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Written Authorization (IMM 0006) If You Haven't Applied For Visa (TRV) Yet

OnlyAHobo

Member
Oct 28, 2020
13
2
Hello,

We are looking into the process to apply for travel exemption for extended family member (exclusive dating relationship, Canada / Kenya) through IMM 0006. At the same time, we are also working through the Visitor Visa (TRV) application process. We are aware that you would not submit IMM 0006 without having your visa application submitted, but would now also submit these two in tandem, and have a few questions regarding both Written Authorization process and IMM 0006, and hoping for some advice:


1. Regarding Written Authorization, according to this section of the website, it states only:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/immediate-family.html#authorization

"If you need a visitor visa but haven’t applied for one yet
Follow the instructions for How to apply for a visitor visa. We’ll assess your reasons for travel and make a decision on your visitor visa and your written authorization at the same time. Remember to submit evidence to show you’re eligible to travel at this time."


However, it is not clear to us under this scenario how to actually request the written authorization. All other scenarios are quite clear on the request process except this one, i.e.:

  • If instead you already have a valid visitor visa or have an application in progress, you would follow the instructions for what to do if you've already applied for a visitor visa:

And send your request to this email address: IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
Including all the requested information, after which they'll contact you within 14 business days.​
  • If instead you have an eTA or need one to travel, you would contact IRCC through their Web Form:

And follow the steps outlined on their How to apply for a new eTA page:​


So in our scenario, we're not sure if it is supposed to be done through email, or through the Web Form, or some other way, such as through the IRCC account when submitting your visitor visa application (though we could find no such place to do this when looking through the IRCC account). Furthermore, if following the link within "If you need a visitor visa but haven’t applied for one yet" for "How to apply for a visitor visa" it mentions:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#new

"Step 5: Wait for a decision on your application
You’ll get one of the following:
- an email confirming if your application is approved or refused
- a letter asking for more information, so we can make a decision
This will be sent to your IRCC Secure Account. If your application is approved, we tell you the next steps in the process."


Unless this is specifically referring to the decision of your visa application (possibly), this is different from the other scenarios, which mention (in the case of emailing) "We’ll contact you within 14 business days of getting your complete request", as it's saying it will be sent to your IRCC Secure Account. Steps 2 and 3 further up are talking about IMM 0006, and because the two processes are now intertwined, it is confusing.

Though unsure, we suspect the answer is that you would submit the visa application as normal through IRCC Secure Account, then either:
  • Use the email method and reference your application etc., as you would then technically fall under the "If you have a valid visitor visa or an application in progress" scenario.
  • Use the Web Form method but instead of selecting the eTA option, select "Temporary Residence (applied online) - Visa"

2. On the website page for IMM 0006, How to apply for a visitor visa:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#new

Step 2 is also confusing, and would like to clarify since it seems to be quite specific in what it wants:

Step 2: Fill out the form
When answering the question on the application form about the purpose of travel, enter the following information exactly as written to make sure your application is prioritized:
- For question 1 a) purpose of travel, choose “other” from the drop-down menu.
- For question 1 b) description field, write “COVID-19” exactly like this (you must use capital letters).

On IMM 0006, under Section 2 - Personal Information (Foreign National / Extended Family Member), at the bottom there is a field for "Purpose of travel". Is this where you're supposed to put "COVID-19"? Because there is no drop-down for "Other" here.

If it is instead referring to IMM 5257 Application For Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa), under the section Details Of Visit To Canada, there is Question 1 "a) Purpose of my visit" (not quite "purpose of travel", but close), where you can select "Other", as well as "b) Other" for a description field where "COVID-19" could go.

Or does "COVID-19" go on both forms?


3. This one is minor, but also on IMM 0006, under Section 2 - Personal Information (Foreign National / Extended Family Member), at the bottom there is another field "Telephone number". But since this is in the "Address While In Canada" section, does it want the current number of the Foreign National, or the number related to the Address While In Canada?

To us the intent of this reads as "where will you be and how can we contact you while in Canada", but since many people would change their SIM when visiting another country, their number would change, so we're thinking it's actually asking for the number related to the Address While in Canada. Although that could still be the Foreign National's number depending, I guess the question is more about the intent of the field, as we're inclined to just put the same number as the Canadian Citizen's number (mine), as the addresses are the same in our scenario.


Appreciate any thoughts, or feedback from those who have already gone through this.
Thanks!
 
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aliasgirl

Member
Feb 28, 2021
18
5
Hi there,

No, we haven't submitted anything yet. Long ways to go in filling out the applications. Still hoping for some feedback.

Thanks.
Hi, i found your post today. I had the exact same questions and situation. My bf visa Did you figure out what the answer is? Do we need to send the e-mail after TRV approval or will decision on both come at same time? So confusing.
 
Nov 2, 2020
2
0
Hi there,

No, we haven't submitted anything yet. Long ways to go in filling out the applications. Still hoping for some feedback.

Thanks.
You need to submit both the applications in tandem...the decision will come more or less together...I got the Authorization letter first and then my TRV got approved...in many cases the TRV got approved and then the Authorization letter was given...it took me around 30 days to get approval...hope this helps
 

aliasgirl

Member
Feb 28, 2021
18
5
Thank you so much fir responding. His trv just got approved friday, but no sign of authorization letter. Sounds like we should just wait and the letter will arrive in the online portal? When i say we applied in tandem, we followed instructions you outlined above, and submitted the notorized form under Proof of Relationship.
 

aliasgirl

Member
Feb 28, 2021
18
5
Just to clarify when you say in tandem, do it all via online portal ( which is what we did), or submit TRv via portal and send email request for authorization separate? Right now, we are waiting for the authorization letter hoping it will come at some point, and not sure whether we should send the e-mail request.
 

3YrsLeftOnPR

Full Member
Aug 12, 2020
46
9
Hi All,

I am a Permanent Resident and in the process of inviting my Extended Family Members (Siblings) and need information for below;

Q1) Whether the IMM0006 form needs to be secured first even before my siblings apply for a Visitor Visa application online?
Q2) Else they are independent and can apply Online Visitors Application and later submit the IMM0006 form?

Thank you.
 

3YrsLeftOnPR

Full Member
Aug 12, 2020
46
9
Thank you so much fir responding. His trv just got approved friday, but no sign of authorization letter. Sounds like we should just wait and the letter will arrive in the online portal? When i say we applied in tandem, we followed instructions you outlined above, and submitted the notorized form under Proof of Relationship.
Hi! When was the TRV application submitted and when did it get approved? Also where and when did you submit/ upload the IMM0006 form? Is this authorization form a pre-requisite to submit the TRV application?
 

aliasgirl

Member
Feb 28, 2021
18
5
you can still apply for a TRV only and it will follow a regular process regardless of the form. However, if you do manage to get it approved in a reasonable amount of time, you will still need the authorization to travel right now. So these are two separate processes, they don't effect each other, but you def need a visa to travel and you can't travel right now without getting the letter approved. Since its a new process that only started in oct/nov 2020 its still confusing as you can see from above. Approval dates depend on your situation and country from where you are applying so that wont help as we are all applying from a diff place amd have diff situations. You def need the form notorized. You can apply for visa first wait to see what happens and if you get approved get form notorized and send the email for permission to travel. We did both at the same time and uploaded the form under Proof of relationship in the application. I don't know which way is better as people are doing diff things. Best you gather everything you need and submit at the same time. I myself am still waiting to see if an authorization comes, even though i submitted the form in application.
 
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tausifgilani

Newbie
Feb 25, 2020
6
1
you can still apply for a TRV only and it will follow a regular process regardless of the form. However, if you do manage to get it approved in a reasonable amount of time, you will still need the authorization to travel right now. So these are two separate processes, they don't effect each other, but you def need a visa to travel and you can't travel right now without getting the letter approved. Since its a new process that only started in oct/nov 2020 its still confusing as you can see from above. Approval dates depend on your situation and country from where you are applying so that wont help as we are all applying from a diff place amd have diff situations. You def need the form notorized. You can apply for visa first wait to see what happens and if you get approved get form notorized and send the email for permission to travel. We did both at the same time and uploaded the form under Proof of relationship in the application. I don't know which way is better as people are doing diff things. Best you gather everything you need and submit at the same time. I myself am still waiting to see if an authorization comes, even though i submitted the form in application.
I have done the same procedure for my girlfriend. She is in India. We submitted the application along with IMM 0006 form (notarized). She got bio-metrics request letter the very next day of submission. She will go for bio-metrics in the coming week. How long did it take for you to get TRV approval? Have you received the authorization letter yet?
 

aliasgirl

Member
Feb 28, 2021
18
5
He received the TRV very quickly. Applied feb 8 biometrics done feb 16 approved feb 25, and passport request same day. visa was stamped march 5. We are now waiting for passport to return and wondering if authorization letter will arrive after. You should not be comparing timelines as each country is different with processing times. ours only had 34 days average processing for trv. We were lucky vsf office is open and processing time was fast.