Changes at Canadian Visa Posts

Many Canadian visa posts around the world require a temporary resident visa applicant to provide personal information belonging to their Canadian host, either as part of the standard list of supporting documents accompanying a temporary resident visa application, or on a case by case basis. Examples of personal information requested include income tax notices of assessment, pay and bank account statements, and statements of shelter costs such as mortgage or rent information.

Citizenship and Immigration has reviewed this policy, and in keeping with the provisions for the collection of personal information established under Section 5 of the Privacy Act, the guidelines below have been established.
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Any written or oral information for the public must now reflect that persons in Canada hosting foreign nationals may provide personal information on a purely voluntary basis. The provision of the host’s personal information through the applicant must not be mandatory.

A temporary resident visa application will not be refused just because the host’s personal information is not provided with the application. The visa officer will assess the application on the basis of the adequacy of the applicant’s financial resources and make a determination accordingly.

These changes must be put into effect no later than November 6, 2009.
The effect of this change remains to be seen at visa posts.  Please contact the Bomza Law Group if you have any questions on how these changes will effect your Canadian visa application.