Suggested Invitation Letter for RESEARCH AWARD RECIPIENTS

Must be direct recipient of a research award (foreign visitors name must be on award) which
is based on academic excellence.
Any financial assistance from U of A must be significantly less than amount of research
award.
Before or during foreign visitors stay, if there will be changes to: duration of stay, financial
support, location/type of activities to be carried out, contact U of A Immigration Advisor before
implementing changes. A separate immigration procedure (and letter) may be required.

<<insert date>>

<<insert name and address>>

Dear <<insert name>>,

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to the Department of <<insert dept name>> as a Research Award Recipient
for a period of <<insert duration of stay (e.g. 1 month, 2 yrs, etc>> beginning on or about <<insert start date>>.

During your stay, you will <<list activities that will be carried out>>. These activities will take place in << insert
geographic location(s) where activities will take place (e.g. Edmonton, Banff, various locations in Alberta, etc.) >>

While at the University of Alberta, your main source of financial support will be a research award through <<insert
name of academic award>>. The University of Alberta will also provide you with financial assistance in the form
of << As applicable, insert: reimbursement for receipted travel; reimbursement for receipted accommodation
expenses; an honorarium of $ (insert dollar value)>>.

It is understood that at the end of your stay at the University of Alberta you will return to your home country.

Providing you are the direct recipient of a research award which is based on academic excellence, you should be
able to enter Canada under immigrations category of Research Award Recipient. Under that category, you will be
exempt from advance confirmation of employment by Service Canada under R205(c)(ii), C44 of the Immigration
Manual. You will, however, require a work permit.

To enter Canada and obtain a work permit, you must provide Canadian immigration authorities with:
this letter of invitation
a completed application for a work permit, which can be found at the following link:
(http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work.asp)
a copy of your research award which lists you as the direct recipient
a valid passport (Some rare exceptions may apply to this requirement, however; we strongly
recommend that you have a valid passport.)

You may also be required to obtain additional documentation, such as a:

temporary resident visa (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp)
police certification (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/intro.asp)
medical examination (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexams-temp.asp)
re-entry permit. If you are not a citizen of the country where you currently reside, you may need to
obtain a separate permit to re-enter that country. Before traveling to Canada, please contact the
immigration authorities of the country where you reside, to determine whether you will require such a
permit.

It is highly recommended that you contact Canadian immigration authorities directly to discuss your planned visit
to Canada. For a list of Canadian Consulates, Embassies and High Commissions, please refer to:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp
Immigration Processing Fees
The fee for a work permit is $150 (Cdn).
If your spouse/partner applies for an open work permit there will be a processing fee of $150 (Cdn).
All citizens of visa countries (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp) must obtain temporary
resident visas to enter Canada. Processing fees are charged, however; rates depend on the number of
individuals who apply together, at the same place.

Spouse/Partner Employment
Providing your work permit is valid for at least six months, your spouse/partner may apply for a work permit
without advance confirmation by Service Canada. The work permit can be obtained either at the same time, or after
you apply for your own work permit. Your spouse/partner will need to provide evidence supporting his/her
relationship to you. For information, see Spousal Program at www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-permit.asp.
**Restrictions apply to such permits.

Accompanying Children
If your children accompany you to Canada and will attend school in this country, immigration may require that you
obtain study permits for them. Please contact the nearest Canadian Consulate, Embassy or High Commission for
instructions.

Health Care Insurance

Providing your work permit is valid for at least one full year, you should normally be able to obtain Alberta Health
Care Insurance. If you will be remaining in Canada for less than one year, it will be your responsibility to obtain
and to produce proof of medical insurance, prior to coming to Canada. If immigration authorities deem that you
will enter Canada as a Self-funded Researcher you will not be issued a work permit. In that case, you must
obtain your own medical insurance.

Social Insurance Number and Payment of Financial Assistance

If you do not have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), please obtain one after you have received your work permit.
If you already hold a SIN, please update it after your work permit arrives. For information on SINs, please refer to
the following web site: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/sin/index.shtml

Inviting Non-Canadians to Canada

If, during your stay in Canada, you would like to invite a foreign national to visit, please contact our University
Immigration Advisor at (780) 492-2796 or by e-mailing dallas.pelkey@hrs.ualberta.ca, prior to extending the
invitation.
_________________________________________________________________________

Before or during your stay in Canada, if there will be changes to: duration of your stay, financial support, or the
location/type of activities that you will carry out, please contact the U of A Immigration Advisor before
implementing these changes.

Please present this letter to the admitting Customs/Immigration Officer at the Canadian border crossing or airport.
To help streamline the admission process, you may wish to notify us in advance of your expected date and time of
arrival so that we can advise the Immigration authorities in Canada.

<<insert closing paragraph>>

Sincerely,

<<insert name of U of A Host>> <<insert name of Chair/Dean/Director>>

cc Immigration Advisor, Academic Services, 2-60 University Terrace

Those who contravene provisions of Section 127 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (i.e., failure to disclose (1)
possession of a criminal record, (2) previous immigration problems, (3) previous illegal work in Canada, (4) a serious medical
condition or history of an applicant or an accompanying dependent, or (5) failure to report changes of conditions of work since
the issuance of a work permit) are liable for prosecution in the criminal courts of Canada.