Visitors to the University (Foreign, Canadian + Academic)

The Foreign Visitor Category Assessment  is sent through the Immigration Management System to Immigration Services to allow them to determine the category under which the visitor may be eligible. For details on how to use the Immigration Management System, see the Foreign Visitor Category Assessment User Guide.

The FVCA asks for information about internal and external financial support. If you select that a person will be receiving a scholarship or award, you are required to upload the confirmation of the award. The FVCA cannot be processed without that letter. If the award has not been issued, complete the Research Award Recipient Letter of Support template, and provide it to the foreign national. Once they provide you with  confirmation of their award, complete the FVCA and upload it where indicated.

Check the status of your FVCA  to determine if there are any outstanding requirements noted by an Immigration Consultant. Check the comments and update or correct the FVCA assessment accordingly.

Immigration Services will submit the information to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) employer portal, and pay the employer compliance fee, which will be charged to the speed code you provide. This will generate an Offer of Employment Number, exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Instructions for next steps, along with the correct letter of invitation, the employer compliance fee receipt, and guidelines to support the foreign nationals work permit application process will be emailed to the contacts identified in the FVCA. 

If you need to correct or modify the terms and conditions submitted, such as duration of stay, wages, errors in name, passport, etc.), contact Immigration Services through the Staff Service Centre and indicate the details/corrections required. If the visitor has not yet submitted their work permit application with the Offer of Employment Number, the information can be updated in the IRCC system without needing to be withdrawn.

If you need to cancel the Offer of Employment Number, contact Immigration Services through the Staff Service Centre with the following information:

• In the subject field, state: Withdrawal of Offer of Employment and Request Refund.
• Provide the foreign national's full name, the host department, Offer of Employment Number and indicate if you are requesting a re-assessment or canceling.

Immigration Services will:

• Request a withdrawal of the offer of employment and request a refund from Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on your behalf.
• Change the status of your Foreign Visitor Category Assessment (FVCA) to "incomplete" if you are requesting a re-assessment. This will allow you to make any changes required.

• A copy of the invitation letter sent by the host department.
• A signed Liability Waiver form .
• Copy of immigration documents, such as a Work Permit, Visitor Record or Study Permit (if enrolled in Research 900).
• Letter from funding source (e.g. if categorized as a Research Award Recipient).
• Confirmation of International Experience Canada or Student Work Abroad Program approval if applicable.

Use the eForm application to submit your request. Visit our HR Forms and Document Management System and choose the appropriate eForms Person of Interest document for detailed instructions on how to use eForms.

Submit the documentation altogether as attachments.

Once Shared Services receives the application, you will be notified. The foreign national may now come to campus.

• A copy of the invitation letter.
• A signed Liability Waiver.
• A letter from their home institution indicating affiliation and preferably liability coverage.
• If applicable: letter from funding source (e.g. if categorized as a Research Award Recipient).

A living allowance may be provided to foreign national academic visitors and are meant to cover daily living expenses such as room and board, transportation, and other incidental expenses. Living allowance payments are generally considered gross income to the recipient, and are treated as taxable income unless a tax exemption can be claimed. The faculty or unit must indicate the amount on the pay action form (PAF) or eForm when submitting to Shared Services. Amounts payable as living allowance must be reasonable and sufficient to meet the cost of living expense in Edmonton for one person.

Visitors can be reimbursed for travel and business expenses incurred while engaging in activities at the university. We recommend that reimbursements be included in the invitation letter for the visitor, so the host should determine what reimbursements will be covered prior to the arrival of the visitor.The university’s policies and procedures covering expense reimbursement must be followed when reimbursing these expenses. Visit the Non-Employee Reimbursements page to process eligible travel and business expense reimbursement payments.

An honorarium is a voluntary payment provided to an individual in recognition of services rendered for which no fee is legally or traditionally required. This payment is at the sole discretion of the university through the department, faculty or unit that wishes to provide it. Honorarium payments are generally considered gross income to the recipient and are tax reportable if the amount paid by the university exceeds $500 in a calendar year. In cases where an honorarium is provided to the visitor, the requesting faculty or department must indicate the amount on the pay action form (PAF) or eForm when submitting to Shared Services.