An international student in Canada asked how their parents could visit — whether a visitor visa was the only option.
What group members advised:- A visitor visa is the standard route for parents to visit a student in Canada; no special "parent visit" category was mentioned as necessary.
- Apply with a complete evidence package: proof of funds, employment/income, income tax paid, and immovable property — these demonstrate genuine visit intent and strong ties back home, which are central to visitor visa approval.
- A valid occasion helps the application, such as timing the visit around a graduation/convocation — this was cited as a recognized, legitimate purpose of visit.
- Applying for both parents together was recommended, rather than staggering applications, as long as documentation is solid — one suggestion to apply the father first and mother later was pushed back on by other members as an unnecessary complication.
The practical takeaway: build a strong financial and ties-to-home-country evidence package, consider timing the visit to a specific occasion like a convocation, and apply for both parents together rather than splitting the applications.