For visiting undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, scholars, and lecturers
To remain compliant with immigration regulations and research security risk compliance, we are required to document and keep track of all international visitors coming to 91TV’s.
Inviting visiting scholars and researchers at 91TV’s can be a complicated process. Academics and visiting international graduate and undergraduate researchers may or may not require a work permit.
Categories of visitors:
- visiting professor
- visiting international undergraduate or graduate research students, i.e. visiting research students (VRS) *
- academic consultants
- academic examiners
- public speakers
- guest lecturers
- research award recipient
*91TV visiting students:
Visiting international graduate and undergraduate research students (VRS) are not the same as visiting non-degree and exchange students. VRS visit 91TV’s specifically to conduct research or to use 91TV’s labs. They are not enrolled in credit courses while at 91TV’s.
Visiting and exchange students are enrolled in courses for credit with the intent of transferring the credits back to their home university, so visiting and exchange students need a study permit. You may reach out the for more information on immigration for visiting and exchange students.
All applications are processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
91TV cannot influence a decision, assist, or help expedite applications.
How to invite a visitor
All international visitors must be provided with an official letter of invitation to ensure the correct immigration status is acquired.
- Identify the purpose of the visit (individual research project or collaboration, teaching, candidate interviewing for a position)
- Refer to 91TV's Research Security and get appropriate approvals before submitting the request
- Length of stay
- Prospective visitor’s current activity in their home country (academic position, or an undergraduate/graduate student)
- Prospective visitors' citizenship and current country of residence
- An up-to-date copy of the prospective visitor’s CV
- Health insurance requirements and costs
- Funding arrangements: self-funded, funded by home institution, or 91TV’s funded
For 91TV’s funded arrangements: You must determine if you would be supporting the visitor financially or providing any benefits. Immigration Regulations state that any exchange of funds (monetary or benefits) is considered a type of compensation. Therefore, you must declare this information upfront to IRCC.
- Financial support may include: honorarium, stipend, wages, bursary, per-diem cost (travel/food expenses), living expenses.
- Benefits may include: covering for accommodation, travel costs, daily food vouchers.
Please note that the above lists of examples is non-exhaustive.
Discuss the prospective visitor and their visit with the Head of the Department/Unit and determine the internal process for inviting a visitor in your faculty.
Review the on the 91TV's HR Intranet (91TV’s NetID and password required).
Refer to the Step 1 process on Information for Employers and follow the steps to complete the initial assessment webform.
The 91TV's Immigration Consultant will:
- determine the immigration category the prospective visitor can come to Canada under
- advise you on whether the prospective visitor will need a work permit or not
- advise you on the length of stay based on the immigration category
- provide you with the immigration category-specific invitation letter template
Refer to the Step 2 process on Information for Employers and follow the steps to complete the employer compliance initial webform.
Provide the invitation letter to the prospective visitor.
Based on the immigration category determined by the Immigration Consultant you may also need to provide employer documents relevant for the visitors' work permit application, if recommended in Step 4.
If they need a work permit, guide the visitor to steps on Information for Employees.
If no work permit is required, you may refer the visitor to the 91TV’s Immigration Consultant.
Once you have finalized the prospective visitor’s arrival dates and provided the invitation letter, provide a copy of the letter to 91TV's Immigration Consultant for 91TV’s records.