirmed travel plans.

Same as 3. You better get the plans sorted out in advance, at least a general idea (that can of course change). Not including anything weakens your application.

5. How many extra supporting documents can we add?

As many as you need to support your application. Be aware adding redundant documentation could be seen as suspicious (trying to hard) so send as much as you need, no more no less.

6. Did they drop the price to 100 CAD? Last time for a multiple entry visa i had to pay i think about 150 CAD. If they slashed the prices its a first in visa fee world i believe

Yes, relates to 1)

 

[Tara]

Thanks for the reply.

I never sent any travel plan, contact info or Itinerary details in my previous paper based applications, is this something newly introduced?

Can I just book a hotel and send the address of that hotel with confirmation email? Is this acceptable?

For itinerary, since i will be driving, Can I print the Google maps directions and send it along with hotel confirmation? Is it acceptable?

For planning, we usually go for short trips like 2-4 days, what do they want to see in the plan, like daily activity? Ex. First day driving into Canada, Second day visiting place x, third day etc etc.?

By supporting documents i meant i wanted to include cover letter as well, there was no option for a cover letter, and sometimes we need to attach additional cover letter with some particular required document to clarify things, like spouse is accompanying but not applying for visa because its visa free travel for spouse.

Also do you know why the processing time has increased to 7-8 weeks for offices in USA? Earlier it used to be max 2 weeks for postal applications as well.

Thank You for prompt reply once again and thanks in advance for next set of queries

You don't. CIC will evaluate your application and will automatically give you the one you qualify for.

You can, or you can leave it in blank. Be aware that not giving these details weakens your application.

You have to give your Itinerary. Detailed information on what you are going to do while you are visiting.

Same as 3. You better get the plans sorted out in advance, at least a general idea (that can of course change). Not including anything weakens your application.

As many as you need to support your application. Be aware adding redundant documentation could be seen as suspicious (trying to hard) so send as much as you need, no more no less.

Yes, relates to 1)

 

[Jalex23]

Thanks for the reply.

Read my signature.

I never sent any travel plan, contact info or Itinerary details in my previous paper based applications, is this something newly introduced?

Maybe... Is it important?

Can I just book a hotel and send the address of that hotel with confirmation email? Is this acceptable?

yes.

For itinerary, since i will be driving, Can I print the Google maps directions and send it along with hotel confirmation? Is it acceptable?

An itinerary doesn't include routes. An itinerary would say something like: "In Vancouver from Dec 1 - Dec 5".

Unless the route is important don't include it.

For planning, we usually go for short trips like 2-4 days, what do they want to see in the plan, like daily activity? Ex. First day driving into Canada, Second day visiting place x, third day etc etc.?

That's good.

By supporting documents i meant i wanted to include cover letter as well, there was no option for a cover letter, and sometimes we need to attach additional cover letter with some particular required document to clarify things, like spouse is accompanying but not applying for visa because its visa free travel for spouse.

Letter of explantion should hold all that.

Also do you know why the processing time has increased to 7-8 weeks for offices in USA? Earlier it used to be max 2 weeks for postal applications as well.

No idea about USA specifics.

 

[Tara]

Update: Got passport request, submitted passport.

Got passport request in one day.

also regarding Visa fee cut i was impressed about in my opening post, They now charge 36$ for VAC charge, for this third party company now handling visa applications. So all in all no change to the fees and you end up paying almost same. If they have started online application, they should make it truly online like Australia, issue electronic visa and link e-visa to passport number and no stamping should be required. Here, even if online application is done by self, still you need to send passport to VAC and pay them 36$ for nothing. You did all the work, and just to submit passport applicant have to pay this unnecessary fee.

other than that, processing was real quick in my case.