Here is a brief summary of the VISA regulations for persons travelling to Canada to attend conferences. Note that the latest and official information on travel to Canada is maintained by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

ENTRY TO CANADA VISAS – Letter of Invitation

If you require a letter of invitation you must register and pay for the conference before a letter will be sent – please, see below for VISA information and links. IEEE VPPC 2015 will issue this letter to you, by e-mail once you have completed the registration process and your payment has been received.

Please include the following information in your request:

Name

Address – full with city, country, and code

Paper title (if applicable)

Email address

Receipt – proof of payment for the conference.

Please send your requests to: rckeele@ou.edu

ENTRY TO CANADA VISAS – Information

Certain countries do not require a VISA including EU and EEA (European economic Area) nationals. In general foreign travelers require a visa for stays in Canada. An overview of countries indicating whether its citizens need to apply for visas is listed here. For visa exempt travelers, find out more here

A new entry requirement so-called Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) will be introduce by Immigration Canada from August 1, 2015. eTA is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. So, every international attendees should check the eTa Webpage.

Do not delay in making your VISA arrangements, if needed, for entry into Canada. Processing times by Citizenship and Immigration Canada may take a few months. VISA arrangements are the responsibility of the participants.

Do delegates attending an event or meeting need a letter of invitation to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)?

Yes, delegates may need to include a letter of invitation with their TRV application and should check their local visa office (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp) for more information. The letter of invitation establishes the purpose of the trip to Canada and provides information on the applicant's plans in Canada. If someone is travelling to Canada for a convention, event, or conference, regardless of whether they are required to have a TRV or not, a letter of invitation assists agents at Ports of Entry to determine whether the person is a legitimate visitor and intends to attend a conference.

Should an entry VISA be needed, CIC strongly encourages applications as soon as possible. This will ensure your receipt of a VISA in time for your trip. Please note that processing times vary from mission to mission. You can check the typical processing times for the mission responsible for handling your visa request; however, the posted time is not guaranteed.

For processing your VISA application, the CIC mission will need your completed CIC VISA application form (see web links #1 and #5), and all supporting documents, including the letter of invitation.

1.Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

2.Information on visiting Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp

3.Do you need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

4.Visiting Canada – Important information for visa exempt travelers: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visa-exempt.asp

5.Where to send your application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV): http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

6.Visa Offices outside of Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions.asp

7.Application processing times: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/temp/visitors.asp

8. Canada Border Services Agency: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/ie-ei/menu-eng.html

9.Apply – Visit Canada as a tourist: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp