Schachnow Law

Visit Canada

Visitor visas: approval is not automatic.

Canada welcomes over 35 million visitors a year, and refuses many applicants who assumed the process was routine. We build files that meet the criteria officers actually check.

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Request your visitor visa review

A visitor visa, formally a temporary resident visa, lets you come to Canada for tourism, family visits, or business. Officers refuse applicants they think might overstay, or who cannot show funds for the trip. A well documented application answers those doubts up front, before an officer has to ask.

What officers look for

What a strong visitor file shows.

  • Proof of funds for the trip and the stay
  • Ties to your home country: a job, property, and family
  • A clear purpose of travel, with an itinerary or invitation letter
  • Your travel history and current immigration status
  • Admissibility, including any past refusals addressed head on
  • Super visas for parents and grandparents, with stays of up to five years at a time

How we work

A modern lawyer-led process, built on state-of-the-art software.

01

Initial consultation

Talk to one of our licensed lawyer's to tell us your background and needs. We then provide expert advice and suggested next steps, including a flat fee for further assistance.

02

Application preparation

You'll work closely with our team on our secure, AI-powered software to prepare and finalize your application as quickly as possible.

03

Our lawyers review and file

An Ontario licensed immigration lawyer always does a final review (sometimes twice), and files on your behalf.

Flat fees. Personal responses within 24 business hours. No surprises.

What to know

Before you apply.

  1. 01

    The question officers are answering

    Will you leave when your stay ends? Everything in the file feeds that judgment. Officers read your ties to home, your funds, your travel history, and the logic of the trip, and refuse when the picture does not hold together.

  2. 02

    Which document you actually need

    Citizens of visa exempt countries only need an electronic travel authorization to fly to Canada. Everyone else needs a temporary resident visa. Which one applies depends on your passport, and the effort involved is very different.

  3. 03

    What goes in the file

    Beyond the forms: proof of funds, an itinerary or invitation letter, employment evidence, and often biometrics. Some applicants also need a medical exam. Complete files move faster and get refused less.

  4. 04

    Six months, usually

    Most visitors are admitted for up to six months. You can apply to extend from inside Canada before your status expires. Overstaying, even briefly, follows you into every future application.

  5. 05

    The better option for parents

    Parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents can get a super visa: multi entry, valid for up to 10 years, with stays of up to five years at a time. It requires an invitation, income proof from the child in Canada, and private medical insurance. For most families it beats a regular visitor visa.

Why us

Why work with us on your visit?

An honest risk assessment

We tell you how strong your file is before you pay a filing fee, and what would make it stronger.

Invitation letters that carry weight

If family in Canada is inviting you, we draft support letters that give the officer what they need to say yes.

The right visa for the visit

For parents and grandparents, a super visa often beats a regular visitor visa. We advise which fits your family.

Fast turnaround

Visits are time sensitive. Most visitor files start within three business days of your consult.

FAQ

Visitor visa questions, answered.

Do not see your question? Ask us directly. An Ontario licensed immigration lawyer replies within one business day.

Ask a question
I was refused before. Should I just apply again?
Not blindly. We order the officer's notes, fix what caused the refusal, and refile. Repeat refusals get harder to overcome, so the second application should be the last one needed.
Do I need an invitation letter?
It is not mandatory, but a good one strengthens a family visit application considerably. It comes from your host in Canada and explains the visit, where you will stay, and who is paying.
How long can I stay?
Up to six months per entry in most cases, unless the officer sets a different date. Extensions are possible from inside Canada if you apply before your status expires.
Can I work or study as a visitor?
Work, no. Short courses of six months or less are allowed. Anything more needs the right permit, and in many cases we can arrange your status without you leaving Canada.
Do I need a visa or an eTA?
It depends on your citizenship. Visa exempt travellers need only an eTA to fly in. Everyone else needs a temporary resident visa before travelling.

Trusted by clients across Canada.

LA

Lucas Arantes

Josh was incredibly helpful throughout two work permits and our overall immigration process, guiding all of us (including two different employers) every step of the way. He made complicated immigration topics easy to understand and helped us choose the best strategy for our family's needs. Now we're proud Canadian citizens raising our two kids in Montréal.

YZ

Yongjie Zhang

It was a pleasure working with Josh on my work permit application. He was very professional and timely with his communication and I am excited to finally be accepted to Canada.

RA

Rob Attwell

Josh was incredibly helpful and responsive in dealing with our immigration issues through the Global Talent Stream Program. He really knew his stuff and was willing to help me and, more importantly, our candidate through the process.

AS

Abhishek Srivastava

Josh made the whole work permit application process quite easy and it was great to work with him. He is very knowledgeable in his area of expertise and resolved all my queries. I am excited to be starting my new life in Canada!

IA

Irem Ayan

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Joshua throughout my immigration process. He easily spotted the mistake in my first Express Entry application and guided me through a second application which was recently approved. Very professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. I wouldn't be planning my landing in Canada if it weren't for his advice.

AC

Adam Cowley

We worked with Josh on a work permit re-application after we had some struggles trying to get it ourselves. Josh was a pleasure to work with and helped us get our approval in a timely fashion. We hope to work with him again soon.

PC

Priyanka Chabbi

I had a great experience working with Josh. He is an incredibly patient and knowledgeable lawyer who truly cares about his clients. The company that hired me in Canada worked with Josh for my visa process, and everything went smoothly from start to finish.

JS

Jess S.

I'm glad I met Josh. He helped me with my Canadian Work Permit Visa and my husband's OWP. I was apprehensive at first, and I had a lot of questions, but Josh was always accurate and willing to help. He is an excellent professional, and it's clear that he cares about every client.

Joshua Schachnow, founding Canadian immigration lawyer at Schachnow Law

Meet our Managing Partner

Joshua Schachnow, B.Com., J.D.

Founding Partner

Josh is a Toronto-based lawyer who has been practicing immigration law for more than 9 years. More specifically, he's helped thousands of individuals and companies navigate Canadian immigration - from work permits to permanent residence, study permits, citizenship, LMIAs and more. Josh always puts his clients first, and believes quick and thoughtful communication is most important to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Called to the Ontario Bar. Member of the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association.

Ready to get started

Start your visitor visa application.

Tell us who is visiting and why. Within one business day, an Ontario licensed immigration lawyer will assess the file, flag any risks, and quote a flat fee.

Flat fees. No obligation. We reply within 24 business hours.

Request your visitor visa review