Benefits of Getting Your Visa Invitation Letter Notarized 

Notarization  |    Oct 15, 2024      | By: Harbir Singh

When applying for a Visitor Visa for Canada, it can be crucial to include a letter of invitation with your application, from a host in Canada.  Whether it be a family member or friend, this document can help clear up a few concerns the visa officer may have when assessing your application. In this article we will explore what a letter of invitation is, and the benefits of getting it notarized.

Visa Invitation Letter Explained

Visa Invitation Letter’s are written one or more hosts in Canada, usually permanent residents, or Canadian citizens, who are inviting you to Canada, to visit. The letter includes pertinent information, including:

1.     Intention: Visa invitation letters explain the intention of the visit. Whether it is for tourism, family events/reunion, or business reasons.

2.     Support for Visitor from Host: The host(s) drafting the visa invitation letter show their support for the visitor, and whether they will be providing them with housing accommodations or financial support in Canada.

3.     Details of Visit: The letter usually includes other details such as the duration of the stay, and the host’s contact details.

Why Should I Get the Invitation Letter Notarized?

While there is no official requirement to get a Visa Invitation Letter notarized, it can add a layer of authenticity and increase the letter’s credibility. Below are several reasons why getting the invitation letter notarized can be beneficial:

1. Legitimacy & Credibility

Getting the Visa Invitation Letter notarized, portrays the letter has been verified by a licensed notary public, who has confirmed the identity of the parties, and witnessed the signing of the letter. By adding this layer of credibility, it can increase the legitimacy of the letter, in the eyes of visa officers.

2. Builds Trust

Submitting a notarized letter of invitation to immigration officers establishes trust. The notarization can give a visa officer assurance that the invitation letter was written and sworn by the host. This increases the trust a visa officer can have towards the document.

3. Fraud Prevention

One of the benefits of notarization is that it is a fraud deterrent. Person(s) signing a document are required to show valid government identification, therefore, potentially avoiding any misrepresentation of identity. By notarizing a letter of invitation, this helps prove that the host is the person who signed the document.

Steps to Getting a Visa Invitation Letter Notarized

If you are looking to get a Visa Invitation Letter notarized near you, in-person, the process is straight-forward. The process includes:

1. Draft the Letter

Whether you are drafting the letter yourself or getting the services of a professional legal practitioner to draft the letter for you, this is the first step.

Once you have the letter, you can proceed to step two.

2.     Gather documents

The next step is to gather your documents, including:

·        Valid government identification

·        Visa Invitation Letter

3.     Find A Notary Near You

Find a notary near you, to have your identity verified, and invitation letter notarized. If required, book an appointment, or call and walk in.

A common way many people find a notary near them is by typing in “notary near me” on google.

4.     Get Letter of Invitation Notarized

The last step is for you to bring your documents, and identification in front of the notary public. The notary will check your I.D, look over your document, have you taken the oath, and if all is good, will notarize the letter of invitation.

Conclusion

If you are a host inviting somebody to Canada on a visitor visa, you can write a letter of invitation that they can submit with their visitor visa application. It is not a requirement to get the document notarize, but it is suggested to do so.

By getting the document notarized it adds a level of legitimacy, builds trust with immigration officers, and helps deter fraud. The process is straight -forward and can usually be done same-day.

Contact HSB Legal Services & Notary Public

If you are looking for a reliable notary near you contact us today. We offer in-person, online and mobile notary services.

Whether you are looking for a notary in Etobicoke, notary near Brampton, notary near Mississauga, notary in Toronto, notary near Humber College, notary near Vaughan, notary near Woodbridge, or a notary near you, contact us today.