Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 12, 2026: IRCC’s letter of invitation page checked that day.
What it is: a letter from the person you’re visiting, explaining the visit and their own status in Canada.
What matters: details about both visitor and host, the purpose and dates, and who pays.
Why a lawyer: the letter is one piece; the officer weighs it with your ties and funds. A lawyer makes the whole file consistent. Why a lawyer
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Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
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Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
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If you’re inviting family or friends to Canada, a letter of invitation helps the officer understand who they’re visiting, why, and for how long. It doesn’t decide the outcome, and IRCC says the officer still decides based on the visitor’s own situation. But a weak or inconsistent letter is a common thread in refusals: dates that don’t match the application, a host whose status or income isn’t shown, or a vague purpose. A good letter sets out the visitor’s details, the host’s details and status, the purpose and length of the visit, where the visitor will stay and who will pay, and when they plan to leave. For a super visa, it must also promise financial support and list the household.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares visitor visa applications, including invitation letters, and challenges refusals; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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What the letter should include
| About the visitor | About the host |
|---|---|
| Full name, date of birth, address and phone | Full name, date of birth, address and phone in Canada |
| Relationship to the host | Job title |
| Purpose of the trip | Citizenship or permanent resident status, with a copy of proof |
| How long they’ll stay, where they’ll stay, how they’ll pay | Names and dates of birth of the host’s spouse and dependants |
| When they plan to leave | For a super visa: a promise of financial support and the household list |
What the host should attach
- Proof of status in Canada: passport, PR card or citizenship certificate.
- Proof of income if the host is paying: Notice of Assessment, employer letter, bank statements.
- Proof of address.
Keep it consistent
The dates, purpose and who pays must match the visitor’s application. Inconsistencies are a common thread in refusals over purpose of visit and refusals over finances.
Why have a lawyer prepare the application, not just the letter?
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- checking the letter against the visitor’s application so everything matches;
- documenting the host’s status and finances properly;
- building the visitor’s ties and funds evidence;
- challenging a refusal in the Federal Court if the officer ignored the host’s evidence.
The letter only helps if the rest of the file supports it. A lawyer makes sure the invitation, the visitor’s ties and the funds tell one consistent story.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can take a refusal to the Federal Court. An immigration consultant cannot file or argue it there.
Mistakes I have seen
- Dates in the letter that don’t match the application.
- A host offering to pay with no proof of the host’s income.
- A template letter with no real details.
Frequently asked questions
Does the letter have to be notarized?
Not for a visitor visa in general; for a super visa, follow IRCC’s current instructions.
Does an invitation letter mean the visa will be approved?
No. The officer still decides based on the visitor’s own situation.
What should I do right now?
Write the letter with the visitor’s exact dates and purpose, attach your status and income proof, and check it against the visitor’s application before filing.
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Sources (official)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.