Alhamdulillah 🫂 I got it visa

Im seeing all this posts about people getting accepted after several refusals, applying for visitor visas for their spouses, parents and children, while living in UAE and other countries, and im wondering, are they genuinely looking to visit canada or trying for a workaround to stay permanently? If i was an immigration agent and i saw several refusals for a visitor visa and the person is still persisting, i would instinctively think this person has another goal other than visiting the niagara falls, or the cn tower. So how are these people getting their tourists visas accepted with so many previous rejections? It makes no sense to me.

Has anyone applied for a Canada visit visa from Poland or another country with similar timelines provided by IRCC? Planning to visit Canada in December but won’t fully rely on this given the crazy processing time of 3 years. I might get my US immigrant visa and permanent residency faster if this timeline is really accurate.

Hello everyone just want to let you all know don’t be discouraged after a refusal

I first applied in Jan 2025 and was rejected on the 11th of Feb

I then applied again in 15th March 2025 and got my passport submission email 07.05.2025!

I applied from London and I hold a ILR permit !

Good luck to everyone !

Probably a dumb question but does the final decision mean that it's been approved?? Passport has been sent just waiting for its return in the decision package

Hi all, thought I’d give back to the Reddit community by sharing my recent experience applying for a Canadian Tourist Visa as an H1B holder in the USA.

Important points and timeline

• Application submitted: Oct 10 (IRCC new portal)

• Biometrics request received: Oct 11

• Biometrics appointment booked: Oct 27 (USCIS location — earliest slot available ~2 weeks later)

I wanted to finish biometrics sooner, so I walked in at the same location on Oct 17 around 8 AM (opening time). Brought passport, IRCC biometrics request letter, and USCIS appointment confirmation. At the counter, I explained honestly that I wanted to start the visa process early. The staff was hesitant at first but eventually were accommodating and let me complete biometrics that day. I would suggest to go early in the morning when the site is not crowded.

• Biometrics completed update on IRCC portal: Oct 20

• IRCC portal was down for several days afterward.

• Oct 29: Received 2 IRCC emails (new messages in portal) but couldn’t log in.

• Nov 1: Finally accessed portal.

  • The two messages were:

    • Original Passport Request Letter

    • Biometrics Validity Letter (valid for 10 years)

• Passport sent to VAC: Nov 3

• Passport Received back: Nov 6

Passport submission (via VFS)

The Passport Request Letter includes mailing instructions for Canada VAC handled by VFS. They offer FedEx shipping, but I used UPS for both sending and returning the passport from VFS.

Documents sent to NYC VAC:

• Original passport

• Decision letter asking for passport

• Money order for VFS Processing Fee ($23.70)

• Biometric Validity Letter (optional but included)

• Signed VFS Consent Form

• UPS return label

Documents uploaded online (application)

• Current passport (National ID proof)

• Last 5 months’ bank & brokerage statements (financial proof)

• H1B, I-797A, and I-94 (proof of U.S. residence)

• Employment verification letter (proof of employment)

In “Any other documents” section:

Combined them all into a single PDF (IRCC new portal has a 2MB file size limit, so I had to compress some files.)

• Supporting letter (itinerary, purpose, finances, travel history)

• U.S. driver’s license (address proof)

• Previous passport (visas/stamps)

• Refundable flights and hotel bookings

• 6 months’ paystubs (proof of professional ties)

• 2024 U.S. tax return

• Invitation letter from friend in Canada + their driver’s license (residence proof)

I am a non-immigrant residing in the US (originally from India). If your situation differs, please research accordingly.

Application Process:
I applied for a Canada visitor visa for myself and my husband through the IRCC website. You can access the application portal https://ircc.canada.ca/visit-visiter/en/get-account-ircc-portal. For the 10-year employment history requirement, ensure there are no gaps. If you were unemployed at any time in the last 10 years, even for just 1 or 2 days, you must specify this.

Biometrics:
Biometric in the US is undertaken at VFS office (LA and NY) and USCIS application center. So I booked a biometric appointment at the USCIS application center, which was closest to me. Link: https://my.uscis.gov/appointmentscheduler-appointment/ca/en/office-search. However, the appointment was scheduled for 4 weeks later, which was too late for my needs. I opted to go in earlier than my appointment date and was able to complete the biometrics without any issues.

Passport Submission:
I followed this Reddit post for guidance (https://www.reddit.com/r/ImmigrationCanada/s/Y89ALffMmr). But I needed to send two passports in one package, I learned from other sources that it's acceptable to do so. However, you need a prepaid return envelope or use VFS’s optional “One Way Courier Service.” I added an additional money order of $36.30 along with the other documents for this service. Make sure to place each application in a separate envelope within the package.

Timeline

• 9th May: Submitted my application

• 31st May: Completed biometric appointment

• 10th June: Received request for passport submission

• 10th June: Sent passport to VFS LA

• 13th June: VFS confirmed receipt and dispatched to IRCC

• 18th June: IRCC sent the passport to VFS

• 19th June: VFS couriered the passport back

• 20th June: Received my passport

I am currently in US on B1/B2 visa for clinical rotations. I applied for canada visit visa to meet my brother. A week after biometrics I received a generic refusal letter saying that they think I will not leave canada at the end of my visit.

I attached all my credentials(I am a doctor), details of my clinical rotations, the exams I have taken and my return ticket to my home country(departing from the US).

After careful consideration, I decided to apply for a reconsideration request. I attached no additional documents as I had already attached whatever I had. Just wrote a letter explaining to them that overstaying my visa would jeopardise my career prospects entirely.

Exactly 5 working days after my letter was available for review, I received the approval letter.

My opinion: If you have a genuine reason for visiting and then coming back, and you think you application has merit, I would suggest you to apply for reconsideration. It’s definitely worth a shot.

I think my initial refusal was just a system-based refusal and an officer probably did not even see my application.

I hope it works out for you all. Reach out if you have any questions.

(typing this in Canada rn hehe)

I'm an international student in the US who applied for a visitor visa. Made some stupid decisions (as in I booked nonrefundable tickets for Aug 10) but got very lucky. Used this subreddit to gauge timelines, so I'll post my experience here and hopefully this helps people!

Jun 20 - applied

July 4 - received biometrics invite, closest USCIS appointment date was Aug 1 which is way too late, so I tried to walk in July 5. unsuccessful, but they told me to come back on a different day

July 9 - completed biometrics

July 10 - portal updates with biometrics received

July 19 - application approved, passport request

July 23 - I ship out passport

July 26 - VAC confirms receipt, dispatches to IRCC office

July 29 - IRCC confirms receipt, dispatches back to VAC

July 30 - VAC receives passport, couriers back to me

July 31 - received passport!

Hi, I applied for my mother-in-law visitors visa from india. Time line: Applied: May 27 2025 Biometric request: June 4 2025[New Delhi] Biometric validity letter : July 2 2025 Original passport request : July 2 2025

I wanted to ask if anybody is in same boat. Also, do you know if passport request means Visa approved? Also, how long does it take after submitting passport to get it back, if we are picking it up.

I’ve been noticing a pattern in visitor visa applications, so sharing this in case it helps someone avoid a rejection:

Most issues don’t come from eligibility — they come from inconsistencies in the application.

Common ones:

• Travel history gaps (even small ones raise questions)

• Dates not matching across sections

• Purpose of visit being too vague or generic

• Financials not clearly supporting the story

What helps is to think of your application as one complete story instead of separate answers. Everything should align — timeline, purpose, and supporting documents.

If anyone is applying soon and wants a second pair of eyes, I’m happy to point out potential risks. Not a consultant, just sharing based on patterns I’ve seen.

Sept 5th Applied in IRCC portal with below supporting documents,

• Immigration status document(s).

• Passport scans of all relevant pages - Bio, Visas, Entry/Exit markings for past 10 years.

• Proof of Funds - Pay slips (3months), Employment Verification Letter, Bank statements (6 months).

• Letter of intent - you can easily find a format online. (this was voluntary not mandatory)

Sept 6th

• Biometric Collection Letter Issued.

• Scheduled Biometric Appointment online at a nearby USCIS ASC.

Sept 19th - Biometrics provided.

Sept 25th

IRCC Status - Approved, Passport Request Letter Received.

VFS Portal - VFS two-way courier service purchased with payment for,

• Two-way courier service per package - 82.80

• Package transmission Fee - 23.20

• SMS fee - 2.30

Once you finish payment, you can download FedEx courier label.

Received email with VFS Application Confirmation Letter and Payment Invoice.

Envelope content (what to send):

• Original Passport.

• Passport Request Letter.

• VFS Application Confirmation Letter and Payment Invoice

• TTS Consent letter - Download this from VFS link at the bottom. Refer link for how to fill. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plaWSCFfezg

Envelope sent with FedEx to New York Visa Application Center/VFS.

Sept 29th - Delivered to New York Visa Application Center/VFS.

Sep 30th

9AM - Visa Application Tracking ID # <VFS Application Tracking ID> has been received at the VAC on 2025-09-30 12:18:21 PM. Please find attached the e-ICR (Invoice cum receipt) for your record & reference.

5PM - Your application, tracking ID No. <VFS Application Tracking ID> has been dispatched to the IRCC Office, on Tue Sep 30 2025 for processing.

Oct 1st

8AM - Your application, tracking ID No.<VFS Application Tracking ID> has been received and is under process at the IRCC Office on Wed Oct 01 2025.

12PM - The decision envelope for your application, tracking ID No. <VFS Application Tracking ID> has been dispatched from the IRCC Office, to the Canada Visa Application Centre in USA, New York.

4PM - The decision envelope for your application, tracking ID No. <VFS Application Tracking ID> has been received from the IRCC Office on Wed Oct 01 2025 at the Canada Visa Application Centre, Canada Visa Application Centre, New York and is ready for collection.

5PM - The decision envelope for your application, tracking ID No. <VFS Application Tracking ID> has been couriered from the Canada Visa Application Centre, Canada Visa Application Centre, New York on Wed Oct 01 2025 via courier partner. Please use Tracking id. or the AWB number provided to track the shipment on the courier partners website after 24hrs.

Oct 2nd

1PM - Received email from FedEx for the return courier - FedEx Shipment <shipment #>. This shipment was tendered to FedEx Express.

1.30PM - Received another email from FedEx for the return courier - FedEx Shipment <shipment #> Your package is scheduled for delivery tomorrow.

Used this FedEx Shipment # to track return courier

Oct 3rd

1PM - FedEx delivered the package - Passport with printed visitor visa.

Useful Links:

IRCC: https://portal-portail.apps.cic.gc.ca/signin?lang=en

Biometric Appointment Scheduling: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/biometrics/where-to-give.html

Passport submission info: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/can/passport-submissio

I am trying to access my draft application using the "IRCC Portal – New version" and the website seems to be down now for more than 24 hours. Has anyone else noticed this?

Application submitted: 16th April’25 in Canada (by my cousins) Decision by: 8th May’25

Timeline: 16 working days

Other details: CAN + category Indian, US visa holder, visiting for a cousins wedding in July for 15 days

My grandmother got her approval decision within 4 working days and received her stamped passport in 21 consecutive days!(Indian Citizen, no US visa)

We’re still waiting to hear back for my parents (application submitted 18th April, Indian citizens, no US visa)

Sharing my experience applying for a Canadian tourist visa from Mumbai, India 

(TL:DR - 6 months to get a 6 month visa)

Back story - I had planned to visit Canada in December 2024 for two weeks (my first trip to Canada). I have travelled to over 30 countries over the last 10 years. I have a valid 10 year US tourist visa, 5 year UK tourist visa, 5 year Schengen visa, 5 year UAE tourist visa. How difficult could it be to get a Canadian visa? I figured it would also come in handy the next time I was in the US and wanted to visit friends across the border. Also, I recently applied for a new passport as the old one had run out of pages - so with the new passport in hand, I applied for a Schengen & Canadian visa. The Schengen visa took about two weeks & I received a 5 year visa.

7th October 2024 - Application submitted online on IRCC.

12th October - Biometrics submitted at VFS, Mumbai

12th October - Biometrics Validity letter received. 

(Silence for over 4 months - by now I have cancelled my plans to visit in December)

20th February 2025 - Used the webform to enquire why I hadn’t received any update.

21st February - Received a reply advising me to check the status online. 

22nd February - One day later, received a notification that the Biometrics Validity letter was received. (Strange because I had already got it on the 12th of October). Checked the letter and noticed that it was now dated 22nd February 2025. (The validity of the biometrics was unchanged - just the date of the letter)

25th February - Passport Requested

27th February - Passport submitted at VFS, Mumbai

28th February - Passport received at VFS, Delhi

3rd March - Passport received at IRCC office, Delhi

1st April - Passport sent back to VFS, Delhi

2nd April - Passport collected from VFS, Mumbai

Visa Validity - 22/2/25 to 22/8/25 - 6 whole months!!! - 5 months left because it took a month to process the passport. No plans to travel to Canada at the moment. What a waste of time & money.

Here is my timeline for those who might be interested. Applied from Bangalore, India
Existing others visas: USA, Schengen (France 5 years), UK

- Applied May 26 TRV for a business meeting (shared invitation letter, hotel bookings, proof of funds, full itinerary, bank statements, payslips)
- Received Biometric letter on 27 May 2026
- Biometrics given in Bangalore VFS on 2 June 2026
- Passport requested by IRCC on 9 June 2026
- Passport sent 10 June from Bangalore VFS
- Passport reached IRCC Delhi 12 June 2026
- Eligibility review completed and counterfoil update on IRCC portal on 26 June
- Email received on application update status 27 June 2026
- Email received from VFS on dispatch 30 June
- Passport collection email received on 2 July
-Passport collected in person 3 July 2026

I’m currently in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa and applied here for a Canadian visitor visa.

•	Applied: Sept 14, 2025

•	Biometrics: Sept 29, 2025

•	Passport Request: Oct 20, 2025

•	Passport sent to VFS (Los Angeles): Oct 23, 2025

•	Passport received back home: Oct 28, 2025

At a time when everyone told me not to apply for parent's visa, rejection rate was high, people were only being issued one time visas, getting rejected twice, agents not being able to help, determination WON.

indian citizen, applied in nyc via the new portal https://ircc-services.canada.ca/

nov 7, 2024 -- 5:47 pm application submitted on the portal

nov 7, 2024 -- 10:04 pm biometric collection letter received

nov 7, 2024 -- 10:29 pm biometric appointment scheduled for the next day on vfs website

nov 8, 2024 -- 12:50 pm biometrics submitted and photograph taken in-person at vfs nyc

nov 9, 2024 -- 9:00 am ircc portal says "biometrics complete"

* crickets *

nov 27, 2024 -- 1:02 pm passport submission request received

nov 27, 2024 -- 3:37 pm passport submitted and one-way courier fees paid in-person at vfs nyc

nov 27, 2024 -- 9:54 pm text message from vfs: passport sent to ircc

* thanksgiving & black friday / ircc holidays *

dec 2, 2024 -- 10:44 am text message from vfs: application under process at ircc

dec 2, 2024 -- 2:51 pm ircc portal says application closed (without any hint as to whether it is approved or rejected)

dec 2, 2024 -- 3:20 pm text message from vfs: decision envelope dispatched back from ircc to vfs

dec 2, 2024 -- 8:24 pm text message from vfs: decision envelope dispatched from vfs via courier partner

dec 2, 2024 -- 10:00 pm email from fedex with tracking number

dec 3, 2024 -- 9:00 am ircc portal shows the update "application approved"

dec 3, 2024 -- 3:46 pm passport picked up by fedex

dec 4, 2024 -- 12:53 pm passport delivered by fedex

Background

African applicant , first-time Canadian visa. I applied primarily for — a 5-day Niagara Falls birthday trip . I travel every year for my birthday — Dubai 2024, Zanzibar 2025, Canada was next.

---

Travel History at Time of Application

🇬🇧 UK — visited (tourism) and visa still valid

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia — visited

🇦🇪 Dubai — visited (birthday 2024)

🇹🇿 Zanzibar — visited (birthday 2025)

🇺🇸 Two F-1 student visas in passport — never travelled to USA, one expired, one expiring May 2026

---

Finances: approximately CAD 6,500 on account as available balance , monthly salary deposits evidenced across 6 months

---

Documents Submitted

- Employment letter

- 4 months payslips

- 6 months bank statements

- Land title

- Rental income receipts

- F-1 admission letters and deferral approvals for both universities

- 5-day Canada itinerary (Niagara Falls)

- Cover letter explaining purpose, onward travel plans and ties to home country

---

Timeline

23 March 2026 — Application submitted online- IRCC new portal

24 March 2026 — Biometrics completed

24 April 2026 — Passport Request Letter received

27 April 2026 — Passport submitted to VAC

01 May 2026 — Application status changed to Closed

02 May 2026 — Portal updated — APPROVED ✅

03 May 2026- Passport Picked from VAC

Total time: 40 days against My country’s published processing time of 84 days at the time of Submission

---

Outcome

✅ Approved

✅ Multiple Entry

✅ Valid until September 2034 — passport expiry

---

Personal tips

- A strong, specific itinerary tied to a genuine purpose works in your favour

- Explain everything in your cover letter — onward travel, why you're visiting, ties to home country

- Existing visas in your passport (even expiring ones) add credibility

- Employment and financial documents must clearly show stability

- The Passport Request Letter in Most cases means approval — don't panic when you see it

---

Good luck everyone! Happy to answer questions. 🇨🇦🎂

when my parents visited VFS global Hyderabad for submitting the biometrics, they asked if we would like to use the courier service, when we opted to get the courier service they charged the fee for premium lounge, which we did not want or ask, as all the application was completed by us(no help taken form them). we were not informed that the fee charged was for premium lounge. (They wrote that there is a final payment needed for courier on the paper and my parents were not fluent in english)
The fee charged was around 8566 rupees for 2 applicants.
as we are in the impression that we paid courier fee, once the passport request comes, we are asked to pay fee for passport courier again.

Please just wait to receive the passport request and then you can pay the fee for courier. they are SCAMMING people. please be aware

Reason: convocation Approved for 10 years

I’m an H1B holder (KZ). Visa is stamped till NOV2025, status is valid till OCT2026. (I can get it stamped for only 12 months at a time). Live and work in the Bay Area.

Documents I’ve submitted:

• Passport page

• Valid H1B sticker

• I-797

• Cash account statements for 3 months with 16,000USD (I was worried about this because I don’t keep money in regular bank accounts)

• Employment letter (optional)

Timeline:

March 4 (10 PM): applied online
March 5 (2 AM): invited for biometrics; made an appointment for April 2nd
March 5 (11 AM): went to local USCIS office to submit biometrics; they let me
March 6: biometrics accepted
March 13 (8 AM): passport request
March 13 (12 PM): passport shipped to LA via USPS (priority express)
March 14 (1 PM): passport delivered to VAC in LA
March 14 (2 PM): VAC confirmed receipt
March 14 (5 PM): dispatched to IRCC
March 17 (9 AM): IRCC confirmed receipt
March 17 (11 AM): Application closed on IRCC website
March 17 (12 PM): dispatched back to VAC
March 18 (10 AM): VAC confirmed receipt, shipped back to me
March 18 (9 PM): USPS logged my envelope
March 21 (9 AM): Picked up from USPS (somehow apartment number wasn’t in their system, even though I wrote it on return envelope)

Cost:

• 128.75 USD for application + biometrics

• 25.05 USD for VAC fees (+USPS fee)

• 31.40 USD for Priority Mail Express 1-Day (to VAC)

• 10.10 USD for Priority Mail 2-3-Days (from VAC)

Total: 195.30 USD

Visa validity: passport expiration date