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How easy is it for a russian woman to get a canadian visa to visit a relative in-country?  What are the criteria and what needs to be done on both sides?  

Olga's sister married a canadian, in StP, almost 10 years ago.
Sis and hubby moved back to Canada about 6 years ago.
Olga has not been outside of Russia in her life, except for a short trip to Stockholm and Helsinki with her fellow teachers, and once to visit another sister in Germany.

I would like to see Olga on this side of the Atlantic (I can't travel for a while), and suggested a visit to Canada.  Sis says it's almost impossible for russians to get a visa to visit Canada, even to visit relatives.  Past experience: their parents have visited canada twice. Olga applied once, was delayed past the departure date, and gave up.

I've done my due diligence in the archives, haven't found my answer.

... in response to Canadian Visas, posted by WilliamMGi on Dec 17, 2001

I've been trying to learn the ins and outs of the Canadian visa system. I'm having trouble finding the exact requirements for a tourist visa. But everything I'm learning says that Canada is even harder than the US to get a  visitor visa for. A few years ago it was no problem. Now it's almost impossible. Here's the Canada immigration website if you want to do your own reading.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html

... in response to Re: Canadian Visas, posted by Zink on Dec 18, 2001

Thanks for the URL.
I've read through as much as I can.

There's no clear indication of why a person might be denied a tourist visa if the stated conditions have been met, or whether having a relative resident in-country helps.

All they seem to say is "You pays your money and you takes your chance."

... in response to Re: Re: Canadian Visas, posted by WilliamMGi on Dec 18, 2001

"You pays your money and you takes your chance." That's the way I see it too. It's difficult to learn the real requirements for all this. So much seems to rely on the mood of the officials. If they're in a bad mood that day nobody gets a visa. There's nothing logical or just about it. But I gues that's life.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Canadian Visas, posted by Zink on Dec 18, 2001

period of 'financial support' will go from 10 years down to 3 years in June of next year?
And, the Government is going to push 'family class' applications through faster?

... in response to Zinc, did you see that the..., posted by Del on Dec 18, 2001

No, I didn't. I haven't read anything on the family class visa since my last trip. Right now I don't need that information. I don't see wedding bells anytime in my near future. I'll have to go re-read everything again just to keep up to date.