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VISITING CANADA
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Office of International Programs Homepage For International Students and Scholars:
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If you plan to travel to Canada , first make sure that your United States immigration documents are in order: • a valid passport together with any previous passport if it contains your U.S. student visa • I-94 card (usually stapled to your passport) • a valid I-20 or DS-2019 with a recent signature from OIP, or I-797 Form In addition, you must provide the followings with your Canadian via application form: • application fee • proof of your present immigration status in the U.S. (you may obtain a letter verifying your status from the Office of International Programs); • two recent passport-size photos; • proof of financial resources to support your stay and to enable you to return home (i.e., bank statement, pay stubs, proof of employment or proof of travelers' checks). Please note that the Canadian consulate may require you to provide more documents. IMPORTANT: If your F-1, J-1, or H-1B visa stamp expires while you are in the U.S., but maintain valid nonimmigrant status, you can re-enter the U.S. using your existing visa stamp if you travel to Canada solely for less than 30 days. The existing visa stamp, in this case, is considered to be “extended” to allow re-entry. However, if you choose to apply for a new U.S. visa anyway, you will not be eligible for the “automatic revalidation” benefit. Instead, you have to wait until the new visa is granted in order to re-enter the U.S. Below is some basic information about visiting Canada . For updated and specific information as well as the via application form and fee, please visit the Canadian Consulate General's web site at http:// www.can-am.gc.ca/new_york/ What is a temporary resident visa? A temporary resident visa is an official document issued by a visa office abroad that is placed in your passport to show that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (either as a visitor, student, or worker). A valid temporary resident visa is not a guarantee of entry into Canada ; an officer at the port of entry will decide if you still meet the requirements for admission when you arrive. If there has been a change in circumstances between the date of your application and your arrival in Canada or if subsequent information is given which was not originally available to the visa office, you may be refused entry. A visa may be for a single entry, for multiple entries, or for transit purposes. A single entry visa allows you to enter Canada only once. This visa may also be used for repeated entries into Canada from the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon provided you do not enter another country. Such entries must occur within the time validated for your stay in Canada (e.g., You may be given six months from the date you enter Canada at the Port of Entry). A multiple entry visa allows you to enter Canada from any country multiple times during the validity of the visa. A transit visa is required for travel through Canada to another country by those persons who need a temporary resident visa and whose flight will stop in Canada for less than 48 hours. To obtain a transit visa you must provide specific evidence of your travel arrangements from your transportation company or travel agent. To apply for a transit visa, you may be asked to show your travel tickets as part of the evidence of your travel arrangements. Do I need a temporary resident visa? Persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada may require a visa to enter Canada . The requirement for a visa also applies to temporary residents who are in transit through Canada . Applications should be made at least one month before your intended departure date . If you are mailing your application, allow up to eight weeks for it to be received as mail services can vary.What requirements must I meet for a temporary resident visa? You must show the officer that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations and that you will be in Canada for a temporary stay. You must:• satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada ; • show that you have enough money to maintain yourself and your family members in Canada and to return home; • not intend to work or study in Canada unless authorized to do so; • be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity (you may be asked to provide a Police Clearance Certificate); • not be a risk to the security of Canada ; • produce any additional documents requested by the officer to establish your admissibility; • be in good health (complete a medical examination, if required). Note: Citizens and residents of certain countries require additional formalities which could add three weeks or more to the normal processing period. The visa office will advise you further if such requirements apply to you. For more information, please contact: CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL Immigration Section, 1251 Avenue of the Americas , Concourse Level New York , NY 10020-1175 Phone: (212) 596-1739 Fax: (212) 596-1725 Homepage: http:// www.can-am.gc.ca/new_york/
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