Canada Visa

July 16th - Application Submitted
August 17th - Received email to send Passport to VAC.
August 20th - Mailed Passport to VAC - NY.
August 23rd - USPS delivered Passport to VAC.
August 27th - Received email from VAC with Tracking Number.
August 27th - Passport in transit to Visa Office.
August 28th - Passport received by Visa office - Under Consideration.
August 28th - Application Processing Completed - In transit to VAC.
August 29th - Application Processing Completed - In transit to the Applicant from VAC.
September 4th - Passport received.

My application took really long time to process (the avg processing time is 10 days). I'm not sure why my application was stuck, but as long as you have submitted all the required documents you should get your Visa approved.

Hello Everyone,

Just thought of sharing my Canada Visitor Visa experience. This process is pretty straight forward and simple, if you have all the required documents handy.

17 Aug 2018 - GC Key created and Application submitted
21 Aug 2018 - Received email from CIC to send Original Passports to VAC
22 Aug 2018 - Passport sent to VAC thru USPS overnight
27 Aug 2018 - Received email from VAC with tracking no.
28 Aug 2018 - Received email from CIC that stamping completed
29 Aug 2018 - Received Passport thru FedEx Overnight to my home address

Here is the step by step guide - https://www.desi-compile.com/applying-canadian-visitor-visa-step-step-guide/

Hope this helps.

August-7: Application Submitted
August 16: Passport Requested
August 17: Submitted the passport to VAC(Los Angeles). I personally went to VAC as I am local to LA
August 17: VAC - Status - Application received
August 17: VAC - Status - Passport in transit to the visa office
August 18-19: Weekend - No update in status
August 20: VAC - Status - Passport received by the visa office - Under Consideration
August 22: VAC - Status - Application Processing Completed - In Transit to the VAC

August 22: Waiting for the passport pick up notification.

Hope this helps.

July-25 2 AM: Submit application
July-27 8 PM: Request passport.
July-28 11 AM: Ship out passport via USPS.
July-30 2 PM: USPS tracking showed delivered to VAC.
Aug-1 10AM: Still no email shows received my passport. so I called VAC for tracking id. Show VAC receive my application.
            4PM: passport transit to visa office.
still waiting for approval now

Thanks for the folks previously posted in here. Here is mine:

06.25.2018 – GIC application
06.28.2018 – Passport Notification
06.29.2018 – Delivered Passport to VAC
07.02.2018 – VAC – Status – Application Received
07.04.2018 – Holiday – 4th July
07.06.2018 – VAC – Status – Passport in Transit to the Visa Office
07.09.2018 – VAC – Status – Passport Received by the Visa Office – Under Consideration
07.10.2018 – VAC – Status – Application Processing Completed - In Transit to the VAC
07.11.2018 – VAC – Status – Application Processing Completed - In Transit to the Applicant from the VAC
07.12.2018 – Passport Received.

 13 Business Day in Total, USPS Priority Express Mail is used.

I have a question with regards to my application.
What name should i use on my visa application? My name on my passport or my name on my EAD (work permit and advance parole) I’m currently residing in US and i have pending greencard application. I changed my name on after got married and i have all my US id and documents in my new last name but not my passport?

I am on H1B in US. Needed Canada visa to visit my friend.
Created account with GCKey.
Got a notarized invitation letter from my friend in Canada.
Uploaded a letter[purpose of travel detailing my itinerary during my stay]

Apr 13 - GIC - Application Submitted online
April 21 - GIC - Received Original Passport Request notification
Apr 27 - Mailed Two packages
- Just the money order[$32.27] to lock box - [USPS prority] - -Boston
- Passport, Photocoy of money order, Copy of the Passport request letter, Return USPS Priorty envelope, 2 copies of VAC Consent form - - NYC

Apr 30 - Received Passport at VAC - [From USPS tracking]
May 4 - VAC - Received Tracking number from VAC by email
May 4 - VAC - status - Application received
May 4 - VAC - status - Passport in Transit to the Visa Office
May 7 - VAC - status - Passport Received by the Visa Office - Under Consideration
May 9 - VAC - status - Your current application status is Application Processing Completed - In Transit to the VAC
May 10 - VAC - status - Application Processing Completed - In Transit to the Applicant from the VAC
May 10 - Passport shipped from NYC - [From USPS tracking]
May 12 - Received Passport with visa stamped till the passport expiration date

Initial processing time at GIC - 6 Business days
Processing time at VAC - 10 Business days

I am on H1 in USA. I needed Canada visitor visa.
Applied online for me and my wife on cic website. Created account with GCKey.
Make sure all the forms/documents are uploaded.
Some are not relevant e.g. Stay at relatives house and address. I wrote a letter mentioned that particular document is not applicable for me.
1st Nov submitted online.
27th Nov - Got an email that status is updated. Checked website and they wanted one
                  additional document.
                  Uplaoded it on the website.
30th Nov - Got an email that visa is approved and I need to mail our passports to VAC
1st Dec - Took money order for VAC - Took a photocopy.
                Mailed Original money order to Boston. ( Yes its a different address)
                Mailed below docs to VAC NewYork
                            1) photocopy of money order,
                             2) Original Passport
                             3) VAC Consent form - 2 copies
                             4) Letter of Visa approval
                             5) One return envelope
4th Dec - Received tracking number from VAC in email
5th Dec - VAC sent application to Canada Consulate
8th Dec - Canada Consulate stamped visa and sent passport back to VAC.
11th Dec - VAC mailed me the passport
13th Dec - Received visa till my passport expiration date.

Total Cost : $100.00 CAD Visa application fees per person
VAC fees: $32.27 USD money order per person

I am from India currently on L1B Visa. I want to visit Canada and applied for Visitor Visa Online, I have submitted my application on 08/31/2017. Till date there is no response yet. Does anybody have similar experience in the recent past. Need to know how long it takes to get a Visitor Visa from Canada?

Hi there,

I live in Illinois and am an Indian citizen, currently on visa in US. I just applied for visitor visa to canada, and am just summarizing my experience.

Submitted my application online through cic website. paid the application fee of 100 CAD. Had to create an account with GCKEY to fill out the application. Online application consists of the application form, fee, supporting documents and a photo. there is an option of sending these documents by mail also, but I filled it online. Submitted it August 14. got a status update on the site on Aug 20- confirmation of submission. Got the request for passport on Aug 22nd.
Passport has to be submitted through VAC. No other option. If you send it directly to consulate, they may send it back and you would be wasting time. Canadian consulate works with VAC. Pick either NYC or LA- whichever is closer to you. Processing times are essentially same at both places if your docs are complete.
1 envelope goes to Lockbox in Dallas or Boston. It contains the payment for VAC. As I had paid the visa application fee online, I paid $31.40 for passport delivery fee.
2nd packet goes to VAC in NY or LA. it has passport, copy of payment, VAC consent form (2 copies), page with contact information, and return USPS envelope.

you will get an email when your application is received- and from there on you can track your application online.

My application worked this way:

Aug 22- original passport request
Aug 23- sent 2 envelopes through overnight service (depends on how much time you have)- 1 to VAC,
              and second to Lockbox.
Aug 24- received email and tracking info. Status- Passport in transit to visa office
Aug 25- status- under consideration.
Agu 26,27-weekend- got a status update on cic site that visa was approved
Aug 28- status- Process completed. in transit to VAC. later that day it changed to in transit to the applicant.
Aug 29- received passport with visa stamp.

When choosing the return option- you can but your own overnight USPS envelope and send it in the packet that goes to VAC. Or you can make a payment of $ 19.70 extra (in addition to the $31.40)- and VAC will fedex overnight service. Just put on the contact information sheet- that you are paying extra for the fedex return service.

Hope this helps